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HISTORY 



OF 



CLARION COUNTY 

PENNSYLVANIA 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS 



EDITED BY 

A. J. DAVIS 



SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS 

1887 






PRESS OF D. MASON & CO. 

63 WEST WATER ST., 

S'YRACUSE, N. Y. 



3f3 



PREFACE 



JOSEPHUS says, "Those who undertake to write histories, do not, I per- 
ceive, take that trouble on one and the same account ; but for many and 
various reasons. For some apply themselves to this part of learning to show 
their great skill in composition ; and that they may therein acquire a reputa- 
tion. Others write histories in order to gratify those who happen to be con- 
cerned in them ; But there are others who of necessity are 

driven to write history, because they are concerned in the facts, and so cannot 
excuse themselves from committing them to writing, for the advantage of pos- 
terity." 

The editor of the following pages can not profess any of these motives, but 
in analyzing his own emotions he finds that he must have been impelled to this 
" labor of love " by a desire to wrest from oblivion the annals of a people un- 
pretentious in their manners, simple in their habits, but strong in manly virtues. 

Not many thrilling adventures are related in this narrative of the doings of 
the people of Clarion county, but here and there we are afforded glimpses of 
the sterling patriotism, the noble daring, and the lofty courage of those whom 
occasion afforded the opportunity to display these virtues. 

The record of the settlement and development of Clarion county contains 
few startling incidents. Peaceful and quiet has been the history of this people, 
and while our fathers and brothers bear a record of loyal devotion to their 
country in at least two wars, no spot within the borders of our county can be 
pointed out with certainty as the scene of sanguinary battle. So may it be 
evermore. 

Owing to many pressing duties the editor has been able to write but a 
small portion of this work, and he is indebted to George J. Reid, Esq., of 
Clarion, for the preparation of all of the county history, excepting the annals 
of the civil war, which were compiled and written by Hon. W. A. Beer, of Cal- 



\ 



2 Preface. 

lensburg. Besides these gentlemen the following persons each wrote the local 
history of one or more townships or boroughs : C. E. Rugh, Benton Price, L. 
L. Himes, Miss Clara Campbell, S. C. Hepler, W. W. Deatrick, M. E. Hess, 
C. F. McNutt, David Bryner, John Beer, Miss Alice Allen, and John Graham. 

The compiler of the general part of the county history desires the editor 
to make his acknowledgments to the many who lent him their assistance ; 
but he is particularly indebted for kind aid and co-operation to Samuel D. 
Irwin, Esq., of Tionesta, Hon. J. B. Lawson, Hon. D. McClay, Hon. James 
Campbell, B. J. Reid, Esq., C. A. Rankin, Benjamin Gardner. For the his- 
tory of the Clarion township settlements, Mr. Joseph M. Owens rendered val- 
uable assistance. Reynolds Laughlin, P^sq., furnished useful data concerning 
the early military affairs, as well as other subjects ; and to the courtesy of Mr. 
M. E. Hess the compiler is indebted for many of the facts of the oil develop- 
ment in our county. Mr. Joseph W. Long furnished a list of county officials, 
which was valuable in making up the political history. 

In a work so comprehensive, a few omissions and inaccuracies are unavoid- 
able. In spite of great caution and diligent research, some errors have found 
their way into the work. To obtain accurate data of long-past local events is 
one of the most difficult among the labors of the historian ; and it will not be 
surprising if some mistakes are found in this volume, which, with all its imper- 
fections, as well as such merits as it may possess, is respectfull,v dedicated to 
the people of Clarion county. A. J. D. 



! 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

PENNSYLVANIA FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE REVOLUTION. 

Introductory— The Natives —Hudson —Dutch Settlements —Settlement by the Swedes — 
Conquest of the Swedish Colony by the Dutch — Conquest of the New Netherlands 
by the British — Re-conquest by the Dutch — Final Cession to England — New Jer- 
sey— WilUam Penn— Charter of Charles II — Settlers sent to Pennsylvania — Phila- 
delphia— Penn in America— Disputes with Lord Baltimore— Treaty with the Indians 
— Rapid Immigration — Division into Counties — Troubles with Maryland — Penn 
Returns to England — Death of Charles II — Dissensions in the Colony — Public 
Schools in Philadelphia— Penn Arrested in England— Governor Fletcher — Penn Re- 
turns to America — Sails for Europe — Death of King William — Discord in the Col- 
ony— Death of Penn — Hannah Penn — French and Indians — Trouble with Mary- 
land—Logan — Whitefield — War with France — Peace of Aix — French Encroach- 
ments in the West — Celeron — Ohio Company — Washington — Fort Necessity — 
First Congress— Braddock's Defeat— Battle at Kittanning — Capture of Fort Du 
Quesne — Death of George II — Pontiac's War 13 

CHAPTER n. 

FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME. 

Mason and Dixon — Indian Troubles — Stamp Act — Connecticut and Virginia Claims — 
First Continental Congress — Second Continental Congress — Declaration of Inde- 
pendence — New Constitution for Pennsylvania — Retirement of Governor Penn and 
the Proprietary Assembly — Evacuation of Boston — Attack on Charleston — British 
take New York — Battle of Trenton — Princeton — Assembly of the New Legislature 
— Brandy wine — The British Occupy Philadelphia— Attack on Fort Mercer — Battle 
of German town — Valley Forge — Aid from France — Evacuation of Philadelphia — 
Battle of Monmouth — Abolition of Slavery in Pennsylvania —Wyoming Massacre — ^ 
Overtures of Peace — Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line — Disaster of Colonel Craw- 
ford — Peace — Revolt of Pennsylrania Troops — Treaty of Fort Stanwix — Constitu- 
tion of United States Framed and Adopted — New Constitution for State — Whisky 
Insurrection — War of 1812 — Coal — Public Schools — Revision of Constitution — 
Buckshot War — Mexican War — Sale of Public Works— Petroleum and Gas — Se- 
cession— Invasion of Pennsylvania — Battle of Gettysburg — Burning of Chambers- 
burg — Soldiers' Orphan Schools — Revision of the Constitution — Centennial Exposi- 
tion°— Riots of 1877 —Extra Session of the Legislature 27 

CHAPTER in. 

TOPOGRAPHY OF CLARION COUNTY. 

Table-Land Character — Drainage — Streams — Elevations — General Description — For- 
ests — Scenery — Ancient Channels 38 



Contents. 



CHAPTER IV. 

GEOLOG-Y AND MINERALOGY. 

Definition — Anticlinals and Synclinals — Geologic Column — Surface Rocks — Measures 

— Freeport Group — Kittanning Group — Ore and Limestone — Analyses — Clarion 
G-roup — Brookville Coal — Homewood Sandstone— Rocks Beneath — Other Minerals 

— Petroleum — Theories — Natural Gas — Fuel Value 42 

CHAPTER V. 

FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PURCHASE OF 1784. 

Aborigines, Senecas, and Delawares — Indian Remains — Petroleum — Christian Frederick 
Post — Tobeco and Toby — Redbank Creek — Brodhead's Expedition — Captain Sam- 
uel Brady 57 

CHAPTER VI. 

FROM THE PURCHASE OF 1784 TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 

The Purchase — Pickering & Co. — Small Warrantees — The Fox Estate — Lewis and 
Peters — The Holland Land Company — The Bingham Lands — Mifflin Warrants — 
Franklin College — Northumberland and Lycoming — David Mead — The State Com- 
missioners 63 

CHAPTER VII. 

FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY TO THE WAR OF 1812. 

Absalom Travis — Securing Warrants — John Laughlin — Settlers from Westmoreland — 
From Centre County — Character of Pioneers — Pioneer Life — Mills — Churches — 
Schools — Pastimes — " First Things " 76 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE WAR OF 1812. 

Alarms on the Frontier — Drafts — Captain Wallace's Company — Incidents of the March 

to the Maumee — Fort Meigs — Neely's Company — Proceedings at Erie — Volunteers 87 

CHAPTER IX. 

FROM THE WAR OF 1812 TO THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY. 

Land Changes — Lancaster Land Company — The Bingham Estate — Fox — Postal Facih- 
ties — Roads and Steamboats — "Clarion" River — Early Mihtia — Prices of Land, 
etc. — General Progress 92 

CHAPTER X. 

FROM THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY TO THE IRON ERA — 1839-1845. 

Legislation, etc., Previous to Organization — The Act — Change of Boundaries — Selection 
of Site of County Seat — Public Buildings — Militia — Pohtics — Statistics — County 
Finances 101 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE FURNACES. 

The Pioneer Furnace — Structure of the Stacks — Methods of Manufacture — Review of 

the Industry — List of Furnaces 112 



Contents. 5 

CHAPTER XII. 

FROM THE IRON ERA TO THE CIVIL WAR. — 1845-1861. 

Mexican War — The Underground Railway — The Tornado of '60 — Floods — War Senti- 
ment — Politics — Statistics — County Finances — Old-Fashioned Temperance — A 
Fourth of July Celebration — Fox Hunt — A Mass Meeting in '60 121 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE SOLDIERS OF CLARION COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 
Introductory 142 

CHAPTER XIV. 

COMPANY H, THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT — EIGHTH RESERVE. 
•Organization — Service in the Field — Roll of the Company 145 

CHAPTER XV. 
COMPANY E, THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT — TENTH RESERVE. 

Organization — Route to the Field — Service in the Field — Losses — Record of Hugh 

Wilson — Roll of Company 152 

CHAPTER XVI. 

COMPANIES OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT — MILITIA OF 1863. 

•Company D : Recruiting — Service in the Field — Roll. Company H : Enlistment — 
Service — Roll. Company I : Recruiting — Familiar Names — Roll of Company. 
Company K ; Where Recruited — Service — Roll of Company 164 

CHAPTER XVII. 

COMPANY C, SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT, P. V. 

When Recruited — Organization and Muster — Service in the Field — Death of Colonel 

Black — Roll of Company 167 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

COMPANY E, SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 

When Recruited — Captain Kerr's Dismissal — Service in the Field — Roll 178 

CHAPTER XIX. 

COMPANY F, SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 
When and By Whom Recruited — Officers — Service on the Field — Roll of Company .... 189 

CHAPTER XX. 

COMPANY F, SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, P. V. 
When Recruited — Familiar Names — Roll of Company 209 

CHAPTER XXI. 

COMPANY C, SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V. 

Recruiting — Service — Roll of Company 218 

1 



6 Contents. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

COMPANY E, SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V. 
Recruited — Mustered — Service — Familiar Names — Roll of Company 225 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

COMPANY A, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. 
Enlistment — Route to the Field — Services — Roll 232 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. 
Enlistment — Route to the Field — Services — Death of Captain Gillespie — Roll 243 

CHAPTER XXV. 

COMPANY F, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. 

Enlistment — To the Field — Services — Roll 250 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT P. V. 
Recruiting — To the Field — Services — Roll 257 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

COMPANY C, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. 

Recruiting — To the Front — Services — Severe Losses — Distinguished Names — Roll. . . . 264 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

COMPANY L, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V.— ELEVENTH 

CAVALRY. 

Enlistment — To the Field — Services — Captain Loomis's Death — Roll 277 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

COMPANY K, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V. 

Enlistment — To the Field — Services — Roll 289 

CHAPTER XXX. 

COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT P. V. 

Enrollment — Route to the Field — Services — Roll 299 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

COMPANY G, ONE HUNDRED xVND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. 

Enlistment - To the Field — Services — Roll 308 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. 

Enrollment - - Services — Casualties — Roll 318 



Contents. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

COMPANY K, ONE [HUNDRED AND FIFTY -NINTH REGIMENT P. V.— FOUR- 
TEENTH CAVALRY. 

First Enlistment Recruits — Other Recruits — In the Field — Record of the Men 327 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 

Enlistment — Remarkable Number of Desertions — Roll 329 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS. 

Captain Tanner's Independent Company : Muster — Service — Roll. List of Soldiers En- 
rolled in Various Other Organizations Than Those Already Named 334 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE OIL ERA— 1865-1877. 

Oil Mania — Apprentices — The Allegheny Valley Railroad — The Low Grade — Telegraphic 

— Attempt to Move County Seat — Politics — Statistics — County Finances 343 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PETROLEUM. 

Deer Creek Oil Spring — The Pocohontas — Early Operations — Graham's Landing — Fox- 
burg — First Pipe Line — Grass Flats — St. Petersburg — -Turkey City and Monroe ville 

— The St. Lawrence- — Edenburg — Beaver City — Elk City — Pipe Lines — Cogley 
Field — Reidsburg — Statistics 347 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE LUMBER AND COAL INDUSTRIES. 

Early Lumbering — Hahn & Metzgar — Marvin, Rulofson & Company — Penn Mills — 
Shoup & Siegworth — Cobb & Sons — Paint Mills — Star Mills — P. Haskell — Byrom, 
Minor & Gordon — Higby Tract — Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company — Blake Tract — 
F. Vowinckel — T. Raine — Observations — Statistics — Fairmount Mines — Mineral Ridge 

— New Catfish — Hardscrabble — Pine Run — Clarion Shaft — Star and Long Run — 
Church Hill — Shgo Branch — Western Shaft 359 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

FROM THE OIL ERA TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1877-1887. 

Railroads — Politics — Statistics — County Finances — Civil List — Newspapers — Post- 

oflfices — Agricultural Association — Public Buildings '. . 367 

CHAPTER XL. 

THE BENCH AND BAR. 

The First Court — Judge Alexander McCalmont — The First Attorneys — Later Ones — 
Judges Buffington, Knox, and J. S. McCalmont — The Logue Trial — Murder Cases — 
Judges Scofield and Campbell — Additional Sketches — Judge Jenks — The Standard 
Proceedings — Hons. Corbett and Wilson — History of the District — List of Attor- 
neys — First Records — County Officers '. . 387 



8 Contents. 

CHAPTER XLI. 

SCHOOLS. 

First Schools — Free Schools — The County Superintendency — Superintendent Orr — 
The First Institutes — Superintendent Magonagle — Superintendent Walker — Super- 
intendent Kelly — Superintendent Wood — Superintendent Davis — Superintendent 
Anderson — Superintendent McNutt — Parochial Schools 411 

CHAPTER XLII. 
CHURCHES 420 

CHAPTER XLHI. 

HISTORY OF ASHLAND TOWNSHIP 432 

CHAPTER XLIV. 
HISTORY OF BEAVER TOWNSHIP 441 

CHAPTER XLV. 
HISTORY OF BRADY TOWNSHIP U9 

CHAPTER XLVI. 

HISTORY OF EAST BRADY BOROUGH 452 

CHAPTER XLVII. 

HISTORY OF CALLENSBURG BOROUGH 45^ 

CHAPTER XLVni. 
HISTORY OF CLARION TOWNSHIP ■ 467 

CHAPTER XLIX. 
HISTORY OF CLARION BOROUGH 474 

CHAPTER L. 

HISTORY OF CURLLSVILLE BOROUGH 496 

CHAPTER LI. 
HISTORY OF EDENBURG BOROUGH 49& 

CHAPTER LH. 
HISTORY OF ELK TOWNSHIP 506 

CHAPTER LHI. 
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP 5ia 

CHAPTER LIV. 
HISTORY OF HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP 516 



Contents. 9 

CHAPTER LV. 
HISTORY OF KNOX TOWNSHIP 5m 

CHAPTER LVI. 
HISTORY OF LICKING TOWNSHIP 524 

CHAPTER LVU. 
HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP 531 

CHAPTER LVni. 
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP 536 

CHAPTER LIX. 
HISTORY OF MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP 543 

CHAPTER LX. 
HISTORY OF MONROE TOWNSHIP 546 

CHAPTER LXI. 
HISTORY OF NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH 551 

CHAPTER LXn. 
HISTORY OF PAINT TOWNSHIP 562 

CHAPTER LXni. 
HISTORY OF PERRY TOWNSHIP 565 

CHAPTER LXIV. 
HISTORY OF PINEY TOWNSHIP 569 

CHAPTER LXV. 
HISTORY OF PORTER TOWNSHIP 573 

CHAPTER LXVI. 
HISTORY OF REDBANK TOWNSHIP 582 

CHAPTER LXVn. 
HISTORY OF RICHLAND TOWNSHIP 588 

CHAPTER LXVin. 
HISTORY OF RIMERSBURG BOROUGH 592 

CHAPTER LXIX. 
HISTORY OF ST. PETERSBURG BOROUGH 600 



lo Contents. 

CHAPTER LXX. 

HISTORY OF SALEM TOWNSHIP 606 

CHAPTER LXXI. 
HISTORY OF SLIGO BOROUGH 611 

CHAPTER LXXn. 
HISTORY OF STRATTANVILLE BOROUGH 613 

CHAPTER LXXni. 
HISTORY OF TOBY TOWNSHIP 617 

CHAPTER LXXIV. 
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 622 

CHAPTER LXXV. 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 631 

BRIEF PERSONALS i 

INDEX Ixv 



Contents. 



II 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Andrews, Charles E., facing 552 

Arnold, Frank M., facing 494 

Arnold, G. W., facing 492 

Arnold, M., facing 484 

Barr, W. W., facing 396 

Berlin, George N facing 508 

Bowman, David, facing 514 

Black, Jacob, facing 658 

Campbell, James, facing 402 

Clarion County Map of Larger 

Land Patents facing 64 

Collner, W. F., facing 408 

Craig, Colonel C. A facing 264 

Cresswell, John, facing 580 

Davis, A. J., facing 410 

Eaker, P. K., facing 534 

Fox, J. M., between 634-635 

Fox, S. M., between 634-635 

Fox, William L facing 636 

Foxburg Memorial Church facing 637 

Hamilton, William R., facing 554 

Hess, Michael E., facing 500 



Kahle, Hon. John W facing 628 

Kaufman, C facing 480 

Keating, H., facing 590 

Klingensmith, John, facing 542 

Knox, Hon. James B facing 156 

Leeper, C, facing 468 

Lowry, Samuel, facing 218 

Payne, T. J., facing 652 

Reynolds, David, • facing 120 

Ritts, Elias facing 602 

Ritts, John V., facing 604 

Robinson, Robert facing 456 

Ross, J. Frank, facing 476 

Rulofson, R., facing 360 

Siegwarth, A. L facing 512 

Shanafelt, William, facing 576 

Sloan, W. C, facing 584 

Strattan, John R., facing 614 

Sweny, James, facing 404 

Wilson, J. H., facing 548 

Yeany, John, facing 662 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



Andrews, Charles E., 642 

Arnold, Frank M., 650 

Arnold, George W.,, 632 

Arnold, Manasseh 661 

Barr, Hon. W. W., 657 

Berlin, George N 648 

Bowman, David, , 653 

Black, Jacob, 659 

Campbell, Hon. James, 631 

Collner, W. F., 658 

Craig, Colonel C. A 655 

Cresswell, Dr. John, 648 

Davis, A. J., 647 

Eaker, Philip K., 644 

Fox, J. M 635 

Fox, S. M., 635 

Fox, William L., 635 

Hess, M. E., 639 

Kahle, Hon. John W., 643 



Kaufman, Charles 633 

Keating, John, 662 

Klingensmith, John 660 

Knox, Hon. James B., 638 

Lowry, Samuel 634 

Payne, T. J., 653 

Reynolds, David, 654 

Ritts, Elias, 637 

Ritts, John V., 651 

Ross, J. Frank, M. D., 649 

Rulofson, R., 641 

Siegwarth, A. L., 650 

Shanafelt, William, 645 

Sloan, William C, 642 

Strattan, John R., 663 

Sweny, James, 664 

Wilson, Hon. J. H., 662 

Yeany, John, 663 



_.___A 



HISTORY 



OF 



CLARION COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I.i 

PENNSYLVANIA FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE REVOLUTION. 

Introductory — The Natives — ^ Hudson — Dutch Settlements — Settlement by the Swedes — 
Conquest of the Swedish Colony bj^ the Dutch — Conquest of the New Netherlands by the 
British — Re-conquest by the Dutch — Final Cession to England — New Jersey — William Penn 
— Charter of Charles II — Settlers sent to Pennsylvania — Philadelphia — Penn in America — 
Disputes with Lord Baltimore — Treaty Avith the Indians — Rapid Immigration — Division into 
Counties — Troubles with Maryland — Penn Returns to England — Death of Charles II — Dis- 
sensions in the Colony — Public Schools in Philadelphia — Penn Arrested in England — Gov- 
ernor Fletcher — Penn Returns to America — Sails for Europe — Death of King William — 
Discord in the Colony — Death of Penn — Hannah Penn — French and Indians — Trouble with 
Maryland — Logan — Whitefield — War Avith France-- Peace of Aix — French Encroach- 
ments in the West — Celeron — Ohio Company — Washington — Fort Necessity — First Con- 
gress — Braddock's Defeat — Battle at Kittanning — Capture of Fort Du Quesne — Death of 
George II — Pontiac's War. 

THE surface of what is now known as Pennsylvania was, at the time of the 
coming of the white men, one vast forest of hemlock, and pine, and beech, 
and oak, unbroken except by an occasional rocky barren upon the precipitous 
mountain side, or by a few patches of prairie, which had been reclaimed by 
annual burnings, and was used by the indolent and simple-minded natives for 
the culture of a little maize and a few vegetables. The soil, by the annual ac- 
cumulations of leaves and abundant growths of forest vegetation, was luxurious, 
and the trees stood close and were of gigantic size. The streams swarmed 
with fish, and the forest abounded with game. Where now are cities and ham- 
lets filled with busy populations intent upon the accumulation of wealth, the 

1 Chapters I and II are compiled and condensed from Bates's "History of Pennsylvania," and 
from the State Archives. 
2 



14 History of Clarion County. 

mastery of knowledge, and the pursuits of pleasure, the deer browsed and 
sipped at the water's edge, and the pheasant drummed his monotonous note. 
Where now is the glowing furnace, from which day and night tongues of flame 
are bursting, and the busy water-wheel sends the shuttle flashing through the 
loom, half- naked, dusky warriors fashioned their spears with rude implements 
of stone, and made themselves hooks out of the bones of animals, for alluring 
the finny tribe. Where now are fertile fields, upon which the thrifty farmer 
turns his furrow, which his neighbor takes up and runs on until it reaches from 
one end of the broad State to the other, and where are flocks and herds re- 
joicing in rich meadows, gladdened by abundant fountains, or reposing at the 
heated noontide beneath ample shade, not a blow had been struck against the 
giants of the forest, the soil rested in virgin purity, the streams glided on in 
majesty, unvexed by wheel and unchoked by device of man. 

Where now the long train rushes on with the speed of the wind over plain 
and mead, across streams and under mountains, awakening the echoes of the 
hills the long day through, and at the midnight hour screaming out its shrill 
whistle in fiery defiance, the wild native, with a fox skin wrapped about his 
loins and a few feathers stuck in his hair, issuing from his rude hut, tro ted on 
in his forest path followed by his squaw with her infant peering forth from the 
rough sling at her back, pointed his canoe, fashioned from the barks of the 
trees, across the deep river, knowing the progress of time only by the rising 
and setting sun, troubled by no meridian for its index, starting on his way 
when his nap was ended, and stopping for rest when a spot was reached that 
pleased his fancy. Where now a swarthy population toils ceaselessly deep 
down in the bowels of the earth, shut out from the light of day in cutting out 
the material that feeds the fire upon the forge, and gives genial warmth to the 
lovers as they chat merrily in the luxurious drawing-room, not a mine had been 
opened, and the vast beds of the black diamond rested unsunned beneath the 
superincumbent mountains, where they had been fashioned by the Creator's hand. 
Rivers of oil seethed through the impatient and uneasy gases, and vast pools 
and lakes of this pungent, parti-colored fluid, hidden away from the coveting 
eye of man, guarded well their own secrets. Not a derrick protruded its well- 
balanced form in air. Not a drill with its eager, eating tooth descended into 
the flinty rock. No pipe line diverted the oily tide in a silent, ceaseless current 
to the ocean's brink. The cities of iron tanks, filled to bursting, had no place 
amidst the forest solitudes. Oil exchanges, with their vexing puts and calls, 
shorts and longs, bulls and bears, had not yet come to disturb the equanimity 
of the red man as he smoked the pipe of peace at the council fire. 

When the Europeans came this territory was occupied by some of the most 
bloody and revengeful of the savage tribes. They were known as the Lenni 
Lenapes, and held sway from the Hudson to the Potomac. They came to be 
known to the Europeans as the Delawares, after the name of the river along 






Pennsylvania. 15 



the numerous branches of which they principally dwelt. The Monseys, or 
Wolves, another tribe of the Lenapes, dwelt upon the Susquehanna and its 
tributaries, and, by their warlike disposition, won the credit of being the fiercest 
of their nation. 

The " Five Nations " — the Senecas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, and the 
Onondagas — occupied the greater part of the territory now known as New 
York, and from their hearty union came to exercise a commanding influence. 
The Tuscaroras, a tribe which had been expelled from their homes in North 
Carolina, were adopted by the Five Nations, and from this time forward were 
known by the English as the Six Nations ; by the Lenapes they were called 
Mingoes, and by the French Iroquois. 

In 1609 Henry Hudson, an English navigator then in the employ of the 
Dutch East India Company, discovered and partially explored the Delaware 
Bay and the Hudson River. The adjacent country was subsequently claimed 
by Holland, and the States General designated it as New Netherlands. A 
permanent settlement was made on the Hudson, and in 1623 a settlement was. 
made by a party of Walloons, Protestant fugitives from Belgium, under Cor- 
nells Jacobson Mey, on the eastern shore of the " South." or Delaware River^ 
about fifty miles above the mouth. A fort was built which was called Nassau^ 
but after a few months it was abandoned and the settlers returned to their 
friends on the Hudson. Nassau afterward became a trading-post between the 
Dutch and the Indians. 

Seven or eight years later a Httle settlement (consisting of about thirty per- 
sons) was made by the Dutch near the mouth of the Delaware River on the 
western shore, but in a short time every one of the settlers was massacred by 
the Indians, and their skulls and bones were found bestrewing the ground by 
their countrymen who came in a vessel to succor them in 1632. 

The first permanent settlement in Pennsylvania was made by a company of 
Swedes and Fins in 1638, and was called by them Christina, after the name of 
the youthful queen of Sweden. The Dutch still held Nassau when the 
Swedes arrived, and their government at Manhattan looked with envious eyes 
upon the new colony. In a few years the Dutch secured a grant of land on 
the west bank of the Delaware, and a conflict of authority arose between the 
settlers of the two nationahties. 

In 1654 the Swedes took forcible possession of one of the Dutch forts. 
The next year Governor Stuyvesant conducted a band of troops from Man- 
hattan and not only retook the fort but forced the capitulation of the entire 
Swedish colony, which thus came to an end after an existence of a little more 
than seventeen years. 

The English had always claimed the entire Atlantic seaboard. On March 
22, 1664, Charles II, of England, made a grant of the whole country, at 
the time in possession of the Dutch, to his brother James, the duke of York. 



i6 History of Clarion County. 

James sent four men-of-war, which he borrowed from the king, under com- 
mand of Colonel Richard Nicholls, to wrest the New Netherlands from the 
Hollanders. The settlements along the Hudson surrendered without firing a 
gun, but those on the Delaware made a gallant but fruitless resistance, and 
their fort was taken by assault. Nicholls was succeeded by Colonel Francis 
Lovelace, who was appointed governor in 1667. 

In 1673 war broke out anew between the French and English on one side 
and the Dutch on the other. The Hollanders repelled the French army of 
200,000 men by cutting the dikes which held back the sea and inundating the 
land. The Dutch fleet, in three great naval battles, repulsed the English fleet 
that was acting in concert with the French army, and drove it from the coast 
of Holland. Deeming this a favorable opportunity to regain their possessions 
wrenched from them in the New World, the Dutch sent a small fleet to New 
York and compelled the surrender of the country. The possessions along the 
Delaware also fell into the hands of the Dutch; but when peace was concluded 
between England and Holland, in 1674, the whole country was restored to 
England, and Sir Edmund Andros was sent to govern the ceded territory. 

The Friends, or Quakers, settled in New Jersey, and, through the financial 
embarrassment of one of the proprietors (named Byllinge), William Penn became 
trustee about 1675-76, and finally part owner of the territory, calling his share, 
which lay along the Delaware, New West Jersey, that on the ocean shore being 
called New East Jersey. Thus we see how Penn first became involved in the 
affairs of the New World. He instituted a liberal form of government for his 
people, and in every way disclosed a noble disposition toward the settlers. 

William Penn became more and more interested in the subject of col- 
onization in America. His father had risen to distinction in the British navy, 
having served under the Commonwealth and also after the Restoration. Under 
James, duke of York, Admiral Penn commanded the English fleet which de- 
scended upon the Dutch coast, and gained a great victory over the naval forces 
led by Van Opdam. For this service to his country Penn was knighted, and 
became a favorite at court. At his death there was due him from the crown 
about $80,000, a portion of which he himself had advanced for sea service. 
The son, William Penn, petitioned King Charles H to grant him, in liquidation 
of this debt, " a tract of land in America, lying north of Maryland, bounded 
east by the Delaware River, on the west limited as Maryland, and northward 
to extend as far as plantable." The government granted to Penn a larger tract 
than he had asked for, and the charter was drawn up with unexampled liberal- 
ity. He was invested with almost dictatorial power over a country as large as 
England itself, destined to become a populous empire. Penn wanted to name 
the land New Wales, but the king insisted on " Pennsylvania," in honor of the 
admiral, William Penn's father. 

The charter of King Charles H was dated April 2, 1681, and next year 



Pennsylvania. 17 



Penn obtained a deed for the territory embraced in the charter. He also ob- 
tained in 1682 two grants of a tract of land extending to Cape Henlopen, on 
Delaware Bay, embracing the three counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, 
which were for many years a part of Pennsylvania, but subsequently consti- 
tuted the State of Delaware. 

Penn now relinquished his share in West New Jersey and gave himself to 
reclaiming and settling his new province. The publication of the royal charter 
and his description of the country attracted attention, and many purchases of 
land were made of Penn before he left England. That these purchasers might 
have something binding to rely upon, Penn drew up what he termed " condi- 
tions or concessions " between himself, as proprietor, and purchasers in the 
province. These related to the settling of the country, laying out towns, and 
especially to the treatment of the Indians, who were to have the same rights 
and privileges, and careful regard as the Europeans. And, what is perhaps a 
remarkable instance of provident forethought, the eighteenth article provides 
" That in clearing the ground, care be taken to leave one acre of trees for every 
five acres cleared." It might have been well if such a provision had remained 
operative in the State for all time. 

The articles and laws which Penn drew up for the government of his colony 
were unexampled for fairness and liberality, and gave impress to the character 
of the early government. They implanted in the breasts of the people a deep 
sense of duty, of right, and of obligation in all public affairs, and the relations 
of man with man, and formed a framework for the future constitution. ReHg- 
ious freedom was guaranteed to every one, and thus an asylum was afforded 
to all who were oppressed for conscience's sake. 

Not being in readiness to go to his province during the first year, Penn dis- 
patched three ship loads of settlers, and sent his cousin, William Markham, to take 
formal possession of the country and act as deputy governor. With him he sent 
commissioners who, in conjunction with the governor, were to preserve friendly 
relations with the Indians and acquire lands by actual purchase, and to select 
the site of a great city. Penn's instructions as to the treatment of the Indians 
will be handed down the ages as a model of justice, humanity, and wisdom. 
Purchases of lands from the Indians were made on the west bank of the Dela- 
ware, and above the mouth of the Schuylkill, and after considerable trouble in 
searching for an eligible site for a city, the present site of Philadelphia was 
finally adopted, at the junction of the Schuylkill and the Delaware. 

Having settled his affairs in England, Penn embarked on board the ship 
Welcome, August, 1682, in company with about a hundred planters, for the 
New World. The voyage lasted nearly six weeks, and they had not been on 
the ocean long before the small-pox broke out, and thirty of the company died. 

His arrival was hailed with demonstrations of joy by all classes — English, 
Dutch, and Swedes. On his arrival at Upland, now Chester, he called an as- 



1 8 History of Clarion County. 

sembly of the people, in which an equal number of votes was allowed to the 
province and the three lower counties, now constituting Delaware. The assem- 
bly was in session only three days, but over sixty subjects were treated in the 
laws they enacted. 

Penn also visited New York, and, as the boundaries between his province 
and Maryland were in dispute, he paid a visit to Lord Baltimore to adjust the 
difficulties arising from the disputes, but his mission proved fruitless. Penn's 
charter limits were " all that tract of land, or part of land, in America, with 
the islands therein contained as the same is bounded, on the east by Delaware 
River, from twelve miles distance northwards of New Castle town, unto the 

three and fortieth degree of northern latitude The said land to 

extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be computed from the said east- 
ern bounds ; and the said lands to be bounded on the north by the beginning 
of the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, and, on the south, by a 
circle drawn at twelve miles distance from New Castle northward and westward 
unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of northern latitude ; and then by a 
straight line westward to the limits of the longitude above mentioned." As 
we have seen, Penn afterward obtained a grant of the three counties of Dela- 
ware called the "territories " or " lower counties." By reference to a map it 
will be seen that the southern boundary of Penn's lands cuts the District of 
Columbia, and includes Baltimore and the greater part of Maryland, together 
with a good slice of Virginia. Lord Baltimore claimed the country as far 
north as Philadelphia, or to the fortieth parallel of latitude. These conflicting 
claims gave cause for grave disputes. 

Penn next made his celebrated treaty with the Indians, in which the Lenni 
Lenape, the Shawnees, and the Mingoes are said to have participated, and 
which, we are told, the Indians kept sacred for one hundred years. 

The fame of the colony and the desirableness of settlement therein spread 
rapidly, and the numbers coming hither were unparalleled in the history of 
colonization. People came from England, Ireland, Wales, Holland, and Ger- 
many. Their first care on landing was to bring their household goods to a 
place of safety, often to the simple protection of a tree. Some made for them- 
selves caves in the earth until better habitations could be secured. 

Penn divided the colony into counties, three for the province (Bucks, Phila- 
delphia, and Chester) and three for the territories (New Castle, Kent, and 
Sussex). A General Assembly was elected, eighteen for the Council, or Up- 
per House, and fifty-four for the Assembly, or Lower House. This Assembly 
convened January lo, 1683. The first grand jury in Pennsylvania was sum- 
moned for the 2d of February, 1683. In less than a year the number of 
houses in Philadelphia numbered about eighty. 

Early in the year 1684 a party from Maryland made forcible entry upon 
the plantations in the lower counties and drove off the owners. Indications 



Pennsylvania. 19 



arising that a struggle was likely soon to be precipitated before the crown for 
possession of the disputed territory, Penn decided early in the summer to 
return to England to defend his interests. He accordingly arranged his affairs 
in the colony, issued an affectionate address to his people, and sailed for 
Europe on the 6th of June. 

Charles II died this year and was succeeded by his brother James, duke of 
York, under title of James II. Penn enjoyed the friendship of the new 
king and soon obtained a temporary settlement of his disagreement with Lord 
Baltimore touching the boundaries of their provinces, which was effected by a 
compromise. The matter was finally determined in 1732. 

July 27, 1688, John Blackwell was appointed lieutenant-governor, but ow- 
ing to dissensions his term was short, and in January, 1690, he left the colony 
for England. 

Three forms of administering the executive department of the government 
had now been tried, by a council consisting of eighteen members, a commission 
of five members, and a lieutenant-governor. A disagreement as to the form 
of government caused a secession of the lower counties, which eventuated in 
the formation of Delaware as a separate commonwealth. 

In 1689 the Friends' Public School in Philadelphia was first incorporated, 
confirmed by a patent from Penn in 1701, and another in 1708, and finally, 
with greatly enlarged powers from Penn personally, November 29, 171 1. The 
preamble to the charter recites that as " the prosperity and welfare of any peo- 
ple depend, in great measure, upon the good education of youth, and their 
early introduction in the principles of true religion and virtue, and qualifying 
them to serve their country and themselves, by breeding them in reading, 
writing, and learning of languages and useful arts and sciences suitable to 
their sex, age and degree, which cannot be effected in any manner so well as 
by erecting public schools," etc. George Keith was employed as first master, 
and served one year. A school of a primary grade had been established as 
early as 1683 in Philadelphia, and was taught by Enoch Flower. 

Penn's favor at court during the reign of James II caused him to be sus- 
pected of disloyalty to the government when William and Mary had come to 
the throne. Accordingly from 1688 to 1690 he was arrested four times on sus- 
picion of adhering to the Stuarts, and his fourth arrest prevented him from 
prosecuting a voyage with a large party of settlers to Pennsylvania. Political 
and religious troubles vexed the colony, which, coupled with the disfavor into 
which Penn had fallen in England, served as a pretext to wrest his province 
from him. The French and Indians from the north were threatening the Eng- 
lish. Already the expense for the defense had become burdensome to New 
York. It was believed that Penn, with his peace principles, would refuse aid 
for the common defense. Accordingly, on the 21st of October, 1692, Benjamin 
Fletcher, governor of New York, was commissioned by William and Mary to 



20 History of Clarion County. 

take the province and territories under his government. The following April 
he came with great pomp to assume authority. He summoned the Assembly, 
and soon differences arose between the members and the governor. William 
Markham was appointed lieutenant-governor, and Governor Fletcher departed 
to New York. 

The following year Governor Fletcher again met the Assembly, and again 
attempted to persuade that body to vote money to provide for the common 
defense ; but the Assembly persistently refused, and September, 1694, closed 
Fletcher's governorship of Pennsylvania. Penn was reinstated in his govern- 
ment the same year. 

In July, 1699, Penn set sail for America, and was tossed about on the ocean 
by adverse winds for three months. Great joy was everywhere manifested 
throughout the province at his arrival. He at once set about the affairs of 
his people. The following February he met the Indians in formal treaty of 
friendship. Several sessions of the Legislature were held, in which great har- 
mony prevailed, and attention was given to revising the constitution. 

In the midst of these labors intelligence came that a bill had been intro- 
duced in Parliament for reducing all proprietary governments in America to 
regal ones. The case was urgent, and Penn reluctantly resolved to return to 
England in order to protect his interests. He appointed Andrew Hamilton as 
his deputy, and on the ist of November, 1701, set sail for Europe. 

Soon after Penn's arrival in England King William died, and Anne of Den- 
mark succeeded him. 

Penn now found himself in favor at court, and the bill which had been 
pending before Parliament, that had given him so much uneasiness, was at the 
succeeding session dropped entirely, and was never again called up. 

Governor Hamilton died December, 1702, and was succeeded by Edward 
Shippen, president of the Council. John Evans was appointed deputy gover- 
nor, and assumed his duties December, 1703. He attempted to reunite the 
province and lower counties, but insurmountable difficulties arose, and the ter- 
ritories, or lower counties, remained separate in a legislative capacity, though 
still a part of Pennsylvania under the claim of Penn, and ruled by the same 
governor, until September 20, 1776, when a constitution was adopted, and 
they were proclaimed a separate State under the name of Delaware. 

Discord between Council and the Assembly marked the two years of the 
government of Evans, and little legislation was effected. The governor is- 
sued a proclamation calling for the organization of the militia, but no one en- 
listed. Next he attempted to frighten the Quakers into taking up arms by 
causing a false alarm of approaching enemies to be circulated, but without 
avail ; few of these people showed any disposition to falsify their faith. Fail- 
ing in other measures, he was relieved in 1709, and Colonel Charles Gookin 
was appointed to succeed him. 



Pennsylvania. 21 



Contentions arose between the new governor and his Council and Assem- 
bly, which continued during the greater part of his administration. These 
troubles, and debts and litigations at home, caused Penn to think seriously of 
selling his interest in the colony, and in 171 2 he offered it for ^^ 20,000. The 
sum of ;^i 2,000 was offered on the part of the crown, which was agreed upon; 
but before the necessary papers were executed he was stricken down with apo- 
plexy, by which he was incapacitated for transacting any business, and a stay 
was put to further proceedings. After a lingering illness for six years he died 
on May 30, 171 8, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. 

With great power of intellect, and a religious devotion scarcely matched in 
all Christendom, he gave himself to the welfare of mankind, by securing civil 
and religious liberty through the operations of the organic law. Though not a 
lawyer by profession, he drew frames of government and bodies of laws which 
have been the admiration of succeeding generations, and are destined to exert 
a benign influence in all future time, and by his discussions with Lord Balti- 
more and before the Lords in Council, he showed himself familiar with the 
abstruse principles of law. He sought to know no philosophy but that pro- 
mulgated by Christ and his disciples, and this he had sounded to its depths, 
and in it were anchored his ideas of public law and private and social living. 
The untamed savage of the forest bowed in meek and loving simplicity to his 
mild and resistless sway, and the members of the Society of Friends all over 
Europe flocked to his city of Brotherly Love. His prayers for the welfare of 
his people are the beginning and ending of all his public and private corres- 
pondence, and who will say that they have not been answered in the blessings 
which have attended the commonwealth of his founding ? And will not the 
day of his greatness be when the inhabitants throughout all its borders shall 
return to the peaceful and loving spirit of Penn ? In the midst of a licentious 
court, and with every prospect of advancement in its sunshine and favor, inher- 
iting a great name and an independent patrimony, he turned aside from this 
brilliant track to make common lot with a poor sect under the ban of govern- 
ment; endured stripes and imprisonment and loss of property; banished him- 
self to the wilds of the American continent that he might secure to his people 
those devotions which seemed to them required by their Maker, and has won 
for himself a name by the simple deeds of love and humble obedience to Chris- 
tian mandates which shall never perish. Many have won renown by deeds of 
blood, but fadeless glory has come to William Penn by charity. 

After his death his wife Hannah assumed proprietary powers, issued instruc- 
tions to her lieutenant-governors, heard complaints and settled difficulties with 
the skill of a veteran diplomatist. A suit in chancery, after litigation for nine 
years, resulted in declaring the sale of the province to the crown void, and 
Penn's three surviving sons, John, Thomas, and Richard, became the joint pro- 
prietors. 



22 History of Clarion County. 

Governor Gookin becoming insane, was succeeded a year before the death 
of Penn by Sir WiUiam Keith, who was possessed of many good traits, and 
administered the executive power with skill. He made a treaty with the Five 
Nations and evinced a disposition to treat the Indians with fairness. However, 
factional troubles arose in the colony, and, having refused the request of Han- 
nah Penn to reinstate James Logan, president of the Council and secretary of 
the province, whom he had dismissed from office, he was himself removed in 
July, 1726, after an eminently successful administration of nine years. 

Patrick Gordon was appointed lieutenant-governor in place of Keith. By 
the decision of the Court of Chancery in 1727, alluded to in a foregoing para- 
graph, Hannah Penn's authority over the colony was at an end, the proprietary 
interests having descended to her sons. The period from the death of Penn, in 
17 18, to 1727, one of the most prosperous in the history of the colony, was 
familiarly known as the " Reign of Hannah and the Boys." 

The Indians now began to grow more troublesome. As early as 1732 the 
French, who were claiming all the territory drained by the Mississippi and its 
affluents, on the ground of priority of discovery of its mouth and exploration 
of its channel, commenced erecting trading-posts in Pennsylvania, along the 
Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, and invited the Indians living on these streams to 
a council for concluding treaties with them at Montreal, Canada. To neutralize 
the influence of the French, these Indians were summoned to meet in council 
at Philadelphia, to renew treaties of friendship. A treaty was also concluded 
with the Six Nations, in which they pledged lasting friendship for the English. 

Hannah Penn died in 1733. King George II had been on the British throne 
since June, 1727. He now reserved to himself the government of the lower 
counties, which act of the king was the beginning of those series of encroach- 
ments which finally culminated in the independence of the States of America. 

Thomas Penn arrived in the province in 1732, and John Penn came over 
in 1734- Soon after the arrival of the latter news was brought that Lord Bal- 
timore had made application to have the provinces transferred to his colony, 
and John Penn returned to England to defend the proprietary rights. In Au- 
gust, 1736, Governor Gordon died. His term had been one of prosperity, and 
the colony had grown rapidly in numbers and in the industries. James Logan, 
president of the council, was, in efiect, governor during the two years following 
the death of Gordon. During this period serious trouble broke out near the 
Maryland border, west of the Susquehanna, in which several skirmishes took 
place between parties of Marylanders and Pennsylvanians, resulting in the 
death of some of the participants. Learning of these troubles, the king in 
Council issued an order restraining both parties from further acts of violence, 
and afterwards adopted a plan of settlement of the vexed boundary question. 

Logan had been an active participant in the affairs of the colony for nearly 
fifty years, and had now been acting governor for two years. At his death he 



Pennsylvania. 23 



bequeathed his large library of standard works to the people of Pennsylvania, 
which is known as the Loganian Library. George Thomas assumed the office of 
governor in 1 738, having been appointed the preceding year. War between Great 
Britain and Spain was declared in 1739, and eight companies of volunteers were 
furnished for coast defense. Whitefield, the great evangelist, visited the colony 
the next year and created a deep religious interest among all denominations. 

In March, 1744, war was declared between Great Britain and France. Vol- 
unteers were called for, and lO.OOO men were soon enlisted and armed at their 
own expense. Benjamin Franklin was elected colonel of one of the regiments, 
but soon resigned. John Penn died in 1747, and Governor Thomas retired 
from the duties of his office on account of declining health. Anthony Palmer 
became acting governor. 

The French were now deeply intent on securing firm possession of the Mis- 
sissippi valley, even to the summits of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania, and 
used every artful means to win the simple natives to their interests. By mak- 
ing large presents of most serviceable goods, the friendship oi the Indians was 
retained by the Pennsylvanians. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. concluded in 
1748, between Great Britain and France, brought about a temporary cessation 
■of hostilities between their representatives in America. 

Palmer retired, and James Hamilton arrived from England in 1748, bearing 
the commission of lieutenant-governor. Though the treaty of Aix was sup- 
posed to have settled all difficulties, yet the French were determined to occupy 
the whole territory drained by the Mississippi. Marquis de la GaUssoniere, 
governor- general of Canada, dispatched Captain Bienville de Celeron, with a 
party of two hundred and fifteen French and fifty-five Indians, to publicly pro- 
claim possession, and bury at prominent points plates of lead bearing inscrip- 
tions declaring occupation in the name of the French king. Celeron started 
from La Chine in 1749, and, having arrived at Warren, near the confluence of 
Conewango Creek with the Allegheny River, he caused a leaden plate, eleven 
inches long, seven and a half wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick, to be buried, 
bearing an inscription in French, claiming all the lands on both sides of the 
river to its source. A plate, on which was inscribed the arms of France, was 
affixed to the nearest tree. A second plate was planted a few miles below 
FrankHn, at the rock known as the " Indian God," on which are ancient and 
unknown inscriptions ; a third at the mouth of WheeHng Creek, a fourth at the 
mouth of Muskingum, a fifth at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, and the sixth 
and last at the mouth of the Great Miami. They returned to Canada by the 
Miami, the Maumee and Lakes Erie and Ontario. The Indians viewed the 
planting of these plates with great suspicion, and by some means got posses- 
sion of one of them. They immediately dispatched some Cayuga chiefs to 
Governor George Clinton, at New York, with it, and he sent the plate to the 
Lords of Trade in London about the last of December, 1750. When the in- 
scription was explained to the Indians they were greatly alarmed. 



24 History of Clarion County. 

The French laid out a Hne of military posts on nearly the same line as that 
pursued by the Celeron expedition. A fort was established at Presque Isle 
(now Erie), another at Le Boeuf (now Waterford), a third at Venango (Frank- 
lin), and a fourth at Pittsburgh, which was called Fort Du Quesne, and so on 
down the Ohio. 

To counteract this activity of the French, the Ohio Company was chartered, 
and a half million acres was granted by the crown, to be selected mainly on 
the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongalia and Kanawha Rivers. 
The company consisted of a number of Virginia and Maryland gentlemen, of 
whom Lawrence Washington was one. Securing the right of occupancy from 
the Indians, Captain Gist led twelve families and settled on the Monongalia and 
subsequently began the erection of a fort where the French afterward con- 
structed Fort Du Quesne. 

These proceedings hastened the erection of the forts by the French at Ve- 
nango and Le Boeuf. Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, determined to send an 
officiarcommunication — protesting against the encroachments of the French — 
to the commandant of the French at Fort Le Boeuf George Washington, then 
a youth twenty- one years of age, accepted the appointment to bear the mes- 
sage. He set out on the last day of November, 1753, and pushed on through 
the forests to the settlements on the Monongalia, where he was joined by Cap- 
tain Gist, and followed up the Allegheny to Fort Venango, thence up French 
Creek to Fort Le Boeuf, where he held a formal conference with the French 
commandant, St. Pierre. On his return Washington was twice fired at by hos- 
tile Indians, and came near losing his life by being thrown into the freezing 
waters of the Allegheny. His report of the embassage had the effect to excite 
the English to action, and Colonel Fry was sent with a body of 150 men to 
the support of the settlers. The French, having the Allegheny River on which 
to move, dropped down that river with 1,000 men supplied with artillery, and 
easily seized the fort then being constructed by the Ohio Company, greatly 
strengthened it, and called it Fort Du Quesne. The small band of Virginians 
pushed on and encountered a body of the French under Jumonville, routed 
them, killing ten men including the commander, and capturing twenty-one 
prisoners. Only one of the French party escaped. Colonel Fry, the com- 
mander of the Americans, having died at Will's Creek, the command devolved 
on Washington. A company of lOO men from South Carolina came to the 
support of Washington. Knowing that he was confronted by a vastly superior 
force, well supplied with artillery, he threw up works at a point called Great 
Meadows, and named the hastily built post Fort Necessity. 

The French soon invested the place. The action opened July 3, 1754, and 
lasted till late at night. The artillery of the French commanded a part of the 
fort and Washington was forced to capitulate. On the 4th of July he marched 
out with honors of war and fell back to Fort Cumberland. The Pennsylvania 



Pennsylvania. 25 



Assembly was slow to vote money for even defensive warfare, while large 
amounts were voted to buy peace from the Indians. 

The English government recommended a congress of all the colonies, to- 
gether with the Six Nations, for the purpose of concerting plans for defense. 
This congress met at Albany on the 19th of June, 1754, the first ever con- 
vened in America. Franklin, who was a representative from Pennsylvania, 
offered a scheme for union among the colonies, which was adopted substan- 
tially as it came from his hands. The plan was rejected, however, by both the 
king and the colonies when it was referred to them for ratification. 

Governor Hamilton resigned, and was succeeded in 1754 by Robert H. 
Morris. The British government called for 3,000 volunteers from Pennsyl- 
vania, with subsistence, camp equipage, and transportation, and sent two regi- 
ments of the line under General Braddock, who landed at Alexandria, Va., 
and marched to Frederick, Md., where, finding no supplies, he halted. Frank- 
lin, by strenuous exertion, secured the necessary wagons andibeasts of burden. 

Braddock had little conception of making war in the wilderness against 
wily savages. His progress through the forests as he moved toward Fort Du 
Quesne was so slow that the French were kept advised of every movement. 
Washington, who had accepted a position offered him by Braddock as aide-de- 
camp, advised rapid movement to forestall preparation, but the advice was not 
heeded. On the morning of the 9th of July the army of Braddock marched 
across the Monongahela, and, having gone only a short distance, fell into an 
ambuscade skillfully laid by the French and Indians. The advance was checked 
and thrown into confusion. Every tree on the front and flanks of the line con- 
cealed a murderous foe who, with unerring aim, picked off the officers. Brad- 
dock fell mortally wounded. All the mounted officers having fallen, the com- 
mand devolved on Washington, who, though sick, was in the midst of the hot- 
test fighting. Of 1,460 in Braddock's army, 456 were killed and 421 wound- 
ed. Panic seized the survivors, which carried them back upon the reserve, 
commanded by General Dunbar, and the flight was continued until Fort Cum- 
berland was reached. 

This defeat left the frontier exposed to the merciless savage from the Hud- 
son to the Potomac. The unprotected settler in his wilderness home was the 
easy prey of the torch and scalping-knife, the burning cabin lit up the somber 
forests by their continuous blaze, and the shrieks of women and childen re- 
sounded along the entire frontier. Franklin accepted the command upon the 
Pennsylvania frontier, and by his exertions stayed the hand of the treacherous 
savage. 

Governor Morris was superseded by William Denny, who assumed author- 
ity in August, 1756. Twenty-five companies of militia were recruited, and 
Colonel Armstrong was dispatched with a force of three hundred men, in Au- 
gust of the same year, to disperse the Indians at Kittanning, on the Allegheny 



26 History of Clarion County. 

River, where Chief Jacobs had one of the largest towns in the State. At 
dawn on the morning of the 7th of September Colonel Armstrong surprised 
the Indians, killed Jacobs and most of his followers, and captured arms, pow- 
der, and valuable goods which had been distributed to them only the day 
before by the French. 

The campaign of 1757 was disastrous to the English, but in 1758 General 
Abercrombie was given chief command. Wolf and Amherst were directed to 
operate against Louisburg and the posts on the lakes, and General Forbes was 
sent against Fort Du Quesne. With a detachment of royal troops and militia 
from Pennsylvania and Virginia, under command of Colonels Bouquet and 
Washington, he set out in July, 1758. Arriving in front of the fort a sharp 
battle was fought, in which the French were routed and the fort was surren- 
dered to the victors. All the expeditions against the French being successful 
this year, the war was brought to a close, and the French possessions in Amer- 
ica were ceded to Great Britain by the peace declared in 1762. 

In October, 1759, James Hamilton was again appointed governor. George 
II died the same month of the following year, and was succeeded by his grand- 
son, George III. 

Pontiac's War occurred in 1763, when the Indians of the West entered into 
a secret league, and in the month of May fell upon the forts held by the colo- 
nists. Nine posts, including Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, and Venango, fell into their 
hands, and their garrisons put to the slaughter. Only three. Fort Pitt (Du 
Quesne), Niagara, and Detroit, were able to hold out. The last named post 
was besieged by Pontiac in person from May until October. The Pennsylvania 
settlers were driven back to the line of the Susquehanna. Colonel Armstrong 
led a force into the Indian country to punish them, and relieved Fort Pitt, 
routing the Indians with slaughter. 



Pennsylvania. 27 



CHAPTER II. 

FKOM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME. 

Mason and Dixon — Indian Troubles — Stamp Act — Connecticut and Virginia Claims — First 
Continental Congress — Second Continental Congress— Declaration of Independence — New 
Constitution for Pennsylvania — Retirement of Governor Penn anrl the Proprietary Assembly 
— Evacuation of Boston — Attack on Charleston — British take New^ York — Battle of 
Trenton — Princeton — Assembly of the New Legislature — Brandy wine — The British Occupy 
Philadelphia— Attack on Fort Mercer — Battle of Germantown — Valley Forge— Aid from 
France — Evacuation of Philadelphia — Battle of Monmouth — Abolition of Slavery in Penn- 
sylvania — Wyoming Massacre — Overtures of Peace — Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line — 
Disaster of Colonel Crawford — Peace — Revolt of Pennsylvania Troops — Treaty of Fort 
Stanwix — Constitution of United States Framed and Adopted — New Constitution for State 

Whisky Insurrection — War of 1812 — Coal — Public Schools — Revision of Constitution — 

Buckshot War — Mexican War — Sale of Public Works— Petroleum and Gas — Secession — 
Invasion of Pennsylvania — Battle of Gettysburg — Burning of Chambersburg — Soldiers' 
Orphan Schools — Revision of the Constitution — Centennial Exposition — Riots of 1877 — 
Extra Session of the Legislature. 

THE boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland had been a source 
of vexation between the two proprietaries for many years. Charles Ma- 
son and Jeremiah Dixon, two able mathematicians and surveyors, were ap- 
pointed by the proprietors to survey the line. They arrived in Philadelphia in 
November, 1763, carrying with them the most perfect instruments then known 
to science, and at once entered upon their work. After about three years' la- 
bor they had reached a point 244 miles from the Delaware, and within thirty- 
six miles of the western limit of the State, when the Six Nations gave notice 
that the survey should proceed no farther. So the party returned to Philadel- 
phia. The remainder of the line was finished in 1782-84 by other surveyors. 
From the fact that this was subsequently the mark of division between the free 
and slave States, Mason and Dixon's line became familiar in American politics. 

John Penn, grandson of the founder, had come to the colony in 1753, and, 
having acted as president of the Council, was in 1763 commissioned governor 
in place of Hamilton. 

Indian barbarities still continuing along the frontier, Governor Penn sent 
Colonel Bouquet against them. Bouquet marched his Pennsylvanians as far as 
the Muskingum and compelled the Indians to sue for peace and to give up all 
the English captives who had been carried away during the years of trouble. 

The Stamp Act was passed by the British ParHament in 1765. This was 
an act to lay a uniform tax on stamped paper in all the colonies, to realize 
funds for the common defense. Prior to this Parliament had adopted a tax on 
imports, to be paid in coin. These acts excited bitter opposition. A congress 
of delegates assembled in New York in October, 1765. Messrs. Fox, Morton, 



History of Clarion County. 



Bryan, and Dickinson were the delegates from Pennsylvania. A petition was 
sent to the king, and a memorial to Parliament. So strong was the opposition 
of the colonists to the measures of Parliament, that the Stamp Act was re- 
pealed the following year. A duty on tea, paper, etc., was the next step taken 
by the British government to raise revenue off the colonies. This measure was 
opposed as strenuously by the people and their assemblies as the former acts 
had been, and in 1770 this tax was abolished, except three pence a pound on 
tea. The effect on the people, however, was the same, as it was the principle 
of " taxation without representation " that they objected to. 

On the death of his father, Richard (177 1), Governor John Penn returned 
to England, and his younger brother, Richard, was appointed governor. He 
won the esteem of the people during the two years of his service, when he was 
superseded in 1773 by his brother John. 

Maryland was not the only claimant of the territory embraced in Penn's 
province. Connecticut claimed and actually colonized a large part of the 
northern section of Pennsylvania, including the Wyoming valley, and Virginia 
claimed the section in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Connecticut claim 
was not finally adjusted until 1802, when Congress decided in favor of Penn- 
sylvania. 

Trouble with the mother country now became imminent. The principle of 
taxation was maintained by the government and as stoutly resisted by the col- 
onies. On the 4th of September, 1774, the first Continental Congress assem- 
bled in Philadelphia. It was resolved that no more goods be imported from 
England, and that, unless a pacification was effected previously, no more col- 
onial produce of the soil be exported thither after September 10, 1775. A 
■declaration of rights was adopted and addresses to the king, the people of 
Great Britain, and of British America were adopted. 

The government of Great Britain determined with a strong hand to compel 
obedience to its behests. The battle of Lexington was fought on the 19th of 
April, 1775. The colonies were aroused by the blow. A public meeting was 
held in Philadelphia and it was resolved to organize military companies in all 
the counties. The second Continental Congress met in May, and provided for 
organizing an army, fixing the quota for Pennsylvania at 4,300 men. The 
capture of Ticonderoga on May 10, and the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 
followed. Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental 
army. Congress recommended action by the several colonies, which meant the 
deposition of the royal governors. A new constitution was resolved upon by 
the delegates at a colonial meeting in Philadelphia. 

A resolution was introduced in Congress June 7, 1776, declaring that "the 
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent States." A 
committee (consisting of Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Livingston, and Sherman) 
was appointed to draft a declaration. It was reported June 28, and adopted 



Pennsylvania. 29 



July 4. An engrossed copy of the declaration was made, which was signed 
on the 2d of August following. The convention for framing a new constitu- 
tion for Pennsylvania met on the 15th of July, elected Franklin president, 
framed a new organic law, and made all necessary provisions for putting it in 
operation. The old proprietary Assembly adjourned on the 28th of September 
never to meet again, and with it ended the power of Governor Penn. He 
remained in this country, living at his country seat in Buck's county, until his 
death, which occurred in 1795. In 1779 the Legislature passed an act vest- 
ing the estates of the proprietors in the commonwealth, but paying them a 
gratuity of 130,000 pounds, " in remembrance of the enterprising spirit of the 
Founder." This act did not touch the private estates of the proprietors. 
England still pays the heirs of Penn an annuity of 4,000 pounds. 

The British government raised an army of 72,000 men, 17,000 of whom 
were hired Hessians. Congress issued bills of credit amounting to $6,000,000. 
Washington compelled Howe to evacuate Boston in March, 1776. The follow- 
ing June Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker made a combined land and 
naval attack on the defenses of Charleston harbor, and were repulsed by the 
Carolina militia under General William Moultrie. 

The British forces withdrew to New York, where they were met by rein- 
forcements under Lord Howe, and compelled Washington to withdraw from the 
city. The patriot army retreated across New Jersey and took position on the 
right bank of the Delaware, on Pennsylvania soil. Cornwallis followed with a 
heavy detachment. On the night of the 25th of December Washington 
recrossed the Delaware with a picked body of men, surprised the Hessians 
posted at Trenton, killed some fifty, and took over a thousand prisoners with 
their stores, arms, and ammunition. This success inspired the little army with 
new courage and saved Philadelphia from falling into the hands of the enemy. 
A second action, at Princeton, N. J., gave Washington a partial success; but 
being outnumbered he withdrew and went into winter quarters at Morristcwn. 

On the 4th of March, 1777, the two houses of the Legislature, elected under 
the new constitution, assembled, and in joint convention chose Thomas Whar- 
ton, jr., president, under the high-sounding title of " His Excellency, Thomas 
Wharton, Junior, Esquire, President of the Supreme Executive Council of 
Pennsylvania, Captain General, and Commander-in-chief in and over the 
same." 

Early in the spring indications pointed to Philadelphia as the point of attack 
by the British army. Enlistments were urged, and General Benedict Arnold 
was put in command of a camp opened in Pennsylvania for drilling recruits. 
In midsummer Lord Howe embarked a force of 19,500 men on a fleet of 300 
transports, and sailed southward from New York to Chesapeake Bay and up 
the bay to within fifty-four miles of Philadelphia, where he debarked. Wash- 
ington had meanwhile crossed the Delaware from New Jersey, passed through 



30 History of Clarion County. 

Philadelphia, and confronted Howe near the Brandywine. After a brisk skir- 
mish Washington withdrew across the Brandywine, taking position at Chad's 
Ford, where, on the iith of September, a pitched battle ensued. A detach- 
ment of the British moved up the river beyond the right flank of the Americans, 
where they crossed, and returning took the army under Washington by sur- 
prise. Overborne by numbers, the Americans were compelled to retire. La- 
fayette was wounded in this battle. 

The British still advanced toward Philadelphia, and on the i6th Washington 
made another stand some twenty miles west of Philadelphia ; but a rain storm 
wet the powder of the patriot soldiers, which prevented a general engagement. 
On the 20th General Wayne, who had a small detachment scouting in the rear 
of the enemy, was surprised by the British, who gave no quarter, putting all 
to the sword but a few whom chance favored to escape. This slaughter is 
known as the Paoli massacre. On the i8th of September Congress adjourned 
from Philadelphia to meet at Lancaster, and on the 30th removed across the 
Susquehanna to York, where it remained in session till the following summer. 
The Council adjourned to Lancaster. On the 26th the British army entered 
Philadelphia. 

The defenses on the Delaware were still in possession of the Americans. 
Accordingly, on the 21st of October Count Donop, with a force of 2,500 
men, made an attack on Fort Mercer, at Red Bank ; but the resolute defenders 
compelled the British to retreat, with a loss of over 400 men, and their leader 
mortally wounded. The British next bombarded the fort for six days, and, not 
succeeding in its reduction, they at last brought their large vessels close under 
the walls of the fort and manned the yard-arms with sharpshooters, who drove 
the gunners from their posts, and the fort fell into the hands of the enemy, leav- 
ing the navigation of the Delaware open to the British. 

On the 3d of October Washington's army attacked the British at German- 
town. At first the promise of victory was fair ; but the enemy proved too strong 
in numbers and position, and Washington retired to his camp at White Marsh, 
nearly sixteen miles away. 

Here Howe endeavored to surprise him on the 4th of December, but Lydia 
Darrah, a Philadelphia lady, brought the intelligence to Washington in time to 
prepare to receive the British. Howe returned to the city without accomplish- 
ing anything. Washington now crossed the Schuylkill and went into winter 
quarters at Valley Forge. The patriot army, half clad and poorly fed, suf- 
fered severely, the prints of their naked feet in snow and on frozen ground being 
often tinted with blood. Sir Henry Clinton was appointed by the ministry of 
Great Britain to succeed Lord Howe. 

A treaty with France secured that government as an ally of the Americans 
against the English. A fleet of four frigates and twelve ships was dispatched 
under command of Count D'Estaing to shut up the British fleet in the Dela- 



Pennsylvania. 31 



ware. Intelligence of the sailing of the French fleet reached the English cabi- 
net, and the evacuation of the Delaware was immediately ordered. The fleet 
withdrew to New York, and Clinton evacuated Philadelphia, moving across 
New Jersey toward New York. Washington followed and came up with the 
enemy at Monmouth, on the 28th of June, where a battle was fought, result- 
ing in a victory for the American troops. Congress returned to Philadelphia 
from York, as did also the Colonial Legislature from Lancaster. General 
Arnold, who was wounded at Saratoga, was given command in Philadelphia, 
and occupied the city with a regiment the day following the evacuation. 

The death of President Wharton made Vice-President George Bryan acting 
president. Bryan perfected a bill for the extinguishment of claims to slaves, 
which was passed by the Assembly March i, 1780. It provided that no child 
of slave parents, born after that date, should be a slave, but a servant till the- 
age of twenty-eight years, when all claim for service should end. In this man-- 
ner was slavery forever rooted out of Pennsylvania. 

During the summer of 1778, twelve hundred Tories and Indians made a. 
descent from the north into the Wyoming Valley. Most of the able-bodied 
men were in the patriot army. The old men and boys, numbering about four 
hundred, resolutely met the invaders, but were overborne by numbers and put 
to the sword. A few escaped to Forty Fort. Humane terms of surrender 
were agreed upon, and the families returned to their homes ; but the savages 
treacherously fell upon them, and the night of the 5th of July was given to in- 
discriminate slaughter. This bloody incident is known as the "Wyoming Mas^ 
sacre." 

Early in this year the British government made overtures of peace, after 
Parliament had abolished the taxes which were so offensive to the colonies. 
Promises were extended to forgive all past offenses, but Congress refused to 
listen to any proposals so long as the English armies remained on American 
soil. One of the committee sent by the British government, named Johnstone, 
proposed to General Reed that if he would lend his aid to bring about terms of 
pacification, ten thousand guineas and the best office in the country should be 
his. The answer of the patriot general was, " My influence is but small, but 
were it as great as Governor Johnstone would insinuate, the king of Great Brit- 
ain has nothing in his gift that would tempt me." 

Joseph Reed was elected president of the Pennsylvania Legislature and in- 
augurated on the 1st of December, 1778. At the request of Washington, Pres- 
ident Reed was invested with extraordinary powers in 1780, which he used 
with prudence and good effect. During the winter of this year some of the 
soldiers of the Pennsylvania line mutinied and marched on Philadelphia with 
arms. They had enlisted for " three years or the war," meaning three years 
unless the war closed sooner. The authorities had interpreted it to mean three 
years, or as much longer as the war should last. President Reed met the mu- 



32 History of Clarion County. 

tineers, heard their cause, and pledged himself to have all discharged who had 
honorably served the full term of three years if they would return to camp. 
The soldiers agreed to this proposition. Before the arrival of President Reed, 
two emissaries from the enemy came into camp, offering inducements for the 
soldiers to continue the revolt. The mutineers spurned the offer, and delivered 
them over to the officers, by whom they were tried and executed as spies. A 
reward was offered the soldiers for this manifestation of patriotism, but they re- 
fused it, saying that what they had done was for love of their country, and they 
would accept no reward. 

William Moore was elected president to serve from November 14, 1781. 
A body of four hundred volunteers, from Washington and Westmoreland coun- 
ties, was called out, under command of Colonel William Crawford, to chastise 
the hostile Ohio Indians. The expedition was unfortunate, being defeated, 
dispersed, and their leader captured and burned at the stake. Crawford county 
was soon after named in honor of this unfortunate soldier. 

In 1782 John Dickinson was chosen president of Pennsylvania. The fol- 
lowing year the independence of the colonies was acknowledged, and the joy 
at the return of peace was unspeakable. The soldiers of Burgoyne, who had 
been confined in the prison camp at Lancaster, were sent to New York. In 
June another revolt occurred among the Pennsylvania troops, because of the 
delay in their payment and discharge. Congress demanded that the State 
militia should be called out to quell the insurgents. The Council refused to 
resort to this extreme measure, and Congress left Philadelphia in pique, estab- 
lishing itself at Princeton, N. J., and afterward at Annapolis, Md. 

In October, 1784, the last treaty was concluded with the Indians at Fort 
Stanwix. All the land north of the Ohio River and the line of Pine Creek was 
purchased from the natives. This purchase completed the entire limits of the 
State, with the exception of the "Erie Triangle," which was acquired from the 
United States in 1792. 

Benjamin Franklin was elected president of the Council in 1785. In May, 
1787, the convention to frame a constitution for the United States met in 
Philadelphia. Upon the completion of their work the instrument was sub- 
mitted to the several States for adoption. Pennsylvania adopted the constitu- 
tion on the 1 2th of December. Thomas Mifflin was elected president of the 
Council on the 5th of November, 1788. A convention assembled in Novem- 
ber, 1789, to prepare a new constitution for the State, which was adopted on 
September 2, 1790. The Council was abolished, and the executive duties were 
vested in the hands of a governor. Legislation was intrusted to an Assembly 
and a Senate. 

Thomas Mifflin was elected governor under the new Constitution, and 
served three successive terms. A system of internal improvements was 
undertaken and a great debt was accumulated. The Bank of Pennsylvania 



Pennsylvania. 33 



was chartered in 1793, and continued to exist until 1857. Tlie yellow fever 
visited Philadelphia in 1793, and nearly 5,000 perished by the pestilence. The 
whisky insurrection in some of the western counties of the State occurred in 
1794. The counties comprising the southwestern quarter of the State were 
engaged almost exclusively in the production of grain. Being distant from any 
market, a large proportion of the surplus grain was turned into distilled spirits, 
on which Congress laid a tax of four pence per gallon in 179 1. This tax bore 
heavily on these people, and they formed a determination to resist its collec- 
tion. Acts of violence followed. In 1792 the tax was reduced. President 
Washington issued a proclamation commanding all persons to submit to the 
law, but without effect. The insurgents organized for forcible resistance, and 
assembled at Braddock's field to move on to Pittsburgh. Governor Mifflin 
took measures to ascertain the facts about the trouble and bring the leaders to 
justice. President Washington called out the militia of Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, to the number of 13,000 men, to quell the 
insurrection. Governor Mifflin took command of the Pennsylvania troops, 
and Washington himself accompanied the army. This had the effect to change 
the attitude of the insurgents. Washington proceeded as far as Bedford, but 
the submission of the people rendered it unnecessary to go any farther. A 
number of arrests were made, but all were ultimately pardoned. 

The capital of the State was removed to Lancaster in 1799. Thomas Mc- 
Kean was elected governor the same year, and Simon Snyder in 1808. Har- 
risburg was made the State capital in 18 10. In 18 12 war was declared 
against Great Britain. The national call for 100,000 men required 14,000 
from this State; but so great was the enthusiasm that several times this number 
tendered their services. Pennsylvania did not suffer from invasion during this 
war. Her troops and sailors participated in the various actions of the war, and 
it was in Erie harbor that the fleet was organized that won the signal victory 
under Perry, on Lake Erie. General Smith, a Pennsylvania veteran of the 
Revolution, repulsed the invading army under General Ross, near Baltimore, 
where Ross was killed. 

William Findley was elected governor in 18 17, Joseph Hiester in 1820, and 
Andrew Schulz in 1823. During this period the State -banks set a flood of 
paper money afloat, lines of canals were opened and vast debts incurred. 

Coal was discovered and used in the State as early as 1769, but little was 
known of its importance until an accident brought about a knowledge of how 
to make it burn. In 1820, 365 tons were sent to Philadelphia, which amount 
glutted the market. In 1885 the production of anthracite coal in the State 
was 31.750,546 tons, and of bituminous coal 20,647,720 tons. The bituminous 
coal was discovered and utilized a little earlier than the anthracite, a cargo 
having been sent down the Susquehanna from Clearfield county in 1804. 

Iron ore' was discovered and worked soon after Philadelphia was laid out. 



34 History of Clarion County. 

It is not known when or where the first forge was erected. In 17 17 Jonathan 
Dickinson spoke of the great expectations of the iron works forty miles up the 
Schuylkill. Where they were situated is not settled. It is supposed that the 
reference was to the Coventry forge, on the French Creek, in Chester county, 
which is said to have been built by a man named Nutt. It is said to have 
gone into operation in 1720. But a forge is also mentioned in March, 17 19 or 
1720, at Manatawney, now Montgomery county. 

The first mention of iron-making in Pennsylvania in Minutes of Council is 
February 24, 1726, where it is stated that "several companies are already en- 
gaged in carrying on iron- works." In 1728 Mr. Logan wrote that there were 
four furnaces in Pennsylvania in blast. In 1730 there were four furnaces, 
nine forges, and two bloomeries, which manufactured 1,072 tons pig iron and 
about 300 tons bar iron. One hundred years later the product of forty- five 
furnaces was about 40,000 tons, which grew in the next seventeen years (1847) 
to over 380,000 tons, from 522 establishments. The products of 810 estab- 
lishments in the State, engaged in the manufacture of iron and its various 
products during the year 1885 were valued at more than $120,000,000. This 
sum is a decided decrease from that of some preceding years. Pennsylvania 
has long ranked first of the States in the Union in the production of iron. 

During the administrations of George Wolf, elected in 1829, and Joseph 
Ritner, elected in 1835, a system of public education was established and 
brought into a good degree of successful operation. Attention had early been 
given to education in the colony. In 1749 a charter was obtained for a 
" college, academy, and charity school of Pennsylvania." The University of 
Pennsylvania was chartered in 1752, Dickinson College in 1783, Franklin and 
Marshall College in 1787, and Jefferson College in 1802. Charters were 
granted for academies at the county seats of forty-one counties, and appropri- 
ations were made of money, and in several instances of land grants. In 1809 
an act was passed for the education of the " poor, gratis." By the act of 1834 
a general system of education by common schools was established. It was 
complex and unwieldy, and in 1836 a new bill was adopted; and from this 
time forward the system has been in efficient operation. In 1854 the system 
was improved by establishing the county superintendency, and in 1859 by 
providing for State Normal schools for the professional training of teachers. 

The constitution was revised in 1837—38. The "Buckshot War" occurred 
at the opening of Governor David R. Porter's term, who was chosen in 1838. 
The origin of this commotion was the attempt on the part of the Anti-Masonic 
party to " revise " the returns of the election, which gave Porter (the Demo- 
cratic candidate) some 5,000 majority. Anarchy prevailed for a time at Har- 
risburg. Two speakers were elected. An infuriated lobby from Philadelphia 
and other cities collected and took possession of the two Houses, driving the 
members from the chambers. The militia were called out and supplied with 



Pennsylvania. 35 



buckshot cartridges. The capitol was cleared, but Governor Porter was duly- 
inaugurated. 

Francis R. Shunk was chosen governor in 1845. The Mexican War occurred 
during his term of ofifice. Two volunteer regiments under Colonels Wynkoop 
and Roberts were sent to the field. Colonel John W. Geary afterwards suc- 
ceeded Roberts in command of the second regiment. William F. Johnston 
succeeded Governor Shunk. William Bigler was elected in 185 i, James Pol- 
lock, in 1854, and William F. Packer in 1857. During these administrations 
the lines of public works undertaken at the expense of the State were com- 
pleted. Their cost had been enormous, and a debt of over $40,000,000 was 
piled up against the commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company- 
purchased them during Governor Pollock's administration for $7,500,000. 

In the administration of Governor Packer petroleum was discovered in 
quantities in this State by boring into the bowels of the earth. From the ear- 
liest settlement of the country it was known to exist. As early as 1627 Joseph 
Delaroche Daillon, a French missionary, described it in a letter published in 
1632. Fathers DoUier and Galinee made a map of this section of the country 
in 1670, on which was marked, at about the point where the town of Cuba, 
N. Y., is now situated, " Fontaine de Bitume." The governor of New York 
instructed his chief engineer, Romer, in 1700, in his visit to the Six Nations, 
to examine a spring that he was told blazed in a flame when fire was brought 
into contact with it. The French give an account of an Indian dance, near 
where now is Oil City, at which oil was burned that had been gathered from the 
surface of the water in the creek. 

In nearly all geographies and notes of travel published during the early 
period of settlement, this oil is referred to, and on several maps the word petro- 
leum appears opposite the mouth of Oil Creek. Washington, in his will, men- 
tions a bituminous spring on his lands on the Great Kanawha, and Jefferson, in 
his " Notes on Virginia," gives an account of a burning spring on the same 
river. This oil seems to have been gathered in very early times. Upon the 
flats a mile or so below the city of Titusville are many acres of cradle-holes dug 
Out and lined with split logs, evidently constructed for the purpose of gathering 
oil. Trees of large size are growing in the midst of these cradles, so that they 
must have been operated long ago. This may have been the work of the 
mound builders. Even in later times the oil was collected by throwing a woolen 
blanket upon pools of water, where oil was floating on the surface, and then 
wringing it into a tub. 

But it remained for Mr. E. L. Drake to open a new enterprise, by drilling 
into the earth, and, after many discouraging experiences, when about to give 
up in despair, finally to strike a strong current of oil. From this time forward 
the business of drilling for oil has been rapidly developed, until it has extended 
over a wide area of Western Pennsylvania, and into the adjoining States of New 



2,6 History of Clarion County. 

York, Ohio, and West Virginia. The oil has been found in paying quantities 
in McKean, Warren, Forest, Crawford, Venango, Clarion, Butler, Armstrong, 
and Washington counties. It was first transported in barrels loaded on wagons 
and drawn by teams. Flat-boats carried thousands of barrels down the Alle- 
gheny River from Oil City to Pittsburgh in the early days of development. 
Lines of railway were soon constructed from the nearest trunk lines. Barrels 
gave place to immense iron tanks riveted upon cars, and finally great pipe lines 
were extended from the wells to the seaboard and to the immense refineries on 
the Great Lakes, through which the fluid is forced by steam power to its dis- 
tant destinations. 

The^production has been enormous, having reached a grand total of over 
three hundred million barrels up to January i, 1887, and seems as yet to show 
no signs of diminution. 

In addition to the oil, the prodigious volume of gas that issues from the 
wells in some parts of the territory has been utilized, and towns and cities are 
now lighted and heated by this product of the earth's interior. Manufactories 
are supplied with this subtle fuel carried through pipe lines from the wells, and 
economy and convenience of its use bid fair to have a lasting beneficial influ- 
ence upon the business interests of this section of the country. 

Andrew G. Curtin was elected governor in i860, and Abraham Lincoln 
president of the United States. Fifteen of the slave States seceded from 
the Union and established a separate government, under the name of the Con- 
federate States of America. On the 12th of April, 1861, an attack was made 
upon a garrison of United States troops holding Fort Sumter. On the 15th 
the president summoned 75,000 volunteers, to serve for three months, calling 
for sixteen regiments from Pennsylvania. Instead of sixteen, twenty-five regi- 
ments were organized in this State. Governor Curtin obtained permission from 
the Legislature to organize a select corps of thirteen regiments of infantry, one 
of cavalry, and one of artillery, to serve within the State for its defense against 
invasion; but at the time of the first Bull Run disaster, in July, 1861, the na- 
tional government being without troops to defend its capital, the Pennsylvania 
Reserve Corps was called out of the State, and fought gallantly on many a 
bloody field during the three years' term of service. During the war Pennsyl- 
vania furnished a grand total of more than 350,000 men to serve in the armies 
of the republic. 

In 1862 the Confederates, under General J. E. B. Stewart, invaded Penn- 
sylvania, and burned some buildings at Chambersburg. In June of the follow- 
ing year General Lee led his entire army (of Northern Virginia) into this State. 
The Army of the Potomac, under General Hooker, followed. General George 
G. Meade was appointed to supersede Hooker while the army was on the 
march. The vanguards of the armies met at Gettysburg on the ist of July. 
For three days the battle raged with relentless fury. General Reynolds fell on 



Pennsylvania. 37 



the first day, and the First and Eleventh Corps of the Federal army were forced 
to retire after a desperate struggle, and to take position on the heights south of 
the town. During the night reinforcements continued to come up for both 
armies, and preparations were made to renew the struggle. On the second day 
the battle opened on the extreme left of the Union army by an attack from the 
Confederate right. After a bloody slaughter the Union troops lost ground, 
but still continued to hold Little Round Top, the key to their position. In the 
evening of the same day a desperate charge was made on the center of the 
Union line, but the Confederates were repulsed with terrible loss. About the 
same time an attack was made on the extreme right of Meade's army, which 
had been weakened by withdrawing troops to other parts of the field, and the 
line was occupied and held by the Confederates during the night. On the 
morning of the third, the battle opened for the recovery of this part of the line 
and raged with great fury until ten o'clock, when the Confederates were driven 
from the position and the line of rifle pits was reoccupied by the Union 
troops. 

About two o'clock a heavy artillery fire was opened on the Union line, which 
was responded to for two hours. Rarely has such a cannonade been heard on 
any field. A corps of 18,000 Confederates now advanced upon the Union line. 
A concentrated artillery fire was opened upon the column, with fearful effect. 
When the advance had come within musket range the Union troops poured 
in a murderous fire. Still on came the brave Southerners, and actually crossed 
the Union lines; but the slaughter was too terrible to withstand. Many were 
killed or captured ; a small remnant staggered back, and the battle of Gettys- 
burg was won for the Union. 

The losses on the Union side were 2,834 killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 
missing, an aggregate of 23,186. Of the Confederates 13,621 prisoners were 
taken, and their loss in killed and wounded must have been equal to that on 
the Union side. 

Gett}^sburg was the culminating battle of the war, and from that time for- 
ward the fortunes of the Confederacy continued to wane. During the summer 
of 1864 Pennsylvania was again invaded by a force of Confederates, and al- 
most the entire town of Chambersburg was laid in ashes. 

The w^ar ended in 1865. The State provided schools for the soldiers' or- 
phans, furnishing food, clothing, instruction, and care until the age of sixteen. 
The number thus cared for up to January i, 1887, ^^^^ been about 14,000, at 
an annual expense of about $375,000. 

John W. Geary was elected governor in 1866. A convention for a revis- 
ion of the constitution assembled in 1872, and the instrument was framed and 
adopted in 1873. John F. Hartranft became governor in 1873. The first cen- 
tennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was celebrated in 1876, 
by holding an international exposition in Philadelphia. The exposition opened 



38 History of Clarion County. 

on the loth of May and closed on the lOth of November, with a total attend- 
ance of 9,789,392. The largest number of people admitted on any one day 
was 274,919, on Pennsylvania Day, September 28. During Hartranft's admin- 
istration occurred the great strike (1877), when travel and traffic were sus- 
pended for some time. At Pittsburgh and Scranton conflicts occurred, in 
which a number of people lost their lives. An uneasy feeling prevailed for 
several weeks, but the National Guard, assisted by the Regulars, at length suc- 
ceeded in restoring order, and business again assumed its usual course. 

In 1878 Henry F. Hoyt was chosen governor, and Robert E. Pattison was 
elected in 1882. The Legislature which met in 1883, having adjourned with- 
out passing a congressional apportionment bill, was reconvened by the gov- 
ernor in extra session, and remained in session from June to December without 
agreeing upon a bill. 

General James A. Beaver was elected governor in 1886, and is the present 
incumbent. 



CHAPTER HI. 

TOPOGRAPHY OP CLAPJON COUNTY. 

Table-Land Character — Drainage — Streams — Elevations — General Description — Forests 
— Scenery — Ancient Channels. 

THE surface of Clarion county has a sufficient general elevation above the 
level of the large streams to merit the name of a table-land ; but its nu- 
merous water-courses, many of them with valleys of gorge-like depth and 
abruptness, break it up into a succession of ridges and rolls, leaving little of 
the level associated with the idea of a table- land. A thickly intersected 
undulatory plateau it is, therefore ; and a miniature of the great one of West- 
ern Pennsylvania, intersected by the Allegheny and its tributaries. Clarion 
county occupies a central position in Western Pennsylvania, lying but six 
miles north of a line drawn east and west through the middle of the State. 

A glance at the map will show three main systems of drainage : The great 
central one of the Clarion River, comprising three- fourths of the county; the 
northern, where the edge is drained by streams falling into Tionesta Creek and 
the Allegheny ; and the southern, whose streams take their course to Red- 
bank, with the exception of Catfish and Black Fox Runs, emptying into the 
Allegheny. The great artery of the county, the Clarion River, is a clear, 
beautiful stream which, being formed by the junction, at Ridgway, Elk county, 
of West Clarion and Elk Creek, enters the county at Cooksburg, and, traversing 



Topography of Clarion County. 39 



it in a general southwest course, though with many serpentine bends, falls into 
the Allegheny about three-fourths of a mile below Foxburg ; a distance of fifty 
miles. It has an average fall of seven feet to the mile, but in the numerous 
" riffles," which alternate with the "eddies," it often attains great swiftness, and 
its fall is much greater. 

Beginning at the east on the northern side, the noteworthy tributaries of 
the Clarion are as follows, in their order : Tom's Run and Toby Creek, rising 
in Farmington township ; Deer Creek, which receives water from every north- 
ern township with the exception of Highland, Salem, and Richland ; Canoe 
Creek, Beaver Creek, and Turkey Run. Ritchey Run is a portion of the 
western boundary, and flows into the Allegheny. These streams have an 
average fall of thirty-five feet to the mile. On the south: Blyson's Run; 
Mill Creek, an important lumber outlet ; Piney Creek, draining Limestone, 
Monroe, and parts of Piney and Clarion townships ; and Licking Creek, which 
takes its rise in Piney township and receives Little Licking and Cherry Run. 

In the north, beginning at the east we have Waley's Run and Little Coon 
Creek, which flow from Farmington township into Coon, or Raccoon Creek, 
a tributary of the Tionesta ; Hemlock, which skirts Washington township and 
takes a northwest course to the Allegheny at President ; and East Sandy, 
passing through the northern part of Elk and Ashland,- west into the Alle- 
gheny. 

Into Redbank Creek, likewise beginning at the east, flow Pine Run, Town 
Run ; Leasure, Long, Leatherwood, and Fiddler's Runs. These, with Catfish, 
have a rapid fall, ranging from fifty to one hundred feet per mile. 

From the course of its affluents we may see that the general trend of the 
basin of the Clarion is, on the north, to the southwest, and on the south to the 
northwest. The northernmost parts of Farmington, Washington, Elk, and Ash- 
land townships lean slightly to the northwest ; while the southern part of the 
county, with the exception of parts of Madison, Toby, and Perry, on the Alle- 
gheny, have a directly southern slope. We have spoken of the basin of the Clar- 
ion ; this is so deceptive a term as almost to be a misnomer. The territory 
drained by the Clarion and its affluents is rather a plateau, deeply intersected 
by numerous streams which have a gradual descent, while the land between 
these may be said to maintain its elevation almost to the verge of the Clarion, 
where it breaks off" precipitously and plunges down 300 to 400 feet to the 
water's edge, in rugged, wooded slopes, forming a picturesque gorge the entire 

length of the river. 

The northern divide between the Clarion and the AUehgeny and Tionesta 
Rivers is a continuation of the *'Big Level " of McKean county, entering Farm- 
ington township a little south of its northeast corner, and passing southwest- 
wardly by Tylersburg and Jamestown to Salem and Richland townships. 
Another notable level is that between Paint Creek, a branch of Deer, and 



40 History of Clarion County. 

Toby Creek, extending in a north-northeast direction till it merges in the 
divide level near Tylersburg. It is now traversed by the Pittsburgh and West- 
ern Railroad. 

The descent of the northern slope of the county is very gradual ; so much 
so as to be scarcely perceptible in northeastern Farmington. This is partially 
accounted for by the smallness of its scope. If, however, we turn to the south 
we|shall find the Clarion- Redbank dividing ridge much more marked, as the 
depressions are greater, especially on the Redbank side. We shall also observe 
that as we pass from the river country toward the divide, the surface grows 
less rugged and the hills less steep. 

The average elevation of the county above sea level is about 1,300 feet. 
The lowest point in the county is at the mouth of Redbank, 85 i feet ; the high- 
est, the heights to the southeast of Fryburg, on Mr. Denslinger's farm, which 
are 1,775 feet above ocean level. As a rule, however, the summits of the 
northern half range lower than those of the south ; the former ranging from 
1,500 to 1,600 feet, while the latter are from twenty-five to fifty feet higher. 
The highest point south of the river is the peak near St. Nicholas Church, in 
Limestone township, which claims an elevation of 1,750 feet above sea level. 
The summits on the Clarion-Redbank divide range from 500 to 625 feet above 
water level in Redbank Creek. 

The general character of the surface is hilly — almost mountainous — near 
the water courses, and undulating in the uplands. Here and there on the line 
of the dividing ridges rise bold, isolated knobs, usually stream sources. Their 
crests are in most cases cleared and cultivated to the summit ; some are capped 
by a picturesque grove or orchard. Streams and springs are everywhere in 
profusion. The primeval forests of pine, hemlock {abies Canadensis), and oak 
are fast disappearing. South of the river with one or two exceptions they 
have entirely vanished, and a secondary or tertiary growth taken their place. 
The ax of the pioneer, the mills and iron-furnaces have done their work well 
there. Still, in the southern division there is considerable woodland of a later 
age, with oak predominating. Chestnut is abundant in almost every town- 
ship, intermixed with hickory, ash, and common and sugar maple. The north- 
eastern quarter of the county contains yet some forests of pine and hemlock, 
but they are being rapidly depleted. In many places forest fires have assisted 
the ax in the work, and many a spot where once stood a majestic forest pre- 
sents the blackened, unsightly trunks rising from a dreary, profitless waste of 
saplings and undergrowth. 

Of the lesser flora we cannot pass over the brilliant laurel or rhododendron, 
which clothes the river hillsides luxuriantly. 

Scenery. — The scenery of Clarion county is diversified, comprising the 
checkered undulations of the well-cleared and cultivated south, the wildness of 
the river country, and the flat stretches of alternate wood and farm land in the 
north. 



Topography of Clarion County. 41 

Brady s Bend. — Our county can boast of nothing unique in landscapes, but 
it claims some very charming scenes. A magnificent view of the great horse- 
shoe bend in the Allegheny, with East Brady and Phillipsburg in the distance, 
is to be had from the heights, near the junction of the East Brady and Phillips- 
burg roads in the neck ; where the silver Allegheny, after sweeping around the 
precipitous slopes below Catfish ; East Brady, and Phillipsburg — a distance of 
eight miles — doubles on itself, till less than a mile measures the isthmus. 

The Clarion from East Foxburg. — A beautiful panorama of woodland 
heights and the romantic gorges of the Allegheny and Clarion greets the eye 
after ascending from Foxburg on the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad. The 
view of the Clarion, far below, is especially fine, and in mountainous grandeur 
almost equals the scenery of Kittanning Point, on the eastern slope of the Alie- 
ghenies, besides having the additional charm of water scenery. 

Alum Rock. — The stream that enters the Clarion at this point has, in the 
lapse of ages, worn its way through the rock and formed a romantic glen whose 
beauties every year gain increased appreciation. Here verdure-capped cliffs 
arise perpendicular; detached bowlders of immense size and curious forms add 
a unique beauty to the scene ; and deep down in the shade the streamlet seeks 
its way, plashing over the rocks, to pay its humble tribute to the river t^elow. 

Ancient Water Courses. — Contrary to the general rule, Troutman and Lat- 
shaw Runs, which empty into the Allegheny near Perryville, occupy broad, open 
valleys, disproportionate in width to the size of the streams. Geologist Chance, 
arguing from this and the similarity between the deposits here and in the chan- 
nel of the Allegheny, maintains that the two valleys must have once formed 
the Allegheny's channel in place of the present one. His theory, then, does 
not lack foundation. He explains it thus: He assumes that the Clarion, pre- 
vious to the glacial period, was as large as, if not larger than, the Allegheny — 
in other words a branch. The impetus of its current, flowing southwestwardly 
into the Allegheny, carried the main stream across the present stream bed over 
the high flats north of Parker, thence sweeping southward, and finally to the 
southeast it entered the old channel at Perryville, around which it swept to 
the mouth of Bear Creek. The present channel was formed by the water-cut- 
ting, or erosion of, the loop at its neck, "just as the river is slowly eating its 
way through the neck at Brady's Bend." This is a plausible proposition, 
although the recurvature of the loop would be extremely sharp for such a large 
body of water, and its compass small. Mr. Chance would have strengthened 
his theory, too, if he had given us the connecting link in the similar vacant 
bend on the Armstrong side of the river. We publish his thesis for what it is 
worth. The head of this valley is 250 feet above the Allegheny at Parker. 
Mr. Chance, therefore, consistently says that that stream has lowered its bed 
by erosion 300 feet since the old channel was abandoned, and subsequently 
refilled it fift}' feet with the detritus which forms its false bottom. This hap- 



42 History of Clarion County. 

pened since the glacial period. Of course the Clarion and other main tribu- 
tary streams must have deepened their beds proportionately, unless, indeed, 
the Clarion was the main stream instead of an affluent, which is improbable. 

We can more unhesitatingly concur with Geologist Chance's opinion that 
the Clarion River has changed its channel at Callensburg. The isolation of 
the eminence on which Callensburg is situated, and the peculiarity of Licking 
Creek, which empties itself into the river squarely against the current, point to 
the existence of a former channel which turned to the south where the bridge 
now is, and described an irregular horse-shoe bend about Callensburg. Lick- 
ing Creek, which now occupies the western half of this channel, then had its 
mouth about two miles south of its present one, near Mr. Colwell's. The nar- 
row isthmus extending from the bridge to the present mouth of Licking was 
cut through in the same manner as Mr. Chance describes that at Perryville. 
The elevation of this old Callensburg channel above the new one is less than 
fifty feet. Assuming the Clarion to have kept pace with the Allegheny in 
channel lowering, the change here must have begun much later than that at 
Perryville. 



CHAPTER IV. 
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.' 

Definition — Anticlinals and Synclinals — Geologic Column — Surface Rocks — Measures 

— Freeport Group — Kittanning Group — Ore and Limestone — Analyses — Clarion Group 

— Brookville Coal — Homewood Sandstone — Rocks Beneath — Otlier Minerals — Petroleum 

— Theories — Natural Gas — Fuel Value. 

NO work treating of a region so rich in mineral deposits as is Clarion county 
would be complete without its geology. To the uninitiated this science 
with its learned terms and technical expressions is largely a sealed book. It 
would be a thankless and inappropriate task, in exhibiting local features, to 
attempt an exposition of its fundamental and most recondite department, viz., 
the origin and formation of the strata. It will suffice to take them as we find 
them and sketch their character, their effects and their positions, absolute and 
relative. We shall strive then to render this chapter on the geology of Clarion 
county not altogether uninteresting to those who have the merest inkling of the 
science. 

Geology is the science which treats of the origin, structure, and position of 

IFor data for this chapter the writer is mainly indehted to " Report of Progress, Second Slate Geo- 
logical Survey," Vol. VV, by H.^Martyn Chance. 



Geology and Mineralogy. 43 

the rocks and minerals which form the hard crust of the earth. This crust is 
composed of many distinct beds, or strata, which He at almost every angle 
(when not horizontal) with the plane of a small circle passing through the 
earth and forming an imaginary base. In many places where the strata 
originally lay in the normal horizontal, an upheaval has tilted them out 
of their true position so as to form a local bend or ridge. This is an " anti- 
clinal," and its inclination is called the "dip." The anticlinal axes commonly 
lie in groups, and run parallel to and at comparatively short distances from 
each other. The intervening basins, or troughs, are the "synclinals." In 
studying anticlinals we must consider them apart from the topography of the 
surface, which has no conformity with them and is rarely affected by them. 

Anticlinals. — Five anticlinals traverse Clarion county northeasterly at an 
angle of about 40 degrees, and with consequent northwest-southeast dips which, 
for convenience, we shall call by the greater inclination, viz., east and west. 
They have been named by the State geologists after localities in this or ad- 
joining counties through or near which they pass. 

Beginning at the west the first anticlinal is the Millerstown, crossing the 
Allegheny a mile below Monterey, the Clarion at Callensburg, passing near 
Lucinda, and leaving the county near its northeastern extremity in Farmington 
township ; its total western inclination is only forty feet' or less. West of some 
minor axes accompanying this anticlinal there is a Millerstown synclinal, and 
west of this there are slight local rolls and basins, but no well-defined anticlinal. 
About four miles east of the Millerstown ridge we reach the axis of the trough 
of the Brady's Bend synclinal. Professor Lesley, State Geologist, ascribes the 
curious bend of the Allegheny to the influence of this flexure. He explains as 
follows : After the river, flowing southwestwardly down the dip, met the 
resistance of the opposite side, it ate its way for a short distance into this, but 
was finally turned back westward to the opposite side of the trough, only to be 
directed again to the south, where it finally pierced the ridge. In the same 
manner the Millerstown anticlinal caused the bend at Callensburg. This syn- 
clinal, after passing a mile east of Sligo, touches the corner of Monroe township, 
passes a little to the east of Clarion, traverses Highland, underlying Scotch 
Hill, and enters Forest county two miles north of Cooksburg. It is a rather 
shallow and slightly- marked basin. 

Brady s Bend Anticlinal. — This is one of the best-known axes in Western 
Pennsylvania, and has been traced from the Ohio River. It enters the county 
near the mouth of Redbank Creek and courses northeastwardly, at about north 
'i^6'^ east, through Madison, Monroe, Clarion, and Mill Creek townships, leaving 
Rimersburg and Reidsburg a little to the west and Cooksburg to the east. It 
has a western dip of thirty five feet to the mile, in the average, though some- 
times much steeper ; its eastern fall is about the same. 

The Lawsonham synclinal is a gentle basin which, as its name indicates, 



44 History of Clarion County. 

begins at Lawsonham, truncates the corners of Madison, Porter, and Monroe 
townships ; passes through Limestone, Clarion, and cuts the southern end of 
Mill Creek township. It is difficult to detect its western rise, but it has a 
marked eastern one. 

Next in order is the Kellersburg anticlinal, which has a steep ascent to its 
crest-line. This passes the Redbank near the dividing line between Madison 
and Porter townships. It passes near Frostburg and through Greenville, 
entering Jefferson county from Mill Creek ; it becomes obscure after leaving 
Limestone township. 

A gradual dip for a distance of two miles, which is the approximate length 
of all these anticlinal slopes, brings us to the Centerville synclinal. It is a 
shallow basin entering the county a little to the west of the mouth of Leather- 
wood Run, and passing out a mile north of the lower corner of Mill Creek 
township. 

There is only a total rise of forty feet to the Anthony's Bend anticlinal, but 
it has a sharp decline to the Fairmount synclinal, averaging about seventy feet 
to the mile. From near Anthony's Bend this ridge passes through the 
vicinity of St. Nicholas Church and enters Jefferson county a mile north 
of Corsica. 

The course of the Fairmount synclinal is through Redbank township from 
the mouth of Town Run, and across the corner of Limestone. Its western dip, 
as before mentioned, is steep, but on the east it ranges from twenty to sixty 
feet per mile. It crosses the Redbank again at Troy, but beyond that 
becomes very shallow and scarcely recognizable. 

The last of the series in Clarion county is the Brookville anticlinal, which 
enters the county near Patton Station and, truncating the southeast corner of 
Redbank township, soon makes its exit into Jefferson county. It has a steep 
western dip, raising the ferriferous limestone 350 feet above railroad level. 

The effects of these alternate elevations of the rock strata is most strik- 
ingly and familiarly seen in the variations of the coal veins which are pitched 
now high, now low, in a manner otherwise puzzling. A good instance exists 
in the mines of Catfish and Redbank, both on the Allegheny, and the latter 
place, being down the river has, of course, a lower elevation. Yet the veins 
at Redbank are seventy feet higher than at Catfish. The explanation is that 
Redbank is near the crest of the Brady's Bend anticlinal. Besides these 
local inclinations there is a gentle southwest-by-south dip of the strata over 
the whole surface of the county. 

Surface Measures. — Measures, groups, and series are terms indifferently 
used by geologists to denote divisions of rock composed of several layers, but 
all partaking of some common attributes or constructed by similar action. 
They are named after some salient characteristic, place of best exposure, or 
some particular stratum embedded in them. Thus the Conglomerate series 



Geology and Mineralogy. 



45 



is so named from the structure of some of its rock layers, which are composed 
of particles or pebbles cemented by some foreign substance, usually silica or 
clay. The origin of " Coal measures " is obvious. We append, in order, a 
portion of the geological column of Pennsylvania, or the outcropping rocks 
existing in the State. The table begins with the highest : 

f No. XV. Upper Productive Coal Measures. 



Carboniferous Age. 



No. XIV. 
< No. XIII. 



Devonian Age. <( 



No. 
No. 

fNo. 
' No. 



XII. 

XI. 

X. 



No. VIII. 



Barren Measures. 
Lower Productive Coal Measures. 
Conglomerate Measures. 
Mauch Chunk Red Shale. 
Pocono Sandstone. 
IX. Red Catskill. 

r Chemung and Portage. 
<( Hamilton. 
L Corniferous Limestone. 
There are seven series yet beneath these. Of the above list the following 
form the surface of Clarion county : 

Barren Measures. 
Lower Productive Coal Measures. 
Conglomerate Measures. 
Mauch Chunk Red Shale. 
Pocono Sandstone. 
It will be seen that the strata of Clarion county occupy a very high position 
relative to those of the rest of the State. Only the lowermost strata of the 
Barren measures are found in the county in the Mahoning sandstone and shale 
covering of the Freeport upper coal, which cap the most of the isolated sum- 
mits in the south. It is very probable that the Barren measures once ex- 
tended all over the county, but they have been washed away by erosion almost 
to a nullity. Erosion, or the wearing away by water, ice, and aerial influences, 
has played a great part in the formation of the present surface of this region. 
When we speak of elevated veins of coal being " caught " in high hills, it is 
only a curt form of expressing the fact that this gigantic denudation was not 
sufificient to carry those strata away from the highest points. This agency is 
still at work every day around us; we see it in a minor scale in the washing 
away of banks and deepening of valleys. It is at work too on the surface of 
the country, but so slow that its influence is almost imperceptible. In prehis- 
toric periods, however, it had none of its present subtlety, but with floods and 
glaciers washed away enormous slices in a comparatively short time. 

The Lower Productive coal measures cover three-fourths of the surface of 
the county. Near their base the ferriferous limestone crops out in a compar- 
atively attenuated vein, forming a labyrinth of over four hundred and fifty 
miles of exposure. In the north the erosion was relatively greater than in the 



46 History of Clarion County. 

south, and left bare the Pottsville Conglomerate series in extensive areas, though 
suffering the Lower coal measures to remain in some of the uplands and hills. 
It is accounted for by the greater thinness here of the coal measures, comple- 
mented by a rise, in a northeastern direction, of the Conglomerate rocks. The 
deep beds of the Clarion and Redbank expose strips of Mauch Chimk red shale 
five feet in thickness, and a few feet above water level ; the former at Cooks- 
burg, the latter at Patton Station. So far as discovered this rock underlies 
only about the eastern half of the county, being displaced elsewhere by a green- 
ish rock, found in drilling oil wells. 

Underneath the Mauch Chunk shale there are vestiges of Pocono sandstone, 
but of difficult identification. 

Drift. — There is some glacial drift in the county along the river beds, but 
of small interest. 

Soil. — Soil consists of disintegrated particles of surface rock, mixed with 
decayed vegetable matter. The southern half of the county, with its large 
areas of limestone outcrop and loose shales and sandstone, of the coal measures, 
affords a much better natural soil than the majority of the northern townships, 
where the cold, sandy soil of the Conglomerate series predominates. Happily, 
however, this soil is capable of much improvement, so that a liberal use of 
limestone and manures has brought up farms in Farmington, Highland, and 
Elk townships to a pitch of fertility which rivals some of their better blessed 
southern neighbors. 

Lower Productive Coal Measures. — This group, lying between the Barren 
and Conglomerate, covers all the southern county, except small belts along the 
streams, and about one- half of the northern. It is this important bed which 
gives to our county its permanent mineral and agricultural wealth, and it is 
therefore worthy of our especial study. It has an average thickness of 335 
feet, and is divided into four minor groups, as appended, in their vertical order: 

Freeport Group. 
Kittanning Group. 
Clarion Group. 
Brookville Group. 
In the Freeport group, which is 135 feet in thickness, are found the Free- 
port upper and lower veins of coal. The following is an analysis of this group, 
with average thickness of each layer given : 

Freeport upper coal 3 feet. 

Fire-clay 3 ' ■ 

Shale, sometimes tire-clay 5 " 

Freeport upper limestone 5 " 

Shale, with ore balls 8 " 

Freeport upper sandstone 20 ■' 

Shale 3 " 

Freeport lower coal 5 

Fire-clay and shale 4 " 



Geology and Mineralogy. 47 

Freeport lower limestone 3 feet. 

Shale 3 " 

Freeport lower sandstone 70 " 

All of these members are never found together. 

The Freeport Upper Coal is found only in the summits of Madison, Toby, 
Perry, Porter, and Redbank townships, having been eroded from the remain- 
ing country where it was once general. It is capped always, either by Mahon- 
ing sandstone or an intervening shale, underlaid by fire-clay, and has an aver- 
age thickness of three and one-half feet, with extremes of two and five. It 
contains over eighty-nine per cent, of fuel matter and one-half per cent, of 
sulphur. It is therefore good coal, but is too limited in area to be important. 
The limestone contained in this bed is a rare article. The iron ore stored be- 
tween this limestone and the underlying sandstone occurs both as ball and 
plate ore; in the former shape permeating several feet of fire-clay, and in the 
latter having a thickness of from one-third foot to three feet. 

The Freeport Upper Sandstone, a hard rock, lies between strata of shale^ 
and measures from twenty to thirty feet in thickness, but it is often entirely 
displaced by shale. 

Freeport Lower Coal. — This bed is found in the same townships as its higher 
neighbor, but in Madison, Toby, and Perry it is extremely thin and occupies 
only the highest hills. In Redbank and Porter, though limited in extent, it is 
largely worked, especially by the Fairmount and Northwestern Coal and Iron 
Companies. Here it is a splendid vein, in thickness from six to seven feet, 
with no slaty laminae and very little sulphur. It is found in largest quantities 
on the Fairmount and St. Charles Furnace properties. An average specimen 
contained the following : 

Water i . 850 

Volatile matter 38.510 

Fixed carbon 54 . 669 

Sulphur 1 . 046 

Ash 3 • 925 

100.000 

Coke, per cent 59 . 640 

Color of ash red-gray 

Fuel ratio i : i .42 

The limestone accompanying this coal is very variable, and often wanting^ 
It occurs in layers, or " flags," easily parted, and with rough surfaces. 

The Freeport Lower Sandstone is a massive rock averaging seventy feet in 
thickness. It juts out magnificently along the Allegheny at Brady's Bend, and 
tops most of the isolated hills in Piney, Monroe, and Limestone townships. 

The Kittanning Group. — This important group covers the largest area, and 
has a thickness of from no to 130 feet. Its various measures are shown in 
their usual order, and with their average thickness, as follows : 

Kittanning upper coal. ... 2 feet. 

Fire-clay or shale 2 " 



48 History of Clarion County. 

Johnstown cement bed 3 feet. 

Shale, sometimes contains sandstone 45 " 

Kittanning middle coal 2 " 

Fire-clay 3 " 

Shale 35 " 

Kittanning lower coal 4 " 

Fire-clay 5 " 

Sandy shale, ore balls near bottom 20 " 

The Kittanning Upper Coal is present in large areas in the southernmost 
townships, but owing to its comparative thinness and inferiority it is neglected. 
In the vicinity of New Bethlehem and Fairmount it is a good hard coal, from 
two to three feet thick. It is separated by a strip of impure fire-clay from the 
Johnstown Cement Limestone, which is here of ferruginous quality, of brownish 
color, and breaks up in irregular masses. This is a rather obscure vein, one of 
its rare exposures being upon Middle Run, one- fourth mile above the Fairmount 
Coal Company's opening. So much iron does the bed contain in this vicinity 
that it may properly be termed an iron ore. 

The Kittanning Middle Coal lies about forty feet above the lower vein and 
forty- five below the upper. It has about the same value as a profitable bed as 
the upper, and is said to yield an inferior coke. 

Kittanning Lower Coal. — This seam stretches under the whole surface of 
the county, excepting Farmington, Paint, and Elk townships, and is the most 
extensively mined coal in the county. It is practically inexhaustible, large 
beds of it lying yet untouched by the pick. While not equaling the Freeport 
Lower in excellence and freedom from sulphur, its general availability renders 
it of far more economic value. At Redbank Furnace it lies forty feet above 
the ferriferous limestone, at Fairmount thirty- five, at Sligo from fifteen to 
twenty feet above, in Beaver township twenty, and in Knox and Highland it is 
only ten or fifteen feet above that stratum. The intervening space is occupied 
by a thick bed of fire-clay and sandy shale. 

The Kittanning Lower coal decreases in thickness going north. At Fair- 
mount, where it lies thirty feet aboVe water level, it measures five feet in thick- 
ness, at Catfish four and one-half, at the mines of the Sligo Branch Coal Com- 
pany near Rimersburg three and one-half feet, while in the northern town- 
ships it rarely exceeds two and one-half feet. By far the greater part of coun- 
try banks are opened into this coal. In appearance it is a deep black, lustrous, 
with very little slate and a thin veneer of iron pyrites. It makes a superior 
steam fuel. An analysis gives the following proportion of components : 

Water i . 370 

Volatile matter 41 . 575 

I" Fixed carbon 49 . 8 1 6 

Sulphur 2 . 824 

Ash 4-415 

I GO . 000 
Coke, per cent 57-055 



Geology and Mineralogy. 49 

In Porter and Redbank townships there are outcroppings of a seam lying 
about thirty feet below the Kittanning Lower, and ten above the limestone. It 
has been called the Extra Kittanning Lower, and is of the same quality as the 
regular vein, but somewhat thinner. From all appearances it is a distinct bed, 
and not a splitting off of the stratum above. 

The Clarion Group, so-called because it has its outcroppings at the horizon 
of the county-seat after a gradual rise from the south, is met in geologic order 
below the Kittanning, and has a thickness of about eighty feet. 

It furnishes the greater portion of the fuel to the townships bordering the 
river on the north, where it lies near the surface and is easy of access. It con- 
tains the ferriferous limestone, the largest ore deposit, and the Clarion and 
Brookville coals. In the north the Clarion is the uppermost vein. 

This group is an exceedingly variable one, partly by reason of a split in 
the Clarion bed, extending northward from a line through southern Monroe 
township, and partly from an irregular rise in the Homewood sandstone. 
The column below represents the usual structure of the formation south of the 
split : 

Ore, carbonate of iron i foot. 

Ferriferous limestone - 8 feet. 

Slaty shale 30 " 

Clarion (upper and lower coal) 4 " 

Fire-clay 3 " 

Shale, containing Clarion sandstone 40 " 

Brookville coal 3 " 

Fire-clay and shale 5 " 

(Homewood sandstone) ... top. 

This formation is modified by the displacement of the Brookville coal by 
the Homewood sandstone. The same may be said of the group north of the 
split. Its average arrangement is the following : 

Ore, carbonate of iron i foot 

Ferriferous limestone 8 feet. 

Shale, variable 7 " 

Clarion upper (Scrubgrass) coal 2 " 

Slaty shale 24 " 

Clarion lower coal 4 " 

Fire-clay 3 " 

Shale 30 " 

Brookville coal 2 " 

Fire-clay 3 " 

(Homewood sandstone) top. 

Iron Ore and Limestone. — That comparatively thin strip of mineral, lying 
all but immediately above the Clarion Upper coal, has played a capital part in 
the commercial and agricultural development of Clarion county. The ore, 
which is carbonate of iron, limestone, or buhrstone ore, rests almost invariably 
directly upon the limestone ; the exception is when a thin strip of shale inter- 



50 History of Clarion County. 

venes. Generally there is a distinct line between the limestone and iron, but at 
times the one merges into the other by a gradual shading. In favored locali- 
ties, as on the Fox farm near Sligo, the bed is three, four, or more feet in thick- 
ness, but it has an average size of ten inches. The ore proper is in the plate 
form, but the superincumbent shale generally holds considerable ball or kidney 
ore. In external form it is bluish gray, rarely reddish in color ; cellular, con- 
taining calc-spar and varying in structure from coarse to fine grained. By 
exposure and wetting this ore in some localities has become oxidized into 
hematite. Clarion county ore makes an excellent iron for all ordinary pur- 
poses, and some of its higher grades of hematite are well adapted for Besse- 
mer steel. 

The following is an analysis of a specimen of carbonate ore obtained from 
Hindman's limestone quarry in Clarion township : 

Protoxide of iron 38.571 

Sesquioxide of iron 2 . 142 

Bisulphide of iron 009 

Protoxide of manganese i .756 

Protoxide of cobalt trace. 

Alumina i . 027 

Lime. . 6.750 

Magnesia i . 992 

Sulphuric acid trace. 

Phosphoric acid 2 . 333 

Carbonic acid 29 . 403 

Water 2 . 1 37 

Insoluble residue 13. 880 

I GO . 000 

Metallic iron 31. 500 

Metallic manganese i . 361 

Sulphur 005 

Phosphorus i .019 

The following is from a test of hematite ore from Dale's old bank near Ship- 
penville : 

Carbonate of iron 

Peroxide of iron 83 . 00 

Peroxide of manganese 2 .00 

Carbonate of lime 

Alumina 

Insoluble residue 2.81 

Water 1 2 . 50 

100.31 
Metallic iron 58 . 10 

The following is an analysis of iron ore from the St. Charles Furnace lands, 
Porter township, made by Dr. Genth, of the University of Pennsylvania, 
in 1881 : 



Geology and Mineralogy. 51 

" Ferric oxide 72.21 

Manganic oxide 3-59 

Alumina 0.02 

Lime ; o. 92 

Silicic acid o . 08 

Water 14 • 1 5 

Magnesia, &c., not determined i . 38 

100.00 
" This ore contained : 

Metallic iron 5°- 55 per cent. 

Metallic manganese 2 . 50 

Phosphorus 0.035 " 

" It is a fine quality of limonite, capable of producing excellent iron, and well adapted for 
making Bessemer steel." 

Bog Ore. — Deposits of this ore, which is also known as " hmonite," red 
oxide of iron, exist in Farmington township along the river, a mile below Als- 
bach's Run, and at several other places in that vicinity. The area of the beds 
is tinknown, as they have never been mined. Bog ore occurs in red lumps of 
a clay-like consistency. These beds have at present no economic value. 

Limestone. — The ferriferous (iron-bearing) limerock is Clarion county's 
chief reliance as a decomposer, and its lime par excellence. Its average thick- 
ness is eight feet ; in color it ranges from a light blue, through gray, to almost 
black. When it is found in any thickness it is often divisible into flags two or 
three inches thick, with undulating, rough surfaces. It contains fossils, though 
they are rarely found entire in the bed, owing to breakage in fracturing the 
stone. Beautiful vegetable fossils are sometimes found on the surfaces when 
exposed. 

Clarion county limestone contains 

Carbonate of lime 95-532 

Carbonate of magnesia 1.265 

Oxide of iron and alumina 1-529 

Phosphorus 0.070 

Insoluble residue 1.780 

Clarion Upper Coal. — The upper bench of the Clarion is a fuel of good 
quality, but its thinness — about fifteen inches — makes it unprofitable. It lies 
a few feet beneath the ferriferous limestone. 

Clarion Lower Coal is slightly thicker, as a rule, than the Upper, and a 
more valuable coal. It has a varying base ; sometimes the Homewood sand- 
stone abnormally elevated, often shale, and again the 

Clarion Sandstone. — This is a massive rock from fifteen to thirty-five feet 
thick, and roofs the Brookville coal. It is frequently exposed along the road- 
sides in Clarion, Millcreek, and Highland townships. It can be distinguished 
from the Homewood or Tionesta sandrock by its position, its greater softness, 
friability, and pink color. 

The Brookville Coal, the lowest of the series, consists of one stratum. It is 



52 History of Clarion County. 



a poor, sulphurous, and comparatively unused bed. It is found at its best in 
the eastern and northeastern townships bordering on Jefferson county, in which 
county it has its best development. It is sometimes entirely displaced by the 
Homewood sandstone, "which," says Geologist Chance, "elevated by anti- 
clinal rolls, or irregularities of original deposition, lies higher than the level of 
the ancient marsh in which the bituminous matter of this coal bed accumulated." 

Resume. — An inspection of the coal formations given above will show every 
bed roofed by shale, occasionally mixed with sandstone, except the Brookville 
coal, where the shale is entirely displaced by sandstone. Each vein, too, is 
underlaid by a vein of pure fire-clay, except the Kittanning Upper coal, where 
some shale is intermixed, and the Clarion Upper, whose substratum is a slaty 
shale. As a rule every coal has its limestone and sandstone, varied by shale. 
The maximum thickness — nine feet — is found in the Freeport Lower coal, 
in Porter township ; the minimum — one foot — in the Clarion Upper coal at 
Edenburg. 

We may readily perceive that, with eight workable coal beds underlying, 
in due position, almost its entire surface, and without taking natural gas into 
consideration. Clarion county need never go begging for fuel. 

Its agricultural demands are fully supplied by the limestone underlying 
two-thirds of the county, and its hillsides contain iron ore of good quality — 
enough to supply a future industry with thrice the demand, on its mineral 
resources, of the ante-bellum furnaces. The fire-clay, inseparable from the 
coal, supplies an abundance of plastic material for potteries and brick-kilns. 

The virtual inexhaustibility of these products gives them a permanence of 
value superior to lumber and petroleum. In the case of oil, repeated ventures 
have failed to discover new territory ; and as for timber, the growth of centu- 
ries is disappearing, never to be renewed in its pristine luxuriance. 

For the future, then, its agriculture and its embosomed mineral wealth must 
be Clarion county's sources of income. Greater development only and home 
manufacture are needed to supplement our county's wonderful riches of nature. 

Conglomerate Series. — The Conglomerate series. No. XII in the table, as 
represented by the Pottsville division in this county, is characterized by alter- 
nate layers of very variable shale and sandstone, generally of a gritty, and at 
certain depths, pebbly formation. The total thickness of the group is rarely 
obtainable by actual exposure, and its determination by oil drillings is vague 
and precarious. As near as can be ascertained it extends under the Productive 
measures for 270 feet, the mean of variations. The strata underlying the 
Homewood sandstone differ widely in thickness, but their combined measure is 
almost uniform. The following shows the formation of the Conglomerate with 
mean thicknesses : 

Homewood sandstone (Tionesta) hard and coarse 40 feet. 

Shaly measures, containing an ore and sometimes coal bed 35 " 

Sandstone, massive, fine grained 40 " 



Geology and Mineralogy. 53 

Shale, very variable, source often of bog ore 25 feet. 

Sandstone, sometimes with shale 130 " 

(Mauch Chunk Red Shale 5 " ) 

The Homewood or Tionesta sandstone, a coarse but hard rock, is found in 
precipitous ravines and valleys. It has its best development in Madison town- 
ship, where, along Pike and Wildcat Runs, it forms crags sometimes forty feet 
thick. In the slaty measures subjacent to this rock there are thin, impure 
beds of ore and coal, corresponding in horizon to the Mercer beds. This 
coal seam has been worked at Catfish Run, in Paint township, and North Pine- 
grove, in Farmington township, but with indifferent results. 

It will be noticed that the massive basal rock of this series forms nearly 
half of the whole. This is the rock that makes the precipitous sides of the 
Clarion River so rugged ; sometimes jutting out in bold, almost perpendicular 
escarpments, but oftener broken up into bowlders. Colossal specimens of rocks 
detached from this stratum are found near water level at the mouth of Toby 
Creek, and a little to the east, on the hillside in the " Indian Cave " rock. 

We have already sufficiently alluded to the Mauch Chunk Red Shale, and 
the Pocono Sandstone ; they are comparatively unimportant. 

Other Minerals. — Although a vague tradition obtains of lead having 
been discovered within the county's limits by the Indians, the negative results 
of search have established its falsity. It is safe to say that there exists no 
lead in Clarion county outside of the isolated particles of galena, which are 
occasionally found in the coal strata, whither they found their way in some 
unaccountable manner. 

Alum-shale or alumite is found near the surface in considerable quantities 
at Alum Rock and vicinity. Whether enough exists to make the bed of 
commercial value remains to be seen. 

Petroleum. — The eccentricities of the petroleum deposits of northwestern 
Pennsylvania have so far baffled research. When science leaves the tangible 
in the rocks of Mother Earth and would investigate the volatile and oily prod- 
ucts found in them, it seems to stray into a realm as capricious and slippery 
as the substances themselves. All that can be done is to detail the conditions 
and incidents of the finding of oil, and give the most plausible theories as to 
the lay of the oil-bearing rock. 

Petroleum is found in the Clarion district at an average depth of 1,100 
feet, which would place it in the horizon of the Red Catskill formation. When 
the drill is started on a hill top, unless on the crest of an anticlinal, greater 
depth is needed; and, in a valley, less. The following table gives the usual 
order and thickness of the oil sand group of Clarion county, which is geolog- 
ically known as the " Venango group ": 

Sandstone, first sand 16 feet. 

Slate 24 " 

Shell 2 '• 



54 History of Clarion County. 

Red rock i feet. 

Slate 5 " 

Sandstone 21 

Dark gray slate 30 " 

Red rock 3 " 

Dark slate 40 " 

Shells 4 " 

Slate 32 " 

" Big Red rock " 39 " 

Slate 3 " 

Sandstone 9 " 

Slate, sandy 13 " 

Red rock 2 " 

Slate; 21 " 

Shells 2 " 

Slate II 

Sandstone, third sand 26 " 

The first sand is found at a depth of from 700 to 800 feet and is distin- 
guished by its gas; the second is a very indefinite article and is scattered 
between the first and third. Here, too, with a thickness of almost forty feet, is 
found the " Red Rock," the distinguishing mark of the Venango group. Its 
position and attributes make its identity with the Pocono red sandstone prob- 
able. The third and productive sand, which, as all the others, is not a real 
sand, but a sand rock, is a yellow, porous rock, with little cement, and with its 
particles as they come from the pump ranging in size from a pinhead to a 
small pebble. These cells, or pores, contain the precious fluid. 

The oil rock in Clarion county has, with the other strata, a noticeable dip a 
little west of south, but its constancy is affected by local variations and anti- 
clinals. Its total descent from Shippenville to Parker exceeds 300 feet. 

Range of Development. — The Clarion county oil fields were developed on 
lines ranging from thirty to fifty degrees east of north. The former marks the 
first developed, Parker-St. Petersburgh belt, and is a continuation of the Mill- 
erstown belt in Butler county. Then a bend occurs, and from St. Petersburgh 
to Shippenville the general trend is on forty-five degree lines. In the Cogley 
district, too, the latter line obtained. 

Theory of Deposit. — The excessive variability of the oil rock largely ac- 
counts for the uncertain and capricious nature of development. With a porous 
rock the chances for oil are excellent, but this quality is by no means constant. 
Sometimes, unexpectedly in the midst of good territory, the sand changes to a 
hard, close cemented formation and a grayish color, shutting out the oil entirely, 
and puzzling the producer. Where the rock is coarsely cellular, and oil is found 
in most paying quantities, the fluid is of a dirty greenish color, almost opaque, 
and contains considerable bitumen. Where, however, as in the Armstrong 
Run territory, the rock is of a firmer consistency and a clean white color, the 
petroleum permeates it with difficulty and in small quantities ; the filtration it 



Geology and Mineralogy. 55 

suffers produces a clear yellow fluid called " amber oil." So much for inci- 
dentals. When, however, we would lay down a rule of deposit, and limit dis- 
covery to certain continuous lines, the constant variations, the streaks, " wet " 
and " dry," the pools, the abrupt limits of production, meet and baffle us at 
every turn. Among the latest and most plausible conjectures is the belt-line 
theory, and it seems especially well adapted to the facts of the Clarion produc- 
tion. This is that the oil lies in the rock in a belt, or ribbon, stretching across 
the country in a northeast-southwest direction. Its comparative narrowness is 
indicated by its name, as also the parallelity of its sides or slight divergence 
therefrom. Towards Shippenville, however, which marks the extremity of con- 
tinuous development, the belt seems to gradually narrow down by a tapering 
in the rock, till a little beyond that village, a point is reached where the line of 
production is but a quarter of a mile in width and then disappears altogether^ 
to reappear in a narrow, hardly-paying streak at Halm's Mill. Along the 
borders of a belt the open, prolific sand is invaded by patches of barren, 
causing production there to be very dubious. Beside the main belt, but with 
no connecting branch, generally lie secondary side belts comparatively small in 
scope. The Cogley field illustrates this. Such fields, however, form an argu- 
ment for the advocates of the pool theory, which comprehends only the exist- 
ence of oil in arbitrary deposits of irregular outline, and completely isolated 
from each other. 

A lower belt traversing the county from East Brady to Cooksburg and sup- 
plementing the theory of a continuous oil area from Washington county to 
Kane, exists only on paper. Repeated failures have discouraged drilling along 
this line, the only venture that proved productive being the old Blyson well, 
which yielded an oil heavy enough for lubricating purposes. The underlying 
" Fourth," or " Bradford," sand is yet an almost unexplored region. Perhaps 
it is destined to duplicate the rich territory which Clarion county once pos- 
sessed. 

It suffices here merely to mention the connection which some theorists main- 
tain to exist between oil belts and anticlinals ; but this is merely a tentative 
conjecture, lacking any confirmation. So much for the extension of petroleum 
deposits ; their origin is as yet a matter for mere scientific conjectures. Whether 
petroleum is an excretion from organic matter embedded ages ago in the rocks ; 
whether it sprang immediately from carboniferous beds, was condensed from 
natural gas, or had its origin from some unimagined alembic ; these are all yet 
unanswered queries, and the likelihood is that they will remain so; that the 
Providence that placed the oil where it is, has here set his bounds to the acquisi- 
tions of the secular mind in this mysterious department of physical research. 

Natural Gas. — The best-grounded and most popular deposit theory of this 
new and remarkable fuel is the anticlinal, viz., that the rocks, finding their high- 
est elevation in the anticlinal ridges, the gas, whose gravity is less than water 



56 History of Clarion County. 

and oil, will seek the highest possible level and accumulate in greatest quanti- 
ties in the anticlinals. This to a certain extent is very reasonable, but there 
are several conditions which make it invalid as a rule. We must bear in mind 
that while the surface of the country is (geologically speaking) intersected by 
synclinal valleys running in a northeast and southwest direction, there is, inde- 
pendent of these, a monoclinal or progressive dip of the strata to the south- 
west. Hence gas, in seeking the highest available level, should accumulate in 
the northeast, at the expense of the southwestern extremity or bottom of the 
dip. The same cause places a larger deposit of gas where the rock resumes the 
horizontal, after the anticlinals have disappeared in the north, than in well- 
marked anticlinals which lie to the south and on a lower plane. This rock of 
course must be an oil rock, whether productive or not. Again, a whole belt of 
oil or gas rock may lie in a broad synclinal basin and be almost unaffected by 
the tilt at either side. That the Lawsonham synclinal is of this nature, is a 
plausible explanation of the fact that the Mechanicsville gas deposits are not 
found on an anticlinal. The New Bethlehem well is low down on the slope of 
the Anthony's Bend anticlinal. 

Inexhaustibility. — Reason and experience both warn us of the transitory 
nature of this fuel. There is no known inexhaustible reservoir of natural gas. 
As Geologist Carll says : " Inexhaustible wells must draw from inexhaustible 
sources. Gas in Pennsylvania is only found in sand-beds of medium thick- 
ness and restricted geographical limits. Such beds in themselves cannot be 
inexhaustible. Their productive duration depends entirely upon the drafts 
made upon them — a simple problem : if one well can exhaust one of the beds 
in TOO years, how long will it take lOO wells to do it? To make such pools 
permanent they must be constantly replenished from an unlimited source. 
This source it is claimed is some deep-seated laboratory of nature, capable of re- 
sponding to all the demands that can be made upon it." But the existence of 
this deep-seated laboratory "is yet to be demonstrated. 

Fuel Value. — The fuel value of i.ooo feet of natural gas is equal to that of 
about 65 pounds of Clarion county coal. Therefore, when coal is worth $1.25 
net per ton, the value of gas is within a fraction of 4 cents per thousand feet. 



From the Earliest Period to 1784. 57 

CHAPTER V. 

FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PURCHASE OF 1784. 

Aborigines, Senecas, and Delawares — Indian Remains — Petroleum — Christian Frederick 
Post — Tobeco and Toby — Redbank Creek — Brodhead's Expedition — Captain Samuel Brady. 

The Indians. 

THE aboriginal tribe who dwelt on the shores of the Allegheny were the 
Allegwi, a people of gigantic stature who inhabited fortified towns. The 
Lenni Lenape, or Delawares, in navigating from the West sought a residence 
with them, but this was refused ; the Allegwi only granting them leave to cross 
the river and proceed eastward. While they were doing this the Allegwi, 
alarmed at their numbers and strength, fell on those who had reached the east- 
ern bank and destroyed many of them. Eager for revenge the Lenni Lenape 
entered into an alliance with the Mengwe, or Iroquois, a nation lying south 
of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and engaged in a war with the Allegwi, which, 
after a desperate struggle of many years, ended in the defeat of the latter, who 
retired down the Ohio and Mississippi, never to return. The Lenni Lenape 
then, together with the Iroquois, took possession of the valley of the Allegheny 
and upper Ohio. In the lapse of years, however, they became enemies, and 
the different tribes of the Mengwe — the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayu- 
gas, and Senecas — wisely increased their strength by a closer union styled the 
Five, and, after the accession of the Tuscaroras, the Six Nations. They were 
thus enabled to acquire an ascendency over the Delawares, which, though it was 
weakened by the energy of their chief in 1756, was asserted at intervals. The 
Delawares, Wyandots, and Shawanese occupied the upper Ohio, the lower Al- 
legheny, and the West Branch of the Susquehanna indiscriminately. The em- 
pire of the Senecas covered Southwestern New York and the northern half of 
Western Pennsylvania. The language of the Delawares was Algonquin, of the 
Senecas, Iroquois. Clarion county ^ was on the dividing neutral belt between the 
Senecas on the north, and the Delawares on the south. The Senecas claimed it, 
but it was too far distant from their nearest " long cabin," or village at Venango, 
to be held in more than nominal possession by them. They hunted the deer and 
the elk over its wilds, and occasionally encamped for a while on a warlike or 
predatory mission. In their absence the Delaware or Shawanese hunters would 
take their place. The Munsey, Loup or Wolf tribe, a disaffected branch of 
the Delawares, whose home was on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, had 

1 Hereafter whenever I mention " Clarion county," or speak of "the county," before its organiza- 
tion, I mean, of course, the territory embraced tlierein, calHng it " Clarion county " for the sake of 
.brevity. 



58 History of Clarion County. 

encroached on the territory of the Senecas as far as the Allegheny. They dwelt 
among them by sufferance, along that river north of the Clarion. Celeron 
found some villages of them on the right bank of the Allegheny near the mouth 
of Big Sandy Creek, and Zeisberger, the Moravian missionary, established him- 
self among them on the Allegheny, in what is now Forest county, in 1767. 

A considerable number of Indian relics have been found in this county, 
indicating that it was once the habitat of some aboriginal tribe. Indian graves 
were discovered near Mr. Isaac Neely's, in Richland township ; in Clarion town- 
ship, a little east of Strattanville, and in considerable numbers in Limestone 
township. They consisted of piles of stones loosely heaped together, and con- 
cealing tomahawks, arrow-heads, and knives, which had been buried with the 
departed brave. Vestiges of savage encampments were found in abundance 
near Clugh's Riffle, which appears to have been a regular camping-place for 
wandering bands. Occasionally farmers have plowed up flint heads. On Mr. 
John Crick's farm, on the west branch of Cherry Run, a large number of these 
relics were unearthed. They were confined to a particular spot, and must have 
been the debris of some fierce conflict between the Senecas and Delawares. 
How the aborigines without the use of iron or hard instruments could fashion 
flint hatchets and arrow-heads so well, and in such large numbers, is a mystery 
that can only be explained by the presumption that they were acquainted with, 
and ingeniously took advantage of, the tendency of flint or quartz stone to split 
into layers. 

The Senecas were the most numerous and powerful of the Six Nations. In 
war they were fierce and treacherous, in common with their brethren. In times 
of peace they displayed good nature and amity when treated with justice by 
the Caucasian ; there are several instances when they forebore revenge for inju- 
ries, when there was a chance of redress by legal means. The petroleum that 
welled up along the upper Allegheny and its branches furnished them unique 
adornments and rites. They had a peculiar regard for it as " great medicine," 
and mixed it in their war-paint with a glistening, fantastic effect. Contrecoeur, 
the commandant at Fort Du Quesne, wrote to Montcalm, governor of Canada : 
" I would desire to assure your excellency that this is a most delightful land. 
Some of the most astonishing natural wonders have been discovered by our 
people. While descending the Allegheny, fifteen leagues below the mouth of 
the Conewango, and three above Fort Venango, we were invited by the chief 
of the Senecas to attend a religious ceremony of his tribe. We landed and 
drew up our canoes at a point where a small stream entered the river. The 
tribe appeared unusually solemn. We marched up the stream about half a 
league where the company — a large band, it appeared — had arrived some days 
before us. Gigantic hills begirt us on every side. The scene was really sub- 
lime. The great chief then recited the conquests and heroism of their ances- 
tors. The surface of the stream was covered with a thick scum, which burst 



From the Earliest Period to 1784. 59 

into a complete conflagration. The oil had been gathered and lighted with a 
torch. At the sight of the flames the Indians gave forth a triumphant shout 
that made the hills and valleys re-echo again." 

The French claimed this territory — " inasmuch as the preceding kings of 
France have enjoyed it by their arms and by treaties, especially by those of 
Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix la Chappelle," ^ and in 1753 they erected a fort where 
the Seneca village of Venango stood, and Franklin now stands, naming it Fort 
Machault. No post was erected in Clarion county, there being no necessity for 
it, owing to the proximity of Venango. 

The first white man, of whom we have any record, who set foot within the 
limits of Clarion county, was Christian Frederick Post; the time, 128 years 
ago. Post was a sturdy, artless Moravian, a sort of lay missionary, who under- 
took in 1758 to bear a message from the Proprietary Council to the tribes on 
the Allegheny and to endeavor to win them over to the English. It was an 
arduous and perilous errand ; the long journey lay through an almost unex- 
plored wilderness ; the French and Indian War was at a crisis ; the savage 
allies of the French had been fierce and resolute ; the Shawanese and those 
favorable to the English, weak and wavering. 

Post reached Fort Augusta (Sunbury) from Bethlehem on July 25, 1758; 
here he heard the news of the defeat at Ticonderoga, " which " he says in his 
journal, " discouraged one of my companions, Lappopetung's son, so much that 
he would proceed no further." From here he set out on the 27th, accompanied 
by a couple of Indian guides and a chief, Pisquetumen. At Big Island he crossed 
the Susquehanna and took the trail up the Bald Eagle valley, leading to Ve- 
nango, and after a journey of three days reached " Shinglemuhee " (Chinkla- 
camoose), a deserted Indian town on the site of Clearfield. From here the main 
trail led on to Redbank, crossing that stream at Port Barnett; but the Moravian 
and his companions struck off" on a northern branch, which crossed the upper 
part of Jefferson county. On the next day, the 3d of August, he writes : *' We 
came to a part " — that is, a branch — " of a river called Tobeco over a very bad 
road." This " road " of course was only a trail through the forest. Post had 
not mastered the nomenclature of the West, and some of his expressions savor 
of a foreign simplicity. This " part of a river called Tobeco" was the present 
Little Toby, in Jefferson county. 

On the 5th — " We set out early this day, and made a good long stretch, 
crossing the big river Tobeco, and lodged between two mountains (?'. e., in the 
valley) ; I had the misfortune to lose my pocket-book, with three pounds five 
shillings and sundry other things. What writings it contained were illegible 
to any but myself" The " big river Tobeco " is the Clarion, and Post must 
have crossed it in the vicinity of Cooksburg and thence traversed the northern 
part of the county towards Franklin. After crossing " all the mountains 

1 From an inscription on a plate buried by Celeron at the mouth of French Creek. 



6o History of Clarion County. 

and the big river Wesahawaucks," they came in sight of the French fort on 
the 7th. 

This simple chronicle is all that breaks the obscurity involving the condition 
of this country at that remote period ; it is only a gleam, an incidental but inter- 
esting mention in the note-book of a plain, practical man who took down only 
the most salient features of his journey, and then with a brevity we must regret. 
However, in a negative way we may gather some information concerning the 
state of this country at that distant day. From the day Post left the Susque- 
hanna till he arrived at Venango his little party appears to have traversed a vast 
solitude ; there is no mention of either white men or savages, except of their 
own number. At Chinklacamoose there were some signs of Indians in some 
" poles painted red," which were stuck in the ground and served as stakes for 
prisoners ; but here in Clarion county there is no mention even of a sign of red 
men. This was partly due to the war which occupied many at distant points; 
but it also serves to confirm the statement that, except in the hunting seasons 
or in returning from an incursion to the Susquehanna, they were rare in the 
district embracing Clarion and northern Jefferson counties. No Indian villages 
were located in the county, the nearest being Goschgoschunk (near Tionesta), 
Venango, Punxsutawney, and Oldtown, opposite the mouth of Town Run in 
Armstrong county, and lying on the Venango trail. Oldtown was a prehistoric 
village of the Shawanese, and in 1 790 there were only vestiges of it. The most 
tangible part of Post's journal relates to the river. Nowhere else but here and 
in Heckwelder do we meet with " Tobeco." The French name was " riviere 
au Fiel," River of Hate.^ The circumstance which gave it this name is a 
mystery. The oldest English maps and mentions, the two above excepted, are 
unanimous m calling it "Toby's," or "Toby Creek." But Post and Heck- 
welder ^ give us the clue to the true origin of "Toby," and enable us to pro- 
nounce false the popular legend which assigns it to a hunter and trapper of 
that name, who annually came up the river in pursuit of game. What hunter 
ascended the Clarion so long before 1758 as by that time to have identified 
it with his name ? Toby is from Tobeco, which in turn is either a corruption 
of Topi-hanne, i. e., alder stream, from whence Tobyhanna, a tributary of the 
Lehigh is derived; or it more probably comes from " Tuppeek-hanne," the 
stream that flows from a large spring ; an origin implied from the clearness 
and sweetness of its waters. 

The Indian name for Redbank Creek was Lycamahoning, from " leguai " 
which in the language of the Delavvares signifies sand, and "mahonink," where 
there is a lick — i. c, Sandy Lick Creek, which translation it actually bore, to- 
gether with the original, up to about 1 820, when it was relegated to its southern 
branch. It was styled Redbank, too, at an early date — at least as early as 1 798 ; 

1 Father Bonnecamp's map. 
^ Indian Names. 



From the Earliest Period to 1784. 61 

it is a descendant of " riviere au Vermillion," or Red River, as this stream was 
called by the French, How this name came to be applied to it is involved in 
doubt ; the most reasonable conjecture derives it either from its outcropping 
red ore or the deposits of Mauch Chunk red shale in its banks. 

Paint Creek, which has several companions in this State, comes from the 
Algonquin " Wallamink," " where there is paint," from the iron ore exposed 
along its edges, whence the aborigines in this vicinity got their pigment for war- 
paint. Tom's Run received its appellation from an Indian who bore that Chris- 
tian name ; Town Run, from the old Indian town opposite its mouth. The 
" Weshauwaucks " spoken of by Post is East Sandy ; this designation is not 
found elsewhere, and its origin is unknown. 

To return to our Moravian: He crossed the river near the fort and recon- 
noitered circumspectly, being fearful of detection. " I prayed the Lord," he 
quaintly says, '' to blind them as he did the enemies of Lot and Elisha, that I 
might pass unknown." The Indians with him penetrated the works and re- 
ported a garrison of only six men. Finding no number of Indians near Ve- 
nango, he proceeded down the right bank of the Allegheny or Ohio, as it was 
then called, to the Shawanese villages in Butler and Allegheny counties, where 
he held numerous conferences and harangued them, with varying results. 

In the same year Fort Du Quesne was captured by General Forbes, and in 
the following (1759) the French abandoned Venango and Le Boeuf in order 
to strengthen Fort Niagara. In 1763 the little garrison at Venango shared the 
fate of all the northern posts in Pontiac's war; the men were massacred and the 
fortifications leveled by flame. Northwestern Pennsylvania then relapsed into 
barbarism, and its history from this period to the Revolution is, with one excep- 
tion, a blank. It was abandoned by the authorities to the uncurbed sway of 
the wild denizens of its forests, and in many years — except an occasional hunter 
and fur trader, half savages themselves — but one man had the courage to pen- 
etrate its depths. This was David Zeisberger, an intrepid Moravian missionary. 
He came into Forest county in 1767, and so rare had been a white face 
that on his arrival at the first Seneca village, in Warren county, a messenger 
was dispatched in haste to the neighboring town to notify the chief of the 
stranger's appearance. 

Brodhead's Expedition. 

Colonel Brodhead left Fort Pitt August 1 1, 1779, with a force of 600 men, 
to chastise the Senecas and Munseys of the upper Allegheny. He met with 
little opposition,! and succeeded in burning Conewango, Buchloons, and Yah- 
roongwago, large Seneca villages in Warren county and Southern New York. 
He returned by way of French Creek, where he ravaged another town. At 
the mouth of that stream the army crossed the Allegheny and took " the old 

1 For Brady's Bend and Captain Brady, see appendix. 



62 History of Clarion County. 

Venango road," which led them through Clarion county. They crossed the 
Clarion at Bullock's Ford, near Callensburg, so named from the circumstance of 
the cattle being driven over the river there, then, and during the war of 1812. 
At Bullock's Ford a soldier died and was buried on the river's bank. Snow 
fell on the homeward march. The command reached Fort Pitt September 14. 

Colonel Brodhead writes of this expedition :^ " Too much praise cannot be 
given to both officers and soldiers of every corps during the whole expedition. 
Their perseverance and zeal during the whole march through a country too in- 
accessible to be described, can scarcely be equaled in history. Notwithstand- 
ing that many of them returned barefooted and naked, they disdained to com- 
plain It is remarkable that neither man nor beast has fallen 

into the enemy's hands on this expedition, and I have a happy presage that 
the counties of Westmoreland, Bedford, and Northumberland, if not the whole 
western territories, will experience the good effect of it." 

Among Brodhead's officers on this campaign were the noted partisans. 
Captains Jack and Brady. Adam Sheffer, grandfather of William and H. K. 
Sheffer, of Salem township, enlisted from Ligonier valley, with the W^estmore- 
land militia, and took part in it as a private.^ 

Trails. 

Two important paths crossed Clarion county — the Susquehanna (Big Isl- 
and)-Venango, and the Venango-Kittanning, known as the " old Venango 
road." The Susquehanna- Venango entered the county at about the same 
place as the turnpike does. It crossed the Clarion at Clugh's Riffle, about a 
mile northwest of Strattanville. The Venango trail passed the county line in 
northwestern Salem township ; crossed the river at Bullock's Ford, near Cal- 
lensburg, and then striking southeasterly crossed the Redbank at the mouth of 
Town Run. This was the route taken by Brodhead on his return. It inter- 
sected the Kittanning path to Standing Stone (Huntingdon), in northern Indi- 
ana county. 

The Allegheny River was then the great highway between the southern 
and northern part of Western Pennsylvania, as well as the route of French 
voyageurs from the lakes to the Ohio and Mississippi. It was regarded as con- 
tinuous with the Ohio, and was so called, at least for a considerable distance up, 
as late as 1790. 

There is no river in America, the Hudson excepted, linked with such stir- 
ring struggles and associated so intimately with the romance of the wilderness 
as the Allegheny. And the scenes of that romance found a worthy setting in 
the beauty of its banks and the clearness and volume of its waters; issuing 

1 Letter to Washington. 

2 The following Revolutionary soldiers resided in this county: Adam Sheffer, Salem township; 
James Brown, Porter township; Thomas Meredith, Limestone township; Hugh Callen, Licking 
township; John Buchanan, Perry township. 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 63 



from the untrodden forests of the north, drinking in many a shady creek, 
rounding with bold curves many a sylvan promontory, now rippHng over a 
pebbly channel, and again expanded into a placid lake ; beauties of which 
the ax of the woodsman and the disfigurements of commerce have not alto- 
gether robbed it. Its banks have seen the fleet canoes of the Delawares and 
the Senecas ; its clear waters have reflected the embattled bateaux of Celeron 
and Contrecoeur, with bronze cannon and hundreds of gleaming bayonets, 
with the dark-skinned pilots and the black-robed Jesuit or Recollet; and, above 
all, the lily flag of France to be planted in the wilderness alongside the cross 
and proclaim the empire of Louis, his most Christian majesty of France t 
Again the solitary Moravian missionary, quaint and simple in manners and 
attire, and his faithful Indian converts, have glided down on their way to the 
" huts of peace," and perhaps roused the echoes from its rocks by a weird 
psalmody in the tongue of the Algonquin. Its hillsides, too, have heard the 
tramp of Brodhead's little army; have rung with rifle volley and the scream of 
the savage; and when danger in the form of the ruthless sons of the forest 
was abroad, the watch-fires of the yeomen guards and the challenge of the 
sentinel cast a glamor over the valley. 



CHAPTER VI. 
FROM THE PURCHASE OF 1784 TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 

The Purchase — Pickering & Co.— Small Warrantees — The Fox Estate — Lewis and Peters 

— The Holland Land Company — The Bingham Lands — Mifflin Warrants — Frankhn College 

— Northumberland and Lycoming— David Mead — The State Commissioners. 

TRUE to the principles of equity pursued by Penn in his dealings with the 
natives, the government of Pennsylvania extinguished the last claim of the 
Indians by purchasing all the remaining territory in the original limits of the 
State which had not been included in the treaty of 1768. That treaty made 
the northwest bounds of possession as follows : The Ohio and Allegheny from 
the Ohio line to Kittanning, thence by a straight line to Upper Canoe place, 
on the head waters of the Susquehanna, now Cherrytree, in Clearfield county, 
thence by that river to the mouth of Pine Creek, below Lockhaven, thence 
north by Pine Creek to the New York line. 

At a treaty held at Fort Stanwix (now Rome, N. Y.), the chiefs of the Six 
Nations, by deed dated October 23, 1784, conveyed to this Commonwealth all 
the residue of the State lying north and northwest of this line. This treaty 
was confirmed at Fort Mcintosh (Beaver) by the Delawares and Wyandots, 



64 History of Clarion County. 

who claimed the southern part of the included territory, and a deed was exe- 
cuted by them January 21, 1785. The new acquisition covered the north- 
western third of the State, and of course the present Clarion county. It was 
called the " Late Purchase," or " New Purchase." 

April 8, 1785, the Assembly incorporated with Allegheny and Westmore- 
land all the territory within the New Purchase not previously assigned to any 
county. All west of the Allegheny and Conewango Creek, with Westmore- 
land, and all on the east, including therefore Clarion county, with Northum- 
berland. 

Individual property in Clarion county dates from the opening of the land 
office. May i, 1785. A rush ensued for warrants in the New Purchase. 
Their area at first was limited to 400 acres each, with the privilege of ten per 
cent, excess; soon after the limit was widened to 1,000 acres and allowance. 
The consideration money at first was ;^30 for 100 acres, or 80 cents per acre, 
and the surveyor's fees. From the 1st of March, 1789, to the 3d of April, 
1792. iJ" 20 ($53,333-) per 100 acres, exclusive of surveyor's fees; from April 
3, 1792, to September i, 1817, ^5 ($13.33-5-); after that date ^10, or $26.66^. 

By an act passed in 1792, to encourage colonization on the extreme frontier 
— actual settlement was required to gain a title for land west of the Alleghe- 
ny, "unless prevented by enemies of the United States." The determination 
of the validity of titles under this proviso was a much-vexed question, and 
gave rise to general and almost endless litigation. Happily Clarion county 
escaped this by reason of its geographical position ; for by the time a similar 
act went into effect east of the Allegheny, most of the land here had been 
warranted, the Indians were no longer a constant menace, and the frontier 
was comparatively secure. At the same time the absence of the settlement 
proviso for warrants east of the Allegheny and Conewango, together with the 
fact that the greater portion of the land was in the hands of a few, retarded 
development of this country for fifteen years, and accounts for the paradox 
that Northern Armstrong, Clarion, Jefferson, Forest, and part of Warren 
county remained in primitive savagery till 1800, while in 1790 Butler, west- 
ern Venango, and Crawford counties were comparatively populous. 

The deterrent effects of intermittent Indian warfare are also to be taken 
into consideration; but this extended equally to the east and west of the Alle- 
gheny. In 1795 the law requiring applicants to make actual settlement was 
extended to the new purchase lying east of that river, and remained in force 
till 18 1 7. Among the first to take out warrants in Clarion county were 

Pickering & Co. 

These consisted of Timothy Pickering, Tench Coxe, Samuel Hogdon, Dun- 
can Ingraham, jr., Andrew Craiger, and Morris Fisher. Colonel Pickering 
was a native of Massachusetts, but was then a resident of Philadelphia. He 



Outline M/^p 
of 

Clarion ~ County 

SKowincrlheTernior3r Covered 

Warrant or Patentees. 2 

Expressly prepared 
Drawn by- Gko- J- RlED ~ bcalp 3mUayiI.-.cK 




153 JOMTviSTC 

415 

2 Washington „ 

3 Ashlamq ,, 



5 1\N0X If 

6 Paint 

7 Highland „ 
& Mill Crecm,, 
S TbtAVCR 

Nq 2.2 B-RADY Tp 



NO It Limestone: 

17 Perry 

18 ToTjv 
H "Porter 

20 RcOtJANN 

21 MAT31SON 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 65 

had been commander of a Pennsylvania regiment in the Revolution, and be- 
came secretary of war during the same period. He bore a prominent part in 
Indian difficulties and treaties concerning this State, and afterwards became 
postmaster-general and secretary of State of the general government. 
Throughout all he displayed executive ability. An article of agreement 
was drawn up by the company, April 6, 1785, stating that they were desirous 
of purchasing considerable quantities of land in the New Purchase, on the 
opening of the land office on the first of the succeeding month, and appointing 
Pickering, Coxe, Hogdon, and Ingraham a committee to procure warrants and 
manage the affairs of the company. It was likewise stipulated that the mem- 
bers of the company should be joint tenants, that the lands purchased by 
their committee should be conveyed to them as such in fee, and that a con- 
tract should be made with General James Potter, of Centre county, to select 
their warrants, show them to the surveyors, and see the proper returns made 
to the surveyor-general's office. Of the 68,000 acres to be purchased by 
the company, Potter was to receive one-fourth for his services. This agree- 
ment was carried out. The warrants were taken early in May, 1785, and sur- 
veyed late in October of the same year, and in the spring of 1786. Those in 
Clarion county are scattered ; two of them, 185 and 441 — the latter contain- 
ing 1,137 acres — cover respectively New Bethlehem, Fairmount, and West 
Millville and vicinity. 1 The vicinity of Brinkerton was included. Taking in 
one in the northwestern corner of Porter township, Pickering territory extends 
for its full length, and on each side of the north and south dividing line be- 
tween Piney and Monroe, and then veers off to the right, along Brush Run to 
its head. 

General Potter having died, Pickering et al. conveyed his share, 1 7,000 acres, 
March 3, 1795, to his sons-in-law and executors, Andrew Gregg and James 
Poe, for the use of his heirs. 

From the year 1785 to 1789 inclusive, a considerable number of four and 
five hundred acre tracts were taken up by various small holders, mostly re- 
siding in Philadelphia. 

In 1785 a tract of 300 acres called "Troy," No. 559, situated on "Lick 
Creek," i. e., Licking, "a branch of Toby's Creek," was granted to David Mc- 
Keechan, of Philadelphia, who conveyed it in 1796 to John Wilson, also of 
Philadelphia. This warrant is now largely the property of Mr. E. Over, of 
Licking township. John Wilson, the purchaser, was a banker, and bought out 
about the same period a number of the smaller owners ; he also purchased a 
number of warrants from the Holland Company, but forfeited them by breach 
of conditions. In 1785 warrant 382 — now covered by the farms of Wilson Mc- 
Kee and H. Henry — was drawn by Captain Miles, of Warren, and one in Piney, 
on the Licking township line. No. 404, was warranted to John Taylor. Patrick 

iSee map. 



66 History of Clarion County. 

Moore in the same year purchased two warrants in eastern Licking, 323 and 
327, now occupied in part by Michael Over ; these were sold by the sheriff of 
Lycoming county, and bought by Charles Huston, to whom they were pat- 
ented. The valley of Licking Creek and its tributaries seems to have been a 
favorite territory for the smaller speculators. In 1785 one tract on Lycama- 
honing Creek (Redbank) was warranted to Elias and Peter Miller, of Bedford 
county; conveyed to James Coulter. Warrants 723 and 725 were conveyed in 
1785 to Colonel Andrew Perter, afterward surveyor-general. 

Among other warrantees in Perry, Licking, and Piney townships are John 
Buchanan, deputy surveyor ; James Hamilton, John Grier, and Philip and Jo- 
seph Creigh, the latter on Cherry Run. William Amberson, James Amber- 
son, and Henry Reid warranted considerable land in Perry, Porter, and 
Redbank townships. In Perry township the Amberson tracts lie chiefly along 
the Allegheny, north of the Bingham lands. In 1786 two tracts in Richland 
township on Turkey Run were surveyed to Walter McFarland and conveyed 
by him to John Range, of Mt. Pleasant township, Adams county; in 1787 
one tract in Clarion township was issued to William Todd and by him con- 
veyed to Joseph Baldridge ; 1787 Robert McLenahan conveyed tract 287, 
"Elliot's Vale," to William ElHot ; it was situate at "the first fork of Lick 
Creek" and includes the site of Callensburg ; 1787 one tract was warranted to 
John Sloan, afterward sheriff of Armstrong county. 

In 1788 James Reed became owner of one tract in this county; and sev- 
eral patents were issued to Isaac Mason, John Cross, and Cornelia Cross, exec- 
utors of Robert Cross, merchant of Philadelphia. A few were granted to Ed- 
ward Price, merchant of the same city, for lands near Licking Creek. About 
the same period John Duncan warranted several tracts in eastern Licking, 
and John Clark one on the Clarion River, on the southern side, about one mile 
from its mouth; sold by him in 1792 to Thomas Hamilton, of Kittanning. 

The Fox Estate. 

May 18, 1785, the brothers, George and Samuel Fox, and Leonard Dorsey 
entered into partnership for the purpose of buying land in the New Purchase. 
John Kelly, of Northumberland, afterward Union county, was to locate and 
supervise the surveying of the warrants and for this was to receive one- third 
interest in the property. Between the years 1785 and '89 a number of 
small warrants were granted to them ; two in Perry township, along the Alle- 
gheny, south of the junction of the Clarion, Nos. 184 and 139 ; one, 198, form- 
ing the northwest corner of Salem township ; some along the Clarion in Lick- 
ing township, and two, Nos. 424 and 434, covering the corner common to 
Licking, Toby and Piney townships. Of these, in 1790, Kelly received one- 
third. About 1795 the Foxes took out eight one- thousand-acre warrants in 
this region ; of these seven lie along the Allegheny, north of the Clarion, and 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 6^ 

are connected ; the eighth, No. 5731, lies in northern apex of Toby township. 
These were patented in 1796 and became the sole property of Samuel Fox. 
The Fox estate was much enlarged by the purchase of the Millcreek Mifflin 
lands in 1798, and those farther south in 18 16. 

Franklin College Warrants. 

In 1787 the State appropriated large bodies of land in the west to Dickin- 
son and Franklin Colleges — the latter of Lancaster. About the western half of 
Salem township and the corner of Ashland left out by the Holland line, are 
covered by these warrants, numbering twelve in all, 805 to 816 inclusive. 

Next in order, in 1 789, come the 

Brodhead and Thomas Lands. 

They were warranted — except the Beaver-Salem tracts — to Joseph Thomas, 
in trust for Thomas and Daniel Brodhead, then surveyor-general, and embrace 
land in Redbank, Porter, Monroe, Beaver, and Salem townships. The Beaver- 
Salem tracts were purchased by Thomas and Brodhead from John Barron, the 
warrantee; these consist of nine four- and five-hundred-acre warrants, 3840— 
3848 ; the first two in the western part of Beaver township, south of the Hol- 
land Company's line ; the balance forming a tier in eastern Salem, embracing 
about one- third of the township. The southern lands were warranted at a later 
date; there are seventeen tracts of 1,000 acres each, numbered 5581-5592, 
and from 5596 to 5601. The Brodhead-Thomas territory in Clarion county 
covered an area of 27,300 acres. The latter tracts cover nearly the entire 
eastern half of Porter and western half of Redbank townships ; the Pickering 
territory invades it in the vicinity of New Bethlehem and West Millville, and 
forms a hiatus about Brinkerton. In 1796 the territory was patented and di- 
vided, Brodhead 'receiving the Beaver-Salem section (which he convej'ed the 
same year, with the exception of warrant 3,841, to Robert Brown, of Kittan- 
ning); and warrants 5592, 5593, 5594, 5595, 5596, 5597 in Redbank and 
Porter; and Thomas the remainder. Tracts 5601 and 5602 seem to have 
been previously sold. 

Next in the order of taking out warrants is 

The Holland Company. 

This was an unincorporated syndicate of wealthy citizens of Amsterdam, 
with whom Robert Morris had, about 1781, negotiated a large loan for t.'\e 
use of the colonies, to enable them to carry on the struggle for independent, 
and for which he assumed personally a partial responsibility. In consequence 
he assigned an immense body of land in western New York to the agents of 
the company. It is said that the State of Pennsylvania had contracted a debt 
to this company, which it liquidated by land ; but there is some mystery in this 
regard. Holland was at that time distracted by the vicissitudes consequent on 



68 History of Clarion County. 



the French Revokition, and her capitahsts may have sought investments in the 
distant and youthful repubHc, deeming them the safest. However this may 
be, on December 12 and 13, 1792, the Commonwealth granted 1,180 warrants 
of 990 acres and allowance each in the New Purchase, and lying east of the 
Allegheny River and Conewango Creek, to Wilhem Willink, Nicolaas Van 
Staphorst, Christiaan Van Eeghen, Hendrick Vollenhoven and Rutger Jan 
Schimmelpeninck. Subsequently, Pieter Stadnitzki was added to the company. 
This was under the law of 1789, enabling aliens, under certain conditions, to 
hold and sell land in this State for a limited time ; a law which seems have been 
specially devised for the Holland Company. They held the land in joint ten- 
ancy with the right of survivorship. About the same time they purchased a 
large number of West Allegheny warrants, and in order to secure them made 
vigorous efforts to introduce settlers upon them ; a fact which accounts for the 
priority of colonization in that section. Previously all warrants, from the man- 
ner of drawing the numbers, were styled " lottery warrants," but in the case of 
extensive purchasers— the Holland Company, Bingham, and others— the sys- 
tem was changed to adapt it to their demands. Some of the Holland warrants 
were issued to Le Roy and Lincklaen, their New York agents. Their first 
Pennsylvania agent was Paul Busti, an Italian, who resided at Blockley's Re- 
treat, the present site of the Philadelphia almshouse. Busti had general super- 
intendence of the property (the Hollanders never became citizens or exercised 
personal supervision), with power of conveyance and contract. Busti not only 
bought and sold lands for the company, but also acquired an individual title to 
much, as did Huidekoper, their local agent for the west Allegheny. Prior to 
1811 Robert Beatty, of Armstrong county, was the sub-agent in this vicinity. 
The Holland Company's warrants east of the Allegheny were located in Mc- 
Kean, Warren, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, and Armstrong counties. Most of the 
Clarion county tracts were surveyed in June and July, 1793. The hne enters 
the county at the north on the Washington- Farmington boundary, and after 
following that down to its extremity passes through Knox township due south, 
takes up the Paint-Highland line, pursues that, and crosses the river about one 
mile above the county seat. Then it turns due west, truncates Clarion borough, 
crosses the river again a little below the Pike bridge, and continues due west 
till it reaches a point one and one-half miles southwest of Shippenville. There 
it turns south to the Clarion River, a little below the mouth of Deer Creek ; 
the-^-e west again to a point a short distance southwest of Blair's Corners ; 
thence north to Monroeville, where it retires eastward, forming a recess for two 
^f Barron's warrants, and an irregular one of Fox's intervening. A broken line, 
generally parallel to the northwestern line of Beaver township, carries it into 
Ath.^^.d in a due north course, where, a mile and a half east from Mt. Pleas- 
ant village, it turns westward till on a line with the western boundary of Ash- 
land, into which it merges. From there the boundary of the Holland 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 69- 



Company's land in Clarion county is continuous with the county line to the 
place of beginning. 

It will be seen that these lines include fully one-fourth the surface of the 
county, comprising all of Washington and all but a fraction of Elk township, 
five-sixths of Ashland, four-fifths of Paint, three-fourths of Beaver, two- thirds of 
Knox, and a small section of Clarion township. They embrace seventy-four 
warrants representing over 74,000 acres. 

In the southern part of the county the territory of the company com- 
prised about 10,000 acres, divided as follows: One section in southern Madi- 
son, bordering on the Redbank, consisting of all the territory south of the 
Bingham line, which runs through the center of the township west of Mifflin's 
warrant 5086, which extends centrally from the Redbank till it intersects the 
Bingham line on the J. Mortimer farm, and east of a broken line running north 
of Van Buren Furnace. Further east a Holland tier crosses Redbank Creek 
into Porter township, adjoining Mifflin's, and extending up the length of three 
1,000 acre warrants. From the most southern of these three another one off- 
sets eastwardlv. Both of these are interfered with by several narrow strips 
running east and west. The last section of the Holland Company's land lies 
in southern and eastern Redbank township, Nos. 3058-3063, including all 
south of the east and west line running through Shannondale and east of the 
Thomas and Brodhead line, except a few parcels in the southeastern corner. 

In 1804 145 warrants in the purchase were seized by United States mar- 
shal Smith for unpaid national taxes. They were purchased by Busti, as agent 
for the company; but the former owners, or their heirs — Jesse Wain, Isaac 
Wharton, Samuel M. Fox, David Lewis, and John Adlum resisted its title. 
Accordingly Smith filed a bill of interpleader to determine in whom was the 
equitable ownership, in which the Holland Company and Le Roy and Bayard 
(who had succeeded Lincklaen) were complainants, and the parties above men- 
tioned defendants. The decree of the Circuit Court (October 31, 1807), 
decided in favor of Wain, Wharton, and the others, and ordered a conveyance 
in proportionate shares. The lands in this county involved in this contest were 
chiefly those of Samuel M. Fox. In 1805 Harm Jan Huidekoper was sent out 
by the syndicate as " general superintending agent " in a local sense. Busti still 
retained his former relations with the company. Huidekoper took up his 
residence at Meadville, and in the same year, March 19, purchased from the 
company twenty-three of its east Allegheny tracts. This purchase covered -.11 
its possessions in Beaver township, southern Ashland, southwestern Elk. and 
two warrants 2801 and 2795, in central Washington, about Fryburg. By :\-.^ 
time Stadnitzki, Van Eeghen, and Van Staphorst had died. 

The Bingham Lands. 
Close upon the heels of those to Willink and company came the Bingham 
warrants. They were issued December 14, 1792, to Robert Gilmor and 



yo History of Clarion County. 

Thomas Willing, but patented and conveyed to William Bingham October 30, 
1794. Willing was Bingham's father-in-law, a leading merchant of Philadel- 
phia, and partner of Robert Morris. Robert Gilnior, of Baltimore, was a cor- 
respondent of Bingham's and Willing's, and ranked high in the early social and 
commercial world. He was co-partner of an American commercial house 
established at Amsterdam, and resided there as agent. With the wealthy bank- 
ers Wilhem and Jan Willink, he had intimate business relations, and this, taken 
in connection with the almost identical period of the Holland and Bingham pur- 
chases, points to some connection between the two companies. William Bing- 
ham was a man of wealth and aristocratic connections, resident in the Quaker 
City. He was speaker of the first Pennsylvania House from 1791 to 1793, and 
afterward filled the chair in the Senate in 1795. By a rather odd coincidence 
two of the largest holders of land in Clarion county, William Bingham and 
Richard Peters, filled the highest positions respectively in the first House and 
Senate of Pennsylvania. 

The Bingham estate in northern Clarion county consisted of thirty-three 
full 1,000-acre warrants and eight halves of tracts cut by the Clarion-Jefferson 
line, embracing about 46,000 acres in Farmington, Highland, Millcreek, and 
Clarion townships. The boundary of the connected warrants begins on the 
Forest county line about one mile southeast of the junction of Walley's Run 
and Coon Creek. It is identical with the line between the P. Haskell and the 
Ford and Lacy property, and continues due north and south, bisecting Farm- 
ington township to its southern boundary. It follows this line westward to 
the offset from Highland township, having the Peters land on the north here, 
and enters Knox. Near Mr. S. W. Wilson's saw- mill it again takes a southern 
course, and penetrates Highland to a point a little below the cross-roads at 
Miola Post-office, thence leads east the length of one warrant into Millcreek 
township, thence north to the mouth of Blyson Run, where it turns due east, 
•cutting Millcreek township into two sections, in the northern of which the Mifflin 
warrants lie and intervene between the Bingham lands in Farmington and those 
in Millcreek. Arrived at the Clarion and Jefferson county line, the Bingham 
boundary turns south on it to a point one-fourth mile north of Little Millcreek, 
where it turns due west to the mouth of that stream, then jogs south, west, and 
north in an irregular line, coming up again to the northwest corner of the 
borough of Strattanville, then turning west to include warrant 3389, which 
covers the bend in the Clarion at Clugh's Riffle, and is isolated on the north 
and east by Harrison's warrants. In Farmington township the county line 
forms the limit to the Bingham territory on the east. All the tracts, except 
a few along the river, have due north and south lines. 

The Biiigham tracts were surveyed in August and September, 1793. The 
south Clarion Bingham territory occupies connectedly parts of Perry, Madison, 
and Toby townships, covering, roughly speaking, the southern half of Perry, 



V 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 71 

the northern half of Madison, the western third of Toby, and a section in the 
southeast on the Madison Hne, taking in Rimersburg ; twenty-two warrants, all 
of 1,000 acres, except two of 500 in Perry township. The line is so zig-zag, so 
broken by gaps and interferences [i. e., previous warrant rights), that it is im- 
possible to describe it except by projection. Its continuous boundaries are the 
Allegheny from near the mouth of Troutman's Run to a point a little below 
Monterey, and the well-known line in Madison township extending from a 
point a little north of the junction of Mortimer and Catfish Runs, due east to 
Wild Cat Run. 

William Bingham removed to England in the latter part of the last century, 
and died there toward the close of 1804. His will, dated January 10, 1804, 
devised all his realty to five executors in perpetual trust for his son William 
Bingham, and his daughters, Anna, wife of Alex. Baring, and Maria Matilda, 
wedded to Henry Baring. These trustees were Alexander and Henry Bar- 
ing, of the great London banking house of Baring Brothers ; Robert Gilmor, 
Thomas Mayne Willing, and Charles Willing Hare, of Philadelphia. The 
devisees had authority to dispose of portions of his property, and among them 
the warrants in the Late Purchase. Alex. Baring in 1842 became Lord Ash- 
burton, and, having extensive commercial and landed interests in North Amer- 
ica, was selected as Great Britain's representative to perfect by treaty a settle- 
ment of the northeast boundary between the United States and the British 
Possessions (1842). 

The alien Bingham devisees and Gilmor, resident in Amsterdam, appointed 
as their attorneys in fact Thomas Mayne Willing and Charles W. Hare. 

The Harrison Lands 

Were warranted to George Harrison December 26, 1792, and surveyed in the 
early part of July, 1794. They consist, in Clarion county, of a strip a mile, or 
a warrant, in width, extending north and south in Knox and Highland town- 
ships ; and two offsetting to the east. The strip contains two oblong one- 
thousand-acre warrants, lying between the Bingham and Holland tracts, with 
the Peters on the north, and reaches down to tract 3389 of the Bingham. Here 
a jog eastward occurs, occupying two warrants which cover the mouth of Mill- 
creek and extend into Millcreek and Clarion townships. 

Lewis and Peters. 

This was a partnership composed of William Lewis and Richard Peters, of 
Philadelphia. The latter was a distinguished citizen of the early Common- 
wealth ; he had served in the Revolution as a captain and as secretary of the 
board of war. Later he was elected speaker of the first Senate, and in 1792 
was appointed judge of the United States District Court, occupying the bench 
till his death. His residence was at Belmont, a beautiful villa, now a charming 



72 History of Clarion County. 

spot in Fairmount Park. On January 26, 1793, Messrs. Lewis and Peters took 
out a large number of the largest warrants, which were surveyed late in July 
of the same year. In the northern part of the county they occupy all the area 
, not covered by Willink and Company, Bingham and Harrison, viz. — the 
two tiers between the Bingham and Holland lines, comprising the western 
half of Farmington (except Biddle warrant. No. 5502, in the upper edge) ; the 
northeastern corner of Knox, and the northern neck in Highland, though con- 
cerning the latter there was a dispute, arising from an alleged overlapping of 
the Bingham purchase. In these tiers there are 16,500 acres. On June 20, 
1794, Lewis and Peters conveyed all these warrants and several more in For- 
est county to Peter Benson and wife, who the same day deeded them to 
Richard Peters, Francis Johnston, and David Kennedy, and they became 
finally vested in Peters alone. The Dallas and Ingersoll warrants did not be- 
come a part of the Peters estate till after 1820. 

The Mifflin Warrants. 

In 1786 Jonathan Mifflin, of Philadelphia, and Colonel Francis Johnston, of 
Revolutionary fame, living at Blockley Retreat, and then receiver-general of 
the land office, bought ten small tracts in the vicinity of " Lick Creek." In 
1794 surveys were made to Mifflin and Johnston for a number of large tracts 
in Madison and Toby, and in Millcreek townships. Those in Madison and 
Toby numbering 5081-5088, extend on the eastern line — lapping over it 
slightly — the width of the two townships ; the northernmost one is interfered 
with considerably on the north. No. 5086, offsetting, embraces Lawsonham and 
vicinity. The Millcreek warrants contain the half of the township north of 
the Bingham line. In 1798 Mifflin (having bought out Johnston) sold some 
of the Millcreek lands to George and Samuel Fox, and in 1799 the remainder 
to the Bank of Pennsylvania. 

In 1795 Charles Cist, of Philadelphia, took out warrants for two tracts on 
Toby's Creek. 

The first surveyors in this region were the skirmish line of civilization, the 
first white men to leave the beaten paths and penetrate the interior. Their 
work bore a large share in the development of the wilderness and formed the 
basis of the later subdivision lines in our county. The surveyors, therefore, 
and their methods merit our attention in a historical work of this kind. 

Clarion county belonged to surveyor's districts Nos. 6 and 7. All east of 
the north and south boundary line common to Madison, Porter, Toby, Piney, 
and Monroe townships, and a continuation of it to the river, and north of a 
line thence due west, belonged to No. 6 ; all south and west of it, to No. 7. 
The first deputy-surveyor assigned to No. 6 was Samuel Johnston, who was 
succeeded in 1786 by George Woods. Johnston and Woods surveyed the 
Pickering tracts. In 1789, on the accession of Colonel Brodhead to the sur- 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 73 

veyor-generalship, Ennion Williams was appointed. Williams had been com- 
mander of a battalion of riflemen during the Revolution, and, like a great many 
military men, when his services were no longer required on the line of battle, 
was selected for a position only second in its arduous and hazardous charac- 
ter to the life of a soldier. Williams acted till 1794 and was replaced by John 
Brodhead, a relative of the general's. Williams therefore surveyed the greater 
part of the Holland and all of the Harrison and Peters warrants, and Brodhead 
the upper Bingham and Mifflin tracts. 

The first, and, until about 1800, apparently the only surveyor of District 
No. 7, was John Buchanan, of Philadelphia. Occasionally the deputy-sur- 
veyors sub-deputed others to do work. 

The rugged and unexplored nature of the country in those days required 
surveying to be carried on in campaign style. Each surveyor was accompa- 
nied by a party, generally numbering a dozen, consisting of assistants, ax-men, 
and drivers, who brought up the rear with the pack-horses bearing provisions, 
tents, etc. The corps was always armed, for danger was ever possible, either 
from wild beasts or Indians. Surveying was extremely hazardous between 
1790 and 1793, owing to the Indian outbreaks and the war which culminated 
in the defeat of St. Clair ; and very little of it was done. The severe punish- 
ment inflicted by General Wayne, in Ohio, awed the western tribes, and thence- 
forth the work of both subdivision and settlement advanced with comparative 
security. Yet, notwithstanding, there were continual alarms among the inhab- 
itants of the frontier, owing to threatening hostilities arising from the dissatis- 
faction of the Indians with the treaties; militia-men were consequently pick- 
eted along the Allegheny. Cornplanter, the well-known Seneca chief, cautioned 
the surveyors to leave the woods, as they might expect attack after the 13th 
of December, 1794 However, nothing serious transpired. 

The surveyors went in advance of the slow provision-train, blazing their 
route as they went along, to enable the packmen to follow. In after times 
these lines were sometimes mistaken for warrant lines, and caused confusion. 
When the corps at work on a line arrived at a place, almost impassably dense 
or rough — a rugged ravine, for instance — instead of maintaining their straight 
line, they would turn to the right or left at right angles till a practicable course 
was found, and, on arriving at the bottom or opening, would return to a spot 
on a line with the break-off These breaks were ignored in the returns, but 
were puzzling to future land litigants; the courts decided that the ground, and 
not the air lines, controlled. 

In laying out a " block " or tier of warrants, the surveyors by no means ran 
all the warrant lines by actual measurement. They would measure lines for 
two or three sides of a block of warrants, deduce the remaining side or 
sides, and then project imaginary lines of division across the parallelogram, 
splitting it into tracts of equal area. The corners along the actual line would 



74 History of Clarion County. 

be specifically designated as by " a white oak," " a gum," etc. ; the imaginary 
corners were indicated by imaginary " posts." 

Most of the larger warrants were regular rectangles with lines running true 
to the cardinal points ; the exceptions were where previous warrants, overlap- 
ping, made irregularity of outline necessary, and along the Allegheny, across 
which warrants could not extend on account of the difference of tenure. Each 
tract had a name, generally fanciful or imitative, as " Troy," 559; *' Busti 
Farm," 2710; sometimes incidental or descriptive, as 3675 on Knapp's Run, 
in Northwestern Farmington, called " Hickory Dale"; the adjoining warrant 
south, "Saw-mill Run"; "Wild Cherrytree Plain " (5081), in Madison town- 
ship, east of the junction of Wildcat and Fiddler's Runs ; " Han o yought," 
" where the stream is crooked " (5629). 

There is scarcely any data for determining the value of warrant lands in the 
earliest days. Conveyances were usually made only from warrantees to pat- 
entees, and in case of small tracts the consideration, nominal, was five shillings 
per tract. 

In 1788 David and John Mead, the Randolph brothers, Stophel Seiverling, 
James Miller, and Cornelius Van Horn passed through Clarion county on the 
Susquehanna trail. They had come from the far distant Wyoming valley, 
where they had been driven from their possessions by the contentions of the 
Connecticut claimants. From Venango they ascended FVench Creek to the 
mouth of the Cussewago, and erected cabins in that fertile vale — the future city 
of Meadville. 

In 1790 the Supreme Executive Council appointed a commission to survey 
the Upper Allegheny and its tributaries and examine the capabilities of the "Late 
Purchase." It consisted of Colonel Timothy Matlack, Samuel Maclay, and John 
Adlum. Matlack had been, with General James Potter, a member of the State 
Resolutionary Committee of the Frame of Government, and was subsequently 
secretary of the Commonwealth and master of rolls. Maclay, the grandfather 
of Hon. David Maclay, of Sligo, was a veteran surveyor of Eastern and Central 
Pennsylvania, and was president of the State Senate from 1802 to 1804. John 
Adlum was a State commissioner, resident in Centre county, who afterwards 
removed to Maryland. He had some interest in Clarion county property. 
One of the objects of their expedition was to explore a route for a wagon road 
through the Purchase to the head waters of the Allegheny. They left Lebanon 
May I, 1790, their intention being to ascend the "West Branch as high as it 
will admit canoes and then examine what kind of communication the country 
v/ill admit of between it and Toby's Creek. "^ On June 18 they (Matlack 
and Maclay) crossed from the Sinnemahoning to Little Toby in Jefferson 
county ; Adlum had previously left with a party of ax- men to run a line to the 
head- waters of the " Alegina," near Warren, and construct canoes. This point 
his colleagues reached from the Sinnemahoning by a circuitous northern route. 

1 Diary of Samuel Maclay. 



From 1784 to Settlement of County. 75 



From hence, after passing up Conewango to Lake " Chadokin," they descended 
the river in canoes, stopping to explore several affluents for some distance up, on 
their way. August 5 Mr. Maclay writes : " Started the surveying party " — 
from Fort Franklin — " early in the morning, as we were obliged to remain 
awhile to bake some bread. As soon as that was done we followed and over- 
took them and gave them some provisions, and then made the best of our way 
for Toby's Creek. At one o'clock we had a heavy shower. After it was over 
we proceeded down the river and came to the mouth of Toby's Creek about 
five o'clock, and before we had time to pitch our tent we had another heavy 
shower, followed by a rainy night." 

"Friday, August 6. — The morning showery, and continued until twelve 
o'clock, when it cleared up a little, but does not yet promise fair weather. 
Our surveying party has not yet reached us, although it is now past four 
o'clock. The surveying party came in before night, and after them John Ria 
and Frederick Bavvm came to our camp. It was therefore agreed that Bawm 
and Ria^ should be taken into pay for four days, and that I, with one hand in 
addition, should survey the river down to the Kishcaminitas, while the other 
commissioners were to be employed in exploring the Toby's Creek." 

Unfortunately no record of this exploration exists. The commissioners 
must have ascended the stream for a considerable distance ; for almost a week 
elapsed before they returned to Maclay, at his camp on the Kiskiminetas. 

The line known to the earliest settlers as '* Adlum's line " was one made 
on their overland return to the Allegheny. Mr. Maclay evidently thought 
that at the junction of Toby's Creek the " Alegina" becomes the " Ohia," for 
above that he mentions the stream by the first, and below, by the latter name. 

We take up his diary again: " August 7. — Started with my party and sur- 
veyed nine miles and one half, and took up our quarters. 

" August 8. — Continued our survey eleven miles further down the river." 
So he continued down to the Kiskiminetas. 

On April 13, 1795, the western part of Northumberland, including, of 
course, the present Clarion county, was erected into Lycoming. There was 
no township organization here ; but the western frontier was mentioned as 
" that part of Lycoming county lying in the New Purchase." 

As a tardy result of the exploration by the commissioners, an act of March 
21, 1798, declared public highways the Allegheny and several of its tribu- 
taries, including " Toby's Creek from the mouth up to the second fork," and 
" Sandy Lick or Redbank Creek from the mouth up to the second fork." 

March 12, 1 800, all of Clarion county lying north of the river was taken 
from Lycoming to form part of the new county of Venango, and all south of 
the river was likewise cut off from Lycoming and annexed to the new county 
of Armstrong. There was no township organization of these sections till 1801 
for Armstrong county, and 1806 for Venango. 

' Probably Baum and Rhea is the correct version ofthe.se names. 



^6 History of Clarion County. 

CHAPTER Vn. 

FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY TO THE WAR OF 1812. 

Absalom Travis — Securing Warrants — John Laughlin — Settlers from Westmoreland — 
From Centre County — Character of Pioneers — Pioneer Life — Mills — Churches — Schools — 
Pastimes — " First Things." 

1792-1812. 

OF the settlement of Absalom Travis, the pioneer of Clarion county, few 
particulars have reached us. All that is known of him is that about 1790 
he removed from New York, his native State, to the Black Lick settlement, 
Indiana county. There he remained but a short time, and about 1792 — it is 
impossible to fix the date exactly — he came with his three sons, Robert, 
James, and Stephen, and squatted or settled on the spot now occupied by the 
farm of J. Barnhart, in the southeastern corner of Monroe township, Brodhead- 
Thomas tract No. 5589. He did not live long enough to reap the profit of 
his enterprise and labors; he died on his humble homestead in or before 1795. 
His grave is still discernible. 

We cannot but admire the hardihood of this, the first settler of Clarion 
county, in going forth at an advanced age, accompanied only by his family, to 
seek a home solitary, in the wilds, where the half-conquered savage yet roamed 
at will ; where the sound of the pioneer's ax had never disturbed the forest's 
depths, and nature in her most uncouth garb frowned at the efforts of man to 
smooth her ruggedness. He was many miles in advance of the northernmost 
settlements of Armstrong (then Northumberland and Westmoreland) county, 
and outstripped organized colonization by eight years. 

It is not difficult to imagine what a panorama of Clarion county at the 
time of the arrival of Absalom Travis, would have presented. A vast expanse 
of forest, rugged and tangled, yet majestic, unbroken save by rare openings 
from which the smoke of the Indian camp ascended, or by windfalls where a 
storm had hurled the monarchs of the forest in impassable confusion. Here 
and there a dimly discernible Indian path traversed the waste ; sometimes the 
vivid rattlesnake darted across it. The deer, the bear, the wolf, and panther 
roamed everywhere ; a few elk were yet here ; the pheasant and wild turkey, 
and at night the dismal baying of wolves, made the air resonant at times. 
Otherwise the silence was only broken by the swaying of the limitless forest, 
the murmur of the streams, and an occasional shot from an Indian's rifle. 
Such was this region when this bold pioneer broke the spell of its vacancy 
and penetrated its unhospitable bosom. 

The Travis family remained and have resided continuously in the county 
■ever since. The sons of Absalom continued their father's work and culled out 



From Settlement of County to War of 1812. t'j 

a home and a little plantation in the wilderness. Their sojourn must have 
been an isolated one for a long time. The earliest settlers of Limestone town- 
ship remembered the Travis farm as being the only one in the county for a 
number of years which produced apples, it alone having been long enough 
under cultivation. Robert and his brothers about 18 14 (having either sold 
the homestead or been ousted therefrom) moved away, some going to Green- 
ville and others to the settlement in Clarion township. ^ 

The law of 1794 required that applications for warrants on vacant lands in 
the east Allegheny territory should be received, provided only that on each 
separate tract called for, settlements had been made, grain raised, and the im- 
provement occupied by living thereon. Of this it was necessary to furnish 
sworn certificates of two disinterested parties. 

This act for some years failed to accomplish the end designed. True, set- 
tlements were made, but they were of the rudest and most ephemeral kind — 
formal and barely sufficient to meet the letter of the law. A rude hut would 
be thrown together, a little patch burnt, cleared and strewn with corn The 
woodsman slept under the cover of the roof and waited until the blades sprouted 
and the surveys were issued, when, presto ! the settler vanished to more salu- 
brious climes, and the scene of his " labors " relapsed into decay and solitude, 
the bantling settlement — stillborn. 

In this way the Ingersoll, Dallas, and Adlum warrants No. 795 in Rich- 
land and Licking townships, and a few other isolated tracts in the county were 
laid. 

In 1798 John Laughlin (father of Reynolds Laughlin, esq.) and William 
Wilkins, of Indiana county, came here to secure warrants. Laughlin erected 
a cabin and made a clearing in northern Piney township for a 440 acre tract, 
west of the mouth of Piney, and now owned by heirs of Martin Kearny, Arm- 
strong and others. At the same time William Wilkins settled a tract in west- 
ern Piney township, returned home with Laughlin and sold his warrant right 
to Colonel John Sloan. 

After obtaining a patent for the above tract (1800) John Laughlin made a 
similar improvement on the adjacent one, shut up the cabin and returned home 
for the winter. In his absence one Riley took possession, had the land sur- 
veyed and sold it to Keefer, of Westmoreland county, who sometime after- 
ward removed here and took up his residence on it. 

But these are transitory instances. No one followed on the footsteps of 
Absalom Travis, with the intention of permanent settlement, till 1800. Then 
occurred the effectual colonization of Clarion county. . In the autumn of that 
year four sturdy young men crossed Redbank to " view the land " and build 
a shelter provisionally to permanent immigration. They were Alexander 
Guthrie, John Guthrie, Thomas Guthrie, brothers, and William Maffet, a 



1 Absalom Travis was the grandfather of S. R. Travis, of Greenville, and T. T. Travis, of Edenburg. 
6 



78 History of Clarion County. 

brother in-law, all of New Derry, Westmoreland county. Picking their way 
over the dubious trail with rifles in hand and driving a pack-horse laden with 
tools and flour, they ascended the valley of Town Run and then struck north 
through the unbroken woodland. They had come via the path from Black 
Lick, which intersected the Venango trail. i This they followed, as far as it ran, 
along Town Run. Having penetrated the wilderness to a point a mile east of 
Strattanville, they halted, made a clearing, and built a cabin on the present 
farm of Samuel Johnson. They then returned, after having lowered a sap- 
ling, tied a sack of flour left over to its top, and let it spring back. They 
found it unharmed when they came back. 

The circumstances that brought about the emigration from Westmoreland 
county to the banks of the Clarion are involved in almost hopeless obscurity. 
The tradition of the settlement makes them come out under the patronage of 
Surveyor- General Daniel Brodhead. The land was supposed to be vacant, 
and each settler was to take up four hundred acres, of which Brodhead was to 
have the half. It is very strange that a man of his official position should in- 
troduce a colony on land belonging to another, for it was afterwards discovered 
that they had settled on Bingham territory; and they were obliged to purchase 
their right to the soil. 

The Guthries and Maffet returned in May of the following year, bringing 
their families and additional utensils. They were guided on their route by the 
trees they had blazed the previous year. With them also came James Maguire, 
Herman Skiles, Mrs. Fulton, a widow, and her son James, James McFadden 
and a few others. 

More cabins were built, and the nucleus of Clarion county sprang into 
existence. 

The Centre county colonists press hard upon the Westmorelanders for the 
honor of being the first on the ground, but the little " improvement " made by 
the Guthries and Maffet in 1800 establish their priority beyond a doubt. 

The first immigrants from the center of the State were William Young, 
Philip Clover, John Love, James Potter, John Roll, John C. Corbett, 
Samuel Wilson, William Smith, and Philip Clover, jr. They resided in 
Penn's Valley and neighborhood. About 1800 the tide of emigration to the 
undeveloped West set in strongly. They caught the infection, and purchased 
land from James Potter, the heir of the Pickering lands in this vicinity. In 
1 80 1 they set out for their yet unseen home in the wilderness A long and 
arduous journey it was over the Susquehanna trail through an otherwise un- 
broken solitude, " the women and children mounted upon horses, the cooking 
utensils, farming implements, such as hoes, axes, plows, and shovels, together 
with bedding and provision, placed in what was called pack-saddles; while fol- 
lowing on foot were the men with their guns upon their shoulders, ready to take 

1 This was the usual route taken l)v the earliest Westmoreland and Indiana immigrants. 



From Settlement of County to War of 1812. 79 

down any small game that might cross their path, which would go towards 
making up their next meal."^ William Young had a cart and a span of oxen ; 
they stalled upon the mountain, and were only brought to ascend by Mrs. 
Young going before and scattering feed in front of them. Port Barnett, near 
Brookville, was the only habitation of man encountered on their journey, and 
its lowly hut and rude mill must have met their weary gaze, after their strug- 
gle through wilds, as the very acme of comfort and hospitality. Here they 
rested, re-shod their horses, and purchased additions to their outfit. 

^ Their lines were cast on the banks of Brush Run, but a mile south of the 
habitat of the pioneers from the south, and their improvements extended from 
its source to Williamsburg. Samuel Wilson returned to Centre county to pass 
the winter, and died there. In the following spring his widow and her five 
sons — Robert, Samuel, William, John, and David — came out and occupied his. 
improvement. 

It is impossible now to tell whether the colony from Westmoreland or that 
from Centre county was the first to be permanently on the ground. In all 
probability they came almost simultaneously. There was little difference ia 
the distance traversed, and the starting time would be about the same. A 
singular and interesting fact concerning these twin settlements is that they 
were unaware of each other's existence for some time, though in places within 
gun-shot of each other. It is significant of the density of the forest at that 
date. The discovery was made in this wise : One day Alexander Guthrie 
heard the sound of an ax on a hillside to the southwest. Knowing that none 
of his neighbors were at work in that vicinity, he went over to ascertain who 
the woodsman was. Judge of his amazement when he discovered an entire 
stranger in the person of William Young, who was splitting rails. A similar 
incident is related by Judge Clover: "One morning," he says, "early, my 
father was out in pursuit of wild game, when much to his surprise he heard a 
cow-bell. Starting immediately, he traced the sound, and soon came upon a 
small clearing and cabin together with the widow's (Fulton) family. They 
were as much surprised as he was, not knowing that any one was living near 
them." 

In 1 801 Samuel C. Orr, Tate Allison, William Cochran, Robert Warden, 
Peter Pence, Thomas Meredith, John Sloan, and Mark Williams, all from West- 
moreland, made improvements further south, in what is now Limestone town- 
ship. 

In the same year Thomas Pollock and James Elder improved land in 
northern Perry township. In 1802 Hugh Reid and Robert McGarrah, from 
Fayette county, removed to this part of Armstrong county. 

Abraham, John, and Isaac Stanford, John Magee, William Courson, Henry 
Benn, William Munks, and others settled the vicinity of Curllsville in 1 804-5. 

1 Judge Clover in " Caklweirs Atlas." 



8o History of Clarion County. 

The first settlements made on Redbank Creek were between 1809-18 15, by 
Henry Nulph, Colin McNutt, sr., the Doverspike family (originally Dauben- 
speck), John Ardery, and others. 

Settlements were made on Leatherwood Creek between 18 10 and 181 5 by 
Robert Travis, the Beattys, Malachi Buzzard, and others. Capt. William Guth- 
rie and David Shields squatted on vacant land at its mouth in 18 10. Tradi- 
tion, apparently well authenticated, tells that Shields's son had been kidnapped 
by a band of Indians at a very tender age, and taken to some northern point on 
the shores of Redbank. After many years, and having moved in the mean time, 
the father discovered his whereabouts and rescued him; but the wild propensi- 
ties he had imbibed in his long sojourn among the Indians made the tameness 
of the paternal roof galling to him. He married an Indian maiden, and one 
nicrht, when a gang of Senecas were roystering about the house, he joined them, 
and never returned. 

Mathew Hosey, and the Rankins, in Toby township, came about 1805. 
Regarding Alexander Moorhead, who settled at a very early date on the 
west branch of Cherry Run, there is a picturesque legend. He was a mighty 
hunter, and rivaled only by an Indian in that vicinity. The two met one day 
at a deer-lick, and picked off the deer as they came to drink. As it grew dusk 
the Indian wagered Moorhead that he would kill the last deer. The bet was 
accepted, and as the next stag approached, Moorhead leveled his rifle at the 
red man, shot him dead, and then killed the deer. The wager was won. 

In 1803-05 came the Everets, Hagans, McKibbens, Jonathan and Daniel 
Mortimer, and Alex. McCain, along the Allegheny. Between 1805 and 18 10 
the valleys of Beaver and Canoe Creeks were colonized by Westmorelanders 
of German extraction, the Bests, Berlins, Knechts (now Knights), Keefers, 
Shoups and others. 

The earliest pioneers of Clarion county settled in clusters, as we have seen, 
and they may be classified as follows: The Clarion township (Westmoreland), the 
Clarion township (Centre), Limestone township, Redbank Creek, Leatherwood, 
Curllsville, Toby township, Madison, Perry township, and Beaver township, 
nine in all. The Centre county pioneers were of English ancestry; the great 
majority of the others were either of north of Ireland extraction or Pennsyl- 
vania Germans — two sturdy races, to whom Pennsylvania owes so much of her 
greatness and prosperity. 

The pioneers of Clarion county were, as a rule, pious, upright, sincere in 
their religious convictions, and church members almost to a man. Theirs was 
a o-enuine manhood, both moral and physical, which, though disguised under 
an uncouth exterior and an unlettered intellect, was well fitted to conquer 
the wilderness and build up prosperous communities on a permanent basis. 
They are the foundation stones of the structure, rough dressed, but true as 
steel. 



From Settlement of County to War of i 812. 81 

Pioneer Life. 

The founder of a college deserves and obtains the gratitude and honor of 
the generations who profit by his munificence. The founders of a community 
merit in some measure, a similar fame ; they who live and thrive in a spot re- 
claimed from savage nature by the toil and hardihood of the first settlers, owe 
them a debt of gratitude. The uncouth woodsman who built a rude hut which 
was the nucleus of a town, is a creditor of civilization. True, the early colonists 
may not have had single in their minds such elevated motives. A desire of 
bettering their condition and acquiring independence was the preponderating 
idea which urged them to leave their comparatively civilized homes and take 
up their march for the wilderness. Alone, this mere selfish spur does not de- 
tract from their usefulness. But they had that noble instinct, too, though per- 
haps unconscious of it — an instinct inborn in each of us — to go where no one has 
been before us, to improve uncultivated nature, and make the wilderness " blos- 
som like the rose." 

This is the criterion of the character of these pioneers — the hardships of 
many years, foreseen by them to be inevitable before anything like the comforts 
of a populous community would surround them. 

We of the present age — the age of railroads, of rapid communication, with 
a store at every corner or cross-roads, and who enjoy the innumerable little 
conveniences of modern life — cannot realize the difficulties and privations, not 
to mention dangers, which the pioneers of Clarion county had to encounter. 
Imagine yourself traveling twenty-five miles to bring a doctor, going to Kit- 
tanning for groceries, and toiling seventy-five or a hundred miles through the 
forest over a clearance dignified by the name of a road, to visit your parents, 
and you may form some idea of it. 

The first object of the immigrant, of course, was to secure a roof for his 
head as soon as possible. A place near a spring was selected, an opening made 
in the woods, and a log cabin was built. Often this was done at a preliminary 
visit the previous year. These cabins, in height about eight feet, were made of 
round logs, with a floor and roof of hewed plank or " puncheon." A recess 
was formed for a fire-place, in which the " back-log " supplied the place of 
the modern fire-brick. Later the familiar chimney of natural stones cemented 
with clay was constructed. Stoves and stove-pipes did not come until about 
18 1 8. The spaces between the logs forming the walls were chinked with wood 
and then daubed with clay. At the approach of every winter the walls were 
re- daubed in order to keep out the frosts. A piece of oiled paper sufficed for 
a window. The primitive colonist was satisfied with one room, partitioned into 
apartments at night by a blanket ; his more fastidious successor preferred the 
luxury of two. A deal table, a trundle bed, a few rough made stools, 
some pieces of pewter- ware, a kettle or two, a carding- machine, spinning-wheel, 
and the omnipresent rifle and pouch — these comprised the furniture. 



82 History of Clarion County. 

The hewn house-log was the first improvement on tlie round, and on the 
introduction of saw-mills they were clapboarded and furnished with a clapboard 
roof. The first saw- mill in the county was erected by James Laughlin and 
Frederick Miles, from Center county, at the mouth of Piney, in 1805. Very 
good, substantial roofing was made by splitting shingles of red oak by hand, 
in which branch of carpentry a few were very quick and expert. They ex- 
posed ten inches to the weather and were held down by cross-pieces, " weight- 
poles." A few remembered the thatched roofs of their European ancestors, and 
built them of long rye straws; these had to be renewed and repaired frequently. 

Venison and bear meat, potatoes, turnips, milk, and a little butter were the 
staples of the bill of fare. " Coffee" made from rye or wheat was good enough 
when the regular article was exhausted. Maple sugar was the only sweetener. 
The supply of fresh meat depended on the skill of the hunter ; when the 
" meat " ran short the Nimrod would take down his rifle, take a perch at a 
deer-lick, and seldom fail to come home loaded with a quarter. In the earliest 
years the few who were unpracticed or timid in the chase fared miserably, un- 
less they could prevail on their more skillful neighbor to act as their purveyor. 
If not, during the long winter months they were doomed to an unvaried diet 
of milk and potatoes. Mr. Jesse Berlin, who resided in Elk township, remem- 
bers of one family who were in such straits for food that they followed the cows 
to see what they got as forage. 

In those days the virgin soil gave bountiful, hardly-ever- failing harvests to 
the thrifty. Almost every season a new patch would be cleared and seeded. 
Shear plows were in general vogue. The staple crops were potatoes, turnips, 
maize, wheat, rye, and grass. The latter three, however, were not cultivated 
till a later date, and the first hay produced in the county is said to have been 

grown on the clearing where Sligo stands, by Peter Delp and Stanford. 

The primitive fanning-mill was a very simple institution. It consisted of a 
sheet suspended in the barn, and a sieve. One person waved the sheet, and 
another threw the grain and manipulated the sieve. 

Mills. 

In 1803 the first grist-mill in the county was built by Jonathan Mortimer, 
on Catfish Run. It was a simple tub-mill, as were all the earliest mills. The 
next, about 1804, was constructed at the mouth of Mill Creek, by Thomas 
Guthrie. James Laughlin (a brother of John) and Frederick Miles built a 
tub-mill, about 1805, in connection with their saw-mill on Piney Creek. Hugh 
Reid had one of the first mills on the spot now occupied by Reidsburg. The 
next mill was built by John and Isaac Corbett on Brush Run at Corbett's dam. 
Henry Best, with the assistance of the neighbors, built a mill on Beaver Creek 
about 1 8 12, :the first north of the river Before the existence of mills in this 
county the settlers had long distances to carry their grain. Parker's mill at 



From Settlement of County to War of 1812. 83 



the mouth of Bear Creek, one on Mudick, in Armstrong county, and on 
French Creek, in Venango county, were the nearest. 

Stores. 

In those primitive times the remoteness of towns, and the scarcity of money 
stimulated home manufacture and made few purchases necessary. Iron, " plas- 
ter," and salt were the most important. For these it was necessary to go either 
to Erie or Kittanning. When Franklin rose in commercial importance it took 
the place of Erie. The salt wells on the Kiskiminetas produced large quantities 
of that article. Coffee was fifty cents a pound, salt one dollar per bushel, flour 
was brought up in flat boats from Pittsburgh at the expense of twelve dollars 
a barrel; calico was fifty cents a yard. 

The first store opened in the limits of the county was James Pink's at 
Curllsville, in 18 12. For a while his only wares were tobacco, powder and 
salt. A little while after Hagan entered the mercantile business in Perry town- 
ship near Perryville. 

Whisky was an indispensable article, and a staple of commerce and con- 
sumption. Unburdened by revenue, it was a pure, copious, and almost uni- 
versal beverage ; its price averaged seventy-five cents per gallon. Innumer- 
able little distilleries were scattered over the country. Whisky and furs largely 
took the place of currency in trading for salt, etc. 

When cash was particularly scarce and desirable, some gathered pine tar, 
boated it to Pittsburgh, and turned it there into money. 

Every cabin was supplied with a carding-machine and spinning-wheel, and 
the weavers of the neighborhood converted the home- produced linen and wool 
(mixing a little tow) into the compound termed linsey-woolsey. The mascu- 
hne garb of the pioneers in the winter consisted of a hunting-shirt of Hnsey- 
woolsey (those fancifully inclined trimmed it with fur), breeches of the same 
material, or deerskin and moccasins. These were replaced in summer by home- 
made knickerbockers, deerskin gaiters, and linsey or coarse linen shirts, with 
collars four inches wide turned over their shoulders. A plain skirt and upper 
" short gown " resembling a modern sack, with the single adornment of a 
home-made neckerchief, formed the usual feminine gear. The children's cloth- 
ing was simplicity itself, and during the summer months was often but a single 
shirt covering but half their nakedness. 

The men folk were suppHed with felt hats by a few hatters throughout the 
county; the Clarion settlement by Joseph McMasters, who plied the trade on 
his farm, now Samuel Frampton's. The women made their own head-dresses 
out of rye straw, and became dexterous miUiners. In course of time the more 
fine and fashionable home-made " leghorns," fashioned of wire-grass, were in- 
troduced. Shoes were luxuries of once a year ; in warm weather, barefoot 
was the rule for men and women, young and old, sometimes even to school 
and church. 



84 History of Clarion County. 

The first tailors and cobblers were itinerants, brought from a distance by ar- 
rangement of the community. Useful tradesmen in other branches were found 
among the settlers ; James Maguire was a scythe maker, Philip Clover was the 
first tanner and weaver. The first blacksmith shop in the county was kept by 
Philip Clover, jr., where the Stone House, near Clarion, stands; Philip Jones, of 
the Clarion, and John Cherry, of the Beaver settlement, were the first gun- 
smiths, and their houses were largely resorted to by Indians with firelocks out 
of repair ; Jacob Herroldt, of Beaver, was a basket maker. Surveying was one 
of the most lucrative, but at the same time most arduous employments of that 
day. John Corbett, David Lawson, and John Sloan were the first resident 
surveyors. 

The Indians 

Were of Cornplanter's tribe, of the upper Allegheny, and were friendly. They 
roamed around in twos and threes, clothed in blankets and deerskin breeches. 
They were very familiar in the cabins of the whites, and would enter without 
knocking or ceremony, often to the consternation of the children. One of 
their first demands would be whisky. The pioneers generally treated them 
with hospitality and fairness, though this was diie not so much to love for the 
red man as to the fear of arousing his belligerent propensities. There is no 
known incident of treachery or violence on the part of the Indians towards the 
settlers of Clarion county. 

We take the following from "Caldwell's Historical Atlas": "An Indian by 
the name of Jack Snow was for many years in the habit of coming up the Clar- 
ion River to hunt and trap. Sheriff Delo recollects the last time he ever came 
here. It was in the fall of 1809. He and his party of hunters and squaws 
stopped and built a camp at the mouth of Deer Creek. After they had been 
there some time, Snow got into a quarrel with some white men who had gone 
to his camp. After the white men left, one of them (whose name I will not 
mention) threatened to shoot Snow the first opportunity that offered. Sheriff 
Delo's father, who then lived at the mouth of Piney, went over the river and 
advised Snow to leave, informing him at the same time of the threat made 
against his life. This had the desired effect, and in a short time the camp was 
broken up, the meat, furs, and all the camp fixtures packed, the canoes loaded 
and pulled out, and started down the Clarion River." The author adds: 
"The last hunting part)^ of Indians that ever visited Clarion county," but this 
is an error. They continued to encamp regularly till a later date at a spot on 
Town Run, Farmington township. The advance of civilization, however, cur- 
tailed their hunting ground and gradually hemmed them into the wilds of For- 
est and Warren counties. From the time of the arrival of the pioneers they 
grew yearly rarer in Clarion county, till about 183b they disappeared altogether. 

The settlers were greatly annoyed by wolves in the fall and winter. The 



From Settlement of County to War of 1812. 85 

lighting of a brush fire at night would be the signal for a terrific howl from the 
neighboring hillsides ; in winter they increased in numbers, boldness, and vo- 
racity, and pressing around the houses, made night hideous. It was unsafe 
then to venture out of doors after nightfall, and stock and fowl had to be se- 
curely housed. Panthers, wild cats, and bears were so plentiful as to make a 
rifle necessary for protection in a journey of any distance. Of smaller game 
there was a surfeit, and hunting did not begin to be a sport till about 1820. 
Rattlesnakes were in alarming numbers, and many an adventure and narrow 
escape from their deadly fangs occurred. 

Amusements. 

The settlers were an extremely social folk, almost necessarily so, for other- 
wise, their life — toilsome and solitary enough — would have been intolerable. 
Their struggle with the rude soil allowed little time to be thrown away in pleas- 
ures, pure and simple, and they generally combined work and play under the 
name of a " frolic." Barn-raising was among the first of these diversions. 
When a barn was to be elevated, the people would gather from a radius of ten 
or fifteen miles. The inevitable keg of spirits was always on hand. Out-of- 
door banquets of bacon, dodgers, maple molasses, and gingerbread were served 
by the females of the place; the broad joke ran round'; the latest news was 
discussed, and a general exchange of ideas took place. Parties would go from 
one raising to another, and were sometimes absent from home for two weeks 
on such expeditions. Log-rollings were next in importance. Then there were 
fulling or " kicking" frolics, the most unique in the series. The purpose was 
to give a nap and firmness of texture to home-made blankets. These were 
suspended, in the proper state of wetness from a rack, the men ranged them- 
selves on opposite sides, squatting on benches, and with bare feet pounded the 
blankets vigorously, amid much hilarity and merriment. " Flax-scutchings," 
and " grubbing-bees " were important elements of pioneer life. Dances were 
rarer on account of lack of sufficient space, but when indulged in, they were 
kept up with remarkable vigor to the inspiring strains of a solitary fiddle, and 
enlivened by frequent draughts on the whisky keg on the part of the swains. 
Shooting-matches were a favorite masculine pastime. ^ With these festive 
gatherings the pioneers diversified their toilsome lot, and in the constant acces- 
sions to their ranks, and ever-increasing conveniences and comforts, both largely 
due to their own enterprise and labor, they must have found additional sources 
of compensation and pleasure. 

Churches and Schools 

For the first several years were wanting, and the first ones were rude log edi- 
fices, differing only from the cabins in size and interior. The first church 

1 Hunting parties did not come into vogue till about 1825. From 1828 to '30 there was a mania for 
circular hunts, and immense quantities of game were slaughtered. 



86 History of Clarion County. 

erected in the county was by the Clarion settlers, about i8o8, on the site of the 
Seceders Church, near Mechanicsville. It was called Rehoboth, and used both 
by the regular Presbyterians and Seceders. Its pastor was Rev. Robert Mc- 
Garrah, a Presbyterian, who had been preaching in private houses for several 
years before. The first church north of the river was the German Reformed 
(Lutheran), which stood on the site of Stone Church of the same denomination* 
near Jefferson. 'Heniy Koch was its first pastor. The Methodists were the 
only other denomination existing in the county before i8i2, and for a short 
while after. One of its first places of worship was Asbury Church on the pike; 
the first minister was Francis Asbury Montjar. 

Of schools. Judge Clover writes: "Our teachers happened to be Scotch- 
Irish, very unfortunately for us, as their accent was rather broad for the Eng- 
glish language. Among the first teachers were Gabriel Glenn, William Kelley, 
Job Johnson, Joseph Reid, and John Ball. Schools were supported by sub- 
scription, at the rate of six dollars per year, the teachers boarding around 
amongst the scholars. For the benefit of young teachers I will give the mode 
of correction. The teachers invariably kept what was called Tom, or more 
vulgarly, cat-o'-nine-tails, all luck being in odd numbers. The instrument of 
torture was made with an oaken stick about twelve inches long, and to which 
was attached a piece of rawhide, cut in strips and twisted while wet, and then 
dried. This instrument was freely made use of for correction, and those who 
got thus corrected did not soon forget it, and not a few carried the marks dur- 
ing life. Another, and no less cruel instrument was a green cow-hide, which 
I remember, still carrying marks made by the same. Comment on the above 
is useless, as the words cruelty and barbarity will suggest themselves to the 
minds of all who read it. For our text-books we had Dilworth's and the United 
States Speller, and our readers were the good old Bible and Testament. The 
Western Calculator was all the arithmetic that was in use, and the one who got 
through the ' rule of three' was called tolerably good in figures, and the lucky 
wight who got through the book was considered a graduate in mathematics. 
Grammar and geography were not taught in the common schools, being consid- 
ered higher branches," 

The first school erected in the county stood on the Furgeson farm, one-half 
mile southwest of Strattanville. Here Job Johnson earliest held pedagogic 
sway. The Beaver township settlers also had a school at a very early date ; 
both English and German were taught. William McGinnis was the first teacher, 
and Lawrence the second. Lawrence was fond of the bottle, and unpop- 
ular with the scholars. This school, together with the school books, was burnt, 
and not rebuilt for two or three years. In the mean time the settlement was 
deprived of all educational advantages. 

Dr. Simon Hovey, living near Parker, was for years the only physician in 
the country. Dr. Rankin, near Curllsville, was the next, and the first resident 
within the county. 



The War of 1812. 87 



The visits of the settlers to their distant homesteads were angeHc in rarity. 
They left them with the feelings of one who in our day leaves the paternal 
roof to take up a residence in the Far West, knowing that vast stretches of for- 
est, unbridged streams, and rugged hills would intervene between their old and 
new homes. To many, especially of the tender sex, this was one of the sorest 
trials of frontier life, and could only be alleviated by a refusal to allow one's 
self to revert to the scenes of home and comfort. 

" The First." 

The first casualty in Clarion county was the drowning of Daniel Gregg in 
landing from a raft at Furman's Eddy in 1804. The first fire destroyed the 
house of James Maguire, father of Hon. Hugh Maguire, in 1803. The first 
white male child born was Thomas Young, in a house which stood beneath 
the shade of the old wide-spreading oak, near the residence of Mr. William 
Young on the turnpike. The first female child who saw the light in Clarion 
county was Mary Guthrie, lately deceased. The first marriage was celebrated 
between William Bloom and Mary Roll in 1802. The first death was that 
of James McFadden, of the Westmoreland settlement, in 1802. 



CHAPTER Vni. 

THE WAR OF 1812. 

Alarms on the Frontier — Drafts — Captain Wallace's Company — Incidents of the March to 
the Maumee — Fort Meigs — Neely's Company — Proceedings at Erie — Volunteers. 

IN the spring of 18 12, the wonted quiet and routine of the infant settlements 
were disturbed by rumors of war with Great Britain, and in August of the 
same year the surrender of General Hull threw open the northwestern frontier 
to the enemy, and rendered prompt measures for its defense necessary. Ac- 
cordingly, volunteer companies were ordered to hold themselves in readiness, 
and militia drafts were made by the State authorities. On the lake shore, 
especially at Erie, there were continual alarms on account of the movements 
of a force of British and Indians on the Canadian side, and in the summer of 
1812 Governor Snyder ordered out a portion of the Sixteenth Division in this 
section of the State, for the defense of Erie. In September, large numbers of 
troops, comprising Dearborn's Volunteers, and others from the central and east- 
ern part of the State, passed over the State road e7i route to Meadville, the 
place of rendezvous, and thence to Black Rock and Chippewa. 



88 History op^ Clarion County. 



In the autumn, "seeding time," of 1812, a draft for a six months' term was 
made on the settlements south of the river. On the 25th of September, John, 
Alexander, Thomas, and James ^ Guthrie, Robert Allison, Joshua Rea, John 
Wilson, John Jones, and a few others met at Philip Clover, sr.'s house, and 
after having made a temporary organization, with John Guthrie as captain, left 
for the south. Judge Clover says: " It was a sad day for all. I well remem- 
ber, as a boy, the morning they started. . . . When they were all ready 
to go they discharged their guns into a tree-top that stood near by, and amid 
many tears they marched away." On their way they were joined by many 
others, and then proceeded to Pittsburgh. They encamped on the site of 
Allegheny, then a mere thicket, with one hut on it, and on October 2 a per- 
manent organization was effected. The company was complemented by a body 
of men from Indiana county, and was incorporated with the First Regiment 
Pennsylvania militia, John Frees, colonel. Second Brigade, commanded by Gen- 
eral Crooks. Robert Orr, of Kittanning, was elected major of the battalion, 
and William Robinson of Pittsburgh, quartermaster ; John Wallace, of Indiana 
county, was chosen captain ; John Guthrie returned home on a discharge. The 
company as completed, stood as follows : Those from Armstrong county, 
nearly, if not quite all, came from north of „ the Redbank. Captain, John 
Wallace, Indiana county ; lieutenant, John McCormick, Armstrong county ; 
Abram Smith, sergeant ; Thomas Meredith, corporal ; Lewis Wilson, corporal; 
John Jack, corporal ; John Mann, fifer ; Thomas Guthrie, drummer, (sick ab- 
sent); Robert Allison, Peter Bartlett, William Bell, Jacob Bruner, discharged ; 
David Callen, Peter Delp, sick absent; Peter Everett, Peter Fidler, sick absent ; 
Jacob Fiscus, Charles Foreman, Alexander Guthrie, James Guthrie, Henry 
Graham, John Girt, substitute for David Girt ; Matthew Hosey, discharged 
December 31, 181 2 ; George Hyme, John Jones, Andrew Kiers, Isaac Len- 
nington, Peter Latshaw, Owen Meredith, deserted December 19, 1812 ; Jacob 
McLane, James Milligan, substitute for Patrick Reed; Daniel Mortimer, David 
McKibben, Valentine Myers, served till December 2, 1812; Philip Myers, Henry 
Nulph, absent from December 31, 18 12, on account of sickness ; John Painter* 
sr., John Painter, jr., subsitute for Nicholas Best ; Nicholas PoUiard, sick ab- 
sent ; Joshua Rhea, James Stevenson, Timothy Titus, George Titus, John Wil- 
son, William Wilson. Indiana : James Stewart, ensign ; John Brady, sergeant > 
Benoni Williams, sergeant; John McDowell, sergeant, sick absent; James 
Kirkpatrick, corporal ; William Evans, corporal ; Hugh Cannon, deserted De- 
cember 10, 1812; James Evans, John Faloon, James Findley, Stephen 
Gaston, Henry Kinter or Kintner, James Luke, William McCulloch, Patrick 
McNulty, Amos Parsons, corporal ; Samuel Reading, substitute for Charles 
Reading ; Joel Stout, Joseph Shields, Thomas Stephens, Stephen Talkington,. 
Thomas Thompson, George Wilson, James Williams. Not assigned : George 

1 Resident in Westmoreland, went as a substitute for Wm. Moffat. 



The War of 1812. 89 



Mabon, sergeant ; John McDowell, sergeant sick, absent ; James Kirkpatrick, 
corporal; Peter Brewer, deserted December 11, 18 12; James Coulter, deserted 
December 10, 1812; Benjamin Dyke, deserted December 11, 18 12; Christo- 
pher Gillespie, deserted December ii, 1812; Michael Harron, served till De- 
cember 31, 1812 ; Charles Henry, discharged ; James Hutchinson, deserted 
December 10, 1812 ; Jacob Hess, deserted December 10, 1812; Joseph Kerr, 
sick absent ; James Lydick, sick absent ; William McKee. served till Decem- 
ber 31, 18 12; James Mabon, served till December 2, 1812 ; David Phillips, 
James Smith, discharged; Henry Treece, served till December 2, 181 2; Alex- 
ander Vanhorne, deserted December 10, 18 12; Elisha Weeks, sick absent.^ 
Forty-two from Armstrong county, twenty-five from Indiana, twenty not as- 
signed; in all eighty-seven, including officers. The privates furnished their own 
equipments, consisting of gun, tomahawk, knife, knapsack and blanket. They 
were to be allowed eight dollars a month, but never received more than a frac- 
tion of it. 

The command was ordered to join the Army of the Northwest in Ohio 
under General, afterwards President Harrison. At Upper Sandusky they were 
joined by Leftwich's brigade of Virginia militia. Here Major Orr and his bat- 
talion — about two hundred men — was detached to convey the artillery and 
stores to General Harrison, at the rapids of the Maumee. While on the way 
an express from General Harrison brought the disheartening news of the defeat 
of Winchester by the British and Indian allies on the river Raisin, in Michigan, 
and a request to hurry forward. The march was a painful one. James W. 
Guthrie, who got his intelligence from his father, in a letter to Robert Allison, 
sr., recalling incidents of the campaign, says : "The country through which 
you had to march was new and swampy, roads all to be opened as you passed 
along, and stopping at night, as a general thing, in swamps where you had to 
cut spice-wood brush and pile it up to lie down to keep from sinking into the 
mire, after traveling all day in mud and water from the ankles to the knees. 
Do you recollect the afternoon when you were drawing a cannon on a log- 
sled, the bench of the sled caught on a stump, and attempting to get it off it 
only went down deeper, and you continued to add more horses to the sled 
until you got sixteen horses to the one cannon, and after all you had to aban- 
don sled, cannon and all ? The longer you worked the deeper it sunk into the 
mud; you lost your shoes in the swamp, and when you stepped on the cannon 
your feet froze it. Aboift fifteen years ago, when this swamp was being ditched, 
your cannon was found at a depth of fourteen feet beneath the surface. There 
was no one in that country could form any idea as to how it came there. 

John Wilson, who was not only a good soldier, but a very ingenious man, 
and could turn his hand to almost anything, was taken sick and left with a fam- 

1 Captain John Sloan and Hugli Callen, sr., were soldiers of l8i2, but must have belonged to an- 
other company, as their names do not appear on tliis list. 



90 History of Clarion County. 

ily found in the woods, to be taken care of. As soon as he recovered so as to 
be around, the man he stopped with gave him some leather, which he made 
into moccasins for himself and the other soldiers. The lady of the house pre- 
sented him with two new blankets, which he cut up and made into ' womuses.'^ 
He was taken on a horse to his company by this kind man. His arrival with 
the moccasins and ' womuses,' was hailed with delight by his fellow-soldiers. 
Old wagon covers were then cut up and made into shirts and pants." 

The winter was spent in building Fort Meigs, at the Rapids, near the scene 
of the Indian defeat by Wayne in 1794. The troops were subjected to great 
privation and sufferings during the winter; they were half clothed and poorly 
fed. A great deal of discontent arose, and some deserted. " General Har- 
rison knowing this state existed, brought his army into a solid column around 
him in the woods, mounted a large log, and made a beautiful address, satisfy- 
ing them that it was not his fault nor the fault of his officers that they did not 
receive food and clothing as was promised them. He exhibited himself as a 
sample of their sufferings, and appealed to their sympathy to stand by him. I 
have often heard my father speak of this address and its salutary effects. This 
and the influence of General Orr (of whom I shall speak hereafter) was all that 
kept the army together." Leftwich commanded the post a considerable time 
while General Harrison was absent in Cincinnati urging reinforcements. 

April I, 18 13, their term having expired, the Clarion men left for their 
homes, being allowed seventeen days to reach them. They received a portion 
of their pay from Major Orr, who distributed it from his own private funds ; 
certificates were given for the balance. Major Robert Orr appears to have been 
a very amiable and considerate as well as patriotic officer ; the troops under 
his command were loud in praise of his many acts of kindness to them. 

He, with a number of other Pennsylvanians, volunteered to extend their 
term till the arrival of the expected reinforcements from Kentucky. The Ken- 
tuckians and some regulars arrived on April iith. On the 28th Fort Meigs 
was besieged by the British and Indians; on May 5th a valiant sortie was made, 
and on the 9th the siege was raised. 

In July, 1 8 13, a company was drafted for three months, from southern 
Venango, then populated only by the Beaver- Richland settlement. Henry 
Neely (originally Nelig), was chosen captain ; he had come from Westmoreland 
county in 1808, and settled north of Edenburg, on the spot now occupied by 
the Mony farm ; here he exercised the local agency of the Huidekoper lands. 

On the 25th, in the midst of the harvest, the summons came to march to 
the defense of the lake shore. Instantly everything was dropped; bullets were 
moulded, old flintlocks and rifles furbished up, and the primitive community 
was the scene of excitement unprecedented in its annals. Their destination 
was Erie, and the men set off through the woods to join their regiment at 

1 A " womus " was a sort of jacket, " warm-us." 



The War of 1812. 91 



Franklin. The wives and daughters took the places of the departed ones — cradled 
the wheat, and finished the harvesting. The company mustered twenty-seven 
men, as follows 1; Captain, Henry Neeley ; lieutenant, James Thompson ; ensign, 
Jacob Small ; sergeants, Gideon Richardson, Nicholas Keeley ; Jacob Hale, 
quartermaster; privates, Joseph Coucher (Kutzer), Samuel Fry, Michael Best, 
William Crow, George Delo, John Potts, James Downing, George Keefer, Adam 
Sharrer, Jacob Herroldt, Robert Armstrong, Henry Hummell, Barnhart Martin, 
John Thummer, John Maize, Andrew Ashbaugh, Nathan Phipps, Robert Phil- 
lips, James Maize, Jacob Sweitzer, Jacob Kifer, John Sweitzer. 

These comprised nearly all the able-bodied young men in the community 
and resided, with perhaps one or two exceptions, in the Clarion part of Venango 
county. At Franklin they joined their regiment, the One Hundred and Thirty- 
second, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Dale, which was attached to 
the Sixteenth Division, General Mead. Hither Cornplanter came with a num- 
ber of braves, inquired the cause of the war, and offered to accompany the 
regiment with two hundred warriors. Colonel Dale could only placate him by 
promising that he should be called upon in case his assistance were needed. 

The company arrived at Erie, then a mere village, after a march of three 
days from home. There was not sufficient provision for housing them at first, 
and Captain Neely took possession of a large barn, which he occupied till the 
barracks were completed. The troops had been mustered at Erie to cover the 
construction of Perry's fleet, then almost completed, and to guard against the 
threatened descent of the British, under Captain Barclay, whose ships hovered 
about in the offing. There were occasional alarms when they approached the 
mouth of the harbor, and the men would be ordered out under arms. Some 
random shots were exchanged, but there we no fatalities. Captain Neely used to 

narrate the ludicrous trepidation of P and K , of his company, who, when 

they were turned out on these occasions, were scarcely able to stand from fright. 

Commodore Perry was a familiar figure to the troops ; Captain Neely was 
several times on board his flagship, La7iJre/ice. On the 3d of August the squad- 
ron moved down the bay, and the work of getting the vessels over the bar be- 
gan. They were buoyed over by large scows called " camels." The task was 
both a heavy and a hazardous one, as it was carried on almost under the guns 
of the British ; every precaution was taken to ward off an attack. The work 
was safely and successfully accomplished in two days. Captain Neely's men 
assisted in it. 

On the 8th Perry sailed in pursuit of the enemy, and returned on the 12th 
without having encountered him. On that day, the necessity of their presence 
having expired, the militia were discharged, and Neely's company returned 
home, after a service of eighteen days. A few had left on the 9th.- 

1 From the official roll. 

2 The famous battle of Put-in-Bay, in which Perry won a brilliant victory, occurred September lO, 
181-,. 



92 History of Clarion County. 

This bloodless diversion stimulated the warlike spirit of the settlement. 
The company had gone out destitute of uniform and regular arms. The uni- 
formed militia, in picturesque frontier attire, which he had seen at Erie, inspired 
Captain Neely with the idea of organizing a company after their pattern. A 
band of volunteer riflemen was raised and equipped. Their uniform was a blue, 
belted hunting-shirt, fringed with white, red leggins of the same style, and a 
flap wool hat with cockade. They were styled " minute-men," and always held 
themselves ready for service. 

On January 3, 1814 Captain Neely's men were called again to the defense of 
Erie by General Mead, in anticipation of an attack on the fleet, then building 
and collecting (Erie had become a naval station), by the British, who were 
moving on the opposite shore. The following went: Captain, Henry Neely; 
lieutenant, James Thompson; sergeants, Barnhart Martin, Nicholas Keeley ; 
corporal, James Downing ; Jacob Keefer, George Keefer, Adam Sharrer, 
Thomas Thompson, George Delo, William Crow, Michael Best, William More, 
Daniel Keeley, Andrew Downing, John Thummer, Henry Hummel. Nothing 
of interest transpired, however ; the troops were only employed in guard duty 
and drill. February 1 1 they were relieved by a contingent from Cumberland, 
Adams and York counties, numbering a thousand men. William Moore, a rel- 
ative of Captain Neely, remained behind, and enlisted on the fleet as a marine. 
He was killed in a subsequent naval engagement. 



CHAPTER IX. 

FROM THE WAR OF 1812 TO THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY. 

Land Changes — Lancaster Land Company — The Bingham Estate — Fox — Postal Facilities 
— Roads and Steamboats — '' Clarion " River — Early Militia — Prices of Land, etc. — General 

Progress. 

18 1 2- 1839. — Land Changes. 

HARM JAN HUIDEKOPER having purchased a large section of the Hol- 
land territory, it was subdivided into rectangular tracts, averaging three 
hundred acres, by Robert Beatty in 1804. It was mainly through Huidekoper's 
influence that the Beaver colony was established. Currency was scarce, and a 
long time was given for payment. Articles of agreement enabled the settler 
to enter upon the land (a similar practice prevailed with the other large own- 
ers), and from five to ten j^ears elapsed before he obtained title by deed. 

In 1812 David Lawson, father of J. B. Lawson, removed to the present 
site of Lawsonham, as sub- agent and surveyor for the Holland Company. In 



From War of 1812 to Erection of County. 93 

18 1 8 Charles C. Gaskill, of New Jersey, was empowered attorney of the com- 
pany for the property in Jefferson and Armstrong counties; he had personal 
supervision and resided in Jefferson county, at Troy, until 1850. Gaskill also 
acted for Benjamin Cooper, of Gloucester, N. J., connected with the company 
as a contractor, and by variety of complicated transactions. 

On May the 26th, 18 16, the Lancaster Land Company, for the considera- 
tion of $73,280.77, and the payment of taxes for a number of years, purchased 
through Paul Busti, from Wilhelm Willink, Hendrick Vollenhoven, and Rutger 
Jan Schimmelpeninck, the survivors of the Holland Land Company, 187,110 
acres of land in Venango and Jefferson counties, including therefore all their tracts 
in Clarion county, not purchased by Huidekoper, north of the river. This trans- 
action had an important bearing on the future of the county, as will be seea 
later. The Lancaster Land Company was composed of substantial citizens of 
Lancaster county, desirous of investing in western lands. Their names are- 
Christian Kaufman, J. Sherer, D. Le Fevre, Christian Huber, John Bachman^ 
Daniel Reigart, Benjamin Long, Chris Stauffer, jr., George Morry, Lewis Ur- 
ban, Henry Shippen, Samuel Miller, Gerhardt Buback, Daniel Reyner, George 
Snyder, John Houtz, James Humes, Joseph Ogilby, Thomas Crawford, Henry 
Carpenter, jr., Jacob Miller, Henry Bear, Benjamin Bear ; committee, Henry 
Shippen, James Humes, John Bachman. 

September 16, of the same year, the purchase was divided into fifteen 
shares of five and six warrants eacli. The shares were drawn by lot. The fol- 
lowing drew in Clarion county: D. Le Fevre, Nos. 2454,2498,2505, 2526, 2525 
comprising western and a portion of northern Ashland township. Christian 
Stauffer, jr., George Morry, and Lewis Urban, Nos. 2508, 2519, 2536, 2538, in 
northeastern Ashland and northwestern Elk. Gerhardt Buback and Daniel 
Reyner. No. 2803, in northwestern Washington. George Snyder, Nos. 2822 
and 2805, in northwestern Washington. John Houtz, Nos. 2829, 2832, 2819, 
2817, composing the neck that forms northeastern Washington. Christian 
Huber, John Bachman, Nos. 2815,2816, 2786, 2787, 2788, a southeastern sec- 
tion of Washington township. James Humes, No. 2782, in southern Wash- 
ington ; Nos. 2783, 2784, 2785, 2772, being the northern half and southeastern 
section of the Holland Company's land in Knox township. Joseph Ogilby, 
Nos. 2779, 2778, 2776, 2774, 2773, a tier in northeastern Elk, and taking up 
the remaining portion of Knox township. Thomas Crawford, Nos. 2740, 2741, 
2739, 2738, 2706, 2707, the remaining eastern half of Elk. Daniel Reigart, 
Benjamin Long, Nos. 2766, 2767, 2737, 2715, 2709, 2710, in western Paint, 
extending down to the company's line. Henry Carpenter, jr., Jacob Miller, 
Henry Bear, and Benjamin Bear, Nos. 2769, 2771, 2713, 2714, 271 1, 2712, all 
the rest of Paint township on the east, crossing the river, and taking in the 
northern corner of Clarion borough. 

In 1 8 16 the company employed Colonel Samuel Dale to subdivide and re- 
number the warrants. '^ 



94 History of Clarion County. 

John Houtz assigned his purpart in northern Washington township to Henry 
Shippen. In 1819 Henry Shippen purchased two warrants, Nos. 2706 and 
2707, in the vicinity of Shippenville, from Thomas Crawford. 

July 7, 1 8 16, Paul Busti conveyed sixty- five tracts, embracing nearly all 
the Holland Company's remaining Jefferson-Armstrong territory, to Somers 
Baldwin, of Troy, Jefferson county. The purchase money was secured by 
mortgage, and after Baldwin's death, the mortgages being unsatisfied, the 
lands were sold by sheriff sale, and bought in by Vanderkemp for the company. 

April 26, 1849, the successors and survivors of the Holland Company, 
Wilhelm Willink, Walrave Van Henkelom, Wilhelm Willink, jr., and Gerret 
Schimmelpeninck sold the last of their east Allegheny territory uncontracted 
for, consisting of 23,083 acres, to a syndicate composed of Alexander Colwell, 
Dr. John Gilpin, Horatio Lee, Alexander Reynolds, and David Richey, all 
either of Armstrong or Indiana counties ; Reynolds and Richey entered into 
partnership and obtained all the land north of the Redbank, except the easter- 
most division in Redbank township. 

Thus were extinguished the claims of a great company ; one which had 
become a household word. 

Ingersoll, Dallas, and Adlum assigned their warrants in Richland township, 
this county, to Richard Peters, jr., and Thomas, his brother, attorneys-at-law. 
Thomas Peters's share was sold by the sheriff in April, 1819, and was purchased 
by his brother. Thomas was excessively addicted to strong drink, and, parti- 
ally in the hopes of removing him from the scene of temptation, and partly to 
personally attend their land business, Richard sent him out in 1820. He took 
up his residence near Richmond station, but, alas ! if not the gay company, 
the intoxicating glass was almost as easily available in the backwoods as in the 
commercial capital of the State. His death, which occurred in 1825, was 
hastened by his habit. Richard Peters was a generous fosterer of improve- 
ments and patron of schools and churches in the Richland settlement. In May 
1820, Richard Peters conveyed the largest portion of his territory in the north- 
ern part of the county to Thomas Kittera (afterwards of Venango county), and 
Richard Renshaw, of Philadelphia. Judge Keating was the most extensive 
purchaser of the Richland lands. 

In 1804, the devisees of the Bingham estate empowered*Robert H. Rose, 
of Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, their attorney in fact. Some time after- 
ward he removed to Clarion county. On May 7, 181 1, the devisees of the 
Bingham estate executed deeds for 200 acre tracts, consideration five shillings, 
and a mortgage to secure the balance of the purchase money, to Thomas Guth- 
rie, John Wilson, William Moffet, Robert McGarrah, Job Johnson, Joshua Rea, 
Benjaimin Coe, Alexander Guthrie, Stephen Travis, John McNutt, Joseph 
Cathcart, John Jones, John Guthrie, John Parr, and Jesse McConnell, of the 
Clarion township settlement. Likewise on the same day, for the same con- 



From War of 1812 to Erection of County. 95 

sideration, to Joseph Smith, Joseph Greenawalt, Joseph Everett, Peter Snyder, 
Val. Snyder, Jacob Watterson, Henry Girts, Thomas McKibben. and John Mc- 
Kibben, early settlers in Perry township. The subdivision of the Bingham 
lands, north of the Clarion, was not till a much later date (1836), by Elihu 
Chadwick, of Venango county ; there was slight demand for farms there previ- 
ously, and settlement was retarded. Algernon Howe, of Maine, was the most 
extensive purchaser of the north Clarion territory. 

Robert Gilmor having died, and Charles Hare becoming insane, the rest of 
the devisees, Alexander Ashburton, Henry Baring, and Joseph R. Ingersoll, 
as provided bj' will, appointed John G. Elliot, of Boston, and William Miller in 
their place. These appointments were confirmed by an act of Legislature, 
March 11, 1822. Thenceforth they were styled " trustees." 

J. W. Guthrie succeeded Dr. Rose in the agency of the Bingham lands in 
this and adjoining counties. 

All the remnants of the Bingham lands in this county were purchased 
through the attorneys in fact, July 12, 185 i, by Samuel A. Purviance, A. N. 
Mylert, and John Bredin, of Butler county. It comprised much subject to 
contract. 

The Bingham trustees, and their wives or husbands, had by that time 
grown to a list that presents a glittering and aristocratic array of names : Ash- 
burton, H. M. Ashburton, Henry Bingham Baring, Augusta Baring, John 
Evelyn Dennison, J. Stuart Hippesley, Francis Baring, H. Bridgeman Simp- 
son, F. Emily Bridgeman Simpson, Antonio de Noailles, A. M. Helena de No- 
ailles, W. F. Baring, Emily Baring. Attorneys-in-fact, Joseph Reed Ingersoll, 
John Craig Miller. 

In 1857 Mylert, Lane, and Purviance sold to James Bredin, of Butler, and 
James Campbell, of Clarion. 

George Ross, of Kittanning, an extensive land jobber, was Fox's attorney 
from 1808. Samuel Fox, by will, conveyed all the real estate remaining in 
his hands, consisting chiefly, in this county, of warrants north of the mouth of 
Clarion, to Hugh Roberts, Joseph Parker Norris, Robert Ralston, and Jonathan 
Smith, in trust for his heir, Joseph Fox. It became vested in him in 18 16. 

In 1 8 16 Jonathan Mifflin sold seven 1,000-acre warrants in Madison, Toby, 
and Porter townships, to Joseph and Hannah Fox. 

The Fox estate at present (1887) is in the hands of Mrs. Mary Fox, relict 
of Samuel M. Fox, the son of Joseph M., in trust for the heirs, who by articles 
of December 16, 1884, agreed to let the property remain undivided for five 
years. None of the property in the vicinity of Foxburg has been sold, and 
the village of Foxburg belongs entire to the estate. Joseph Fox, the oldest 
heir, is superintendent of the estate. 

Much of the Pickering lands, then split up into a number of hands, was 
seized for taxes, and sold in warrants by the sheriff of Armstrong county in 



96 History of Clarion County. 

1808. Thomas Hoge and Matthew Ringle were the largest buyers. In those 
days sheriff sales were advertised in \.\\e Freeman s Journal oi Philadelphia, the 
Gazette and Daily Advertiser of the same city, and the Farmer s Register oi 
Greensburg. 

The price of land, between 1800 and 18 15, varied of course with locality 
and quality of timber. All the sales occurring were for unimproved land. 
Huidekoper obtained from one to two dollars per acre, on easy terms, for 
his land between the years 1808 and 181 5. The average price, quick pay- 
ment, at the earliest date, was about sixty cents per acre. In 1806 John 
Boney sold to George Ross 440 acres in Toby township for $160.00. George 
Delo sold a 400-acre tract on the Clarion river, in 1808, for $210.00. Elliot 
and Henderson, of Huntingdon county, sold three 400-acre warrants in 1808 
to Angus Sinclair for ^^25 5, who assigned it to Hugh Callen for;^352 (a £ 
Pennsylvania currency was $2.66-|). These tracts include the ground which 
Callensburg stands on. In 1812 and 18 15 land had advanced to one dollar 
and one dollar and a half per acre. Hon. James Buchanan, President of the 
United States, was the last in the list of distinguished men who held land in 
Clarion county — a list which contains a Peters, a Pickering, an Ashburton, a 
Brady, and a Buchanan. 

Postal Facilities, Roads, and Steamboats. 

Clarion county's first post-office was opened in 1818, at the house of James 
McGonagle, two miles east of Strattanville. It was shortly afterward removed 
to a point a mile east of that village, north of the pike, where a prospective 
town named Rosebilrgh (and Clarion) after Dr. Rose, had been laid out on the 
farm of Alexander Guthrie. Josiah Copley, a 'prentice printer of Indiana, 
carried the mail on horseback for James McGahan, the contractor and his mas- 
ter ; his route lay from Indiana via Greensburg, Freeport, Roseburg, Lawrence- 
burg (Parker), to Butler, and thence back to Indiana by way of Kittanning. 

A mail line from Meadville to Kittanning, passing through this county, ex_ 
isted much earlier, but there was no postal service here. It crossed the Clarion 
at Gardner's Ferry. 

Before the turnpike was completed a route was opened between Bellefonte 
and Meadville. The first contractor on this line was Randolph, of Meadville, 
and Clark, of Perry county, took the first stage contract. The second post- 
office within the limits of the county was at the present Curllsville. 

Previous to the opening of post-offices here, people north of the river went 
to Franklin for their news, and those south to Kittanning, twenty and thirty 
miles distant. County postmasters then sold postage on time ; newspapers 
were not brought by the mail, but delivered by the carrier. The earliest me- 
diums of intelligence were the Western Eagle, of Kittanning, and the Craivford 
Weekly Messenger, of Meadville. 



From War of 1812 to Erection of County. 97 



The State road, which crosses the Clarion in Millcreek township, was the 
first highway to enter Clarion county. It was surveyed by the State as a mil- 
itary road from Sunbury to Erie, in 1803 or 1804, and its course is almost 
identical with that of the Susquehanna -Venango trail. Robert, John, and 
Henry Allison, and Thomas Guthrie were the contractors for opening the 
Clarion section of the road. It was finished in 1806. The next pubUc road 
was one leading from Watterson's Ferry to Gardner's Ferry, near Callensburg, 
called by early settlers " the old State road." It was originally laid out under 
State auspices, but was neglected, till, by order of the court of Armstrong 
county in 1805, viewers were appointed and the road opened. 

The earhest local road was one leading from Samuel Frampton's farm, 
through Curllsville and Callensburg to Parker's mill, now Parker. 

The Olean road was laid out in 18 19. The viewers were David Lawson 
and Samuel Matthews, of Armstrong county ; John Sloan, jr., John Lucas, of 
Jefferson ; and Joseph Otto, and Brewster Freeman, for McKean county. The 
chain-carriers for Lawson and Matthews were William Nelson and Hamilton 
Henry ; axman, Samuel Freeman ; packman, Daniel Gold. The latter was a 
good shot, and supplied the party with fresh meat. 

As early as 18 12 an act was passed empowering the governor to incorpo- 
rate a company for the erection of a turnpike from the Susquehanna, at the 
mouth of Anderson Creek, in Clearfield county, through Franklin to Waterford, 
connecting at Anderson's Creek with a road from Bellefonte and Northumber- 
land. A preliminary survey was made by General Mead, but the work was not 
begun in earnest till 18 18, nor completed till 1822. The Holland Land Company 
were its chief promoters, and gave the direction of the enterprise to Benjamin 
Cooper, of Gloucester, N. J. Cooper organized the company, and the stock- 
holders elected commissioners to survey and grade the road. The work was 
aided by a State appropriation. Joseph Barnett, of Jefferson ; Philip Clover, 
of Armstrong ; and Martin, of Venango county, were commissioners of this 
district ; John Sloan was employed by the commissioners to survey and grade. 
The work of clearing and building was let in sections of from ten to twenty 
miles. James Harriet was contractor for the eastern half of the road in Clarion 
county ; Benedict & Anderson, a New York State firm, executed the western 
part. They employed forty hands. Trees of small and middle size were 
notched at the roots, five and six at a time, compassed by a chain, and all 
pulled out together by mules and windlass. The first bridge over the Clarion, 
a single span, was constructed in 1 821, by Moore, of Northumberland. As 
soon as five miles of the road were completed, toll-gates were put up to defray 
expenses. 

In i860 the turnpike between Brookville and Franklin was re-chartered, 
and purchased by Messrs. J. Black, H. Maguire, G. W. Arnold, and James 
Campbell, who retired from the partnership ; the road was divided into sec- 



98 History of Clarion County. 

tions, each shareholder taking one. In 1883 the Frankhn end, beyond Ship- 
penville, was abandoned. 

The first stage hne was put upon the pike in 1823, by Bennet Brothers, of 
Bellefonte and Meadville. They had five relays on the line ; two in Clarion 
county, one between Berlin's and Franklin, the other between that place and 
Corbett's — the present Corsica. Mr. Jesse Berlin, now of Clarion, was one of 
the first]^drivers over both of these stages, and from the top of a Concord coach 
cracked his whip at the pine-needles along the road where the flourishing 
county-seat now lies. Henry Laus, of this county, was another of the earhest 
Jehus. 

About 1828 a stage line was opened between Kittanning and Strattanville. 

On February 23, 1829, the first steamboat to ascend above Kittanning, 
passed up the Allegheny to a little above the mouth of the Clarion, where it 
swung to, remained all night, and then proceeded on to Franklin and Warren. 
(The county being well timbered, the current then was of a larger and steadier 
volume.) It was the Wm. D. Duncan, a side-wheeler; Benjamin Brooks, cap- 
tain, and James P. Murphy, pilot. 

In the following year steamers began to make regular visits, and from thence 
to the completion of the Allegheny Valley Railroad in 1868, the river traf- 
fic, both freight and passenger, between Pittsburgh and Franklin was large. 
Waterson's Ferry and Emlenton were the regular landing places for Clarion 
county people; sometimes the boats stopped at Brady's Bend and Miller's Eddy. 

Streams. 

By an act of March, 18 17, two hundred dollars was appropriated for im- 
proving the navigation of Toby's Creek, and one hundred dollars for Redbank. 
Levi Gibson and Samuel C. Orr were appointed commissioners to superintend 
the outlay of these grants. 

In 18 19 we have the first official mention of the " Clarion" River, in an act 
empowering the governor to appoint three commissioners, " one of whom shall 
be a practical surveyor, to lay out and mark a road, beginning at the town of 
Milesburg, in Centre county, thence on the nearest and best route, to Kart- 
house and Kersey settlements in Clearfield county, and thence to Clarion river, 
at or near the mouth of Little Toby's Creek in Jefferson county." Previously 
it had always been called either "Toby's " or " Stump " Creek, which latter it 
obtained as early as 1809. How was the change made ? An interesting query, 
and one now for the first time extricated from the obscurity and contradictions 
which have involved it. 

In 1 8 17 an act was passed authorizing the survey of a State road from 
Bedford, through Indiana town to Franklin. Three viewers were appointed for 
this purpose, and among them, Daniel Stanard, a lawyer and surveyor, of In- 
diana; David Lawson, who was very familiar with the country, was , employed 



From War of 1812 to Erection of County. 99 



as assistant surveyor. They camped on the banks of the river, and while lying 
in their tent they were struck by the clear sound of the distant ripples. The 
river's current was then fringed by a wall of close and massive timber, which con- 
densed and reflected the murmur, giving it a silvery mellowness which it has 
almost lost by the stripping of the banks. One of the party, Stanard, remarked 
that the water sounded like a distant clarion. "Why not call it the Clarion 
River ?" said Mr. Lawson. The suggestion was not acted on, as the return, 
filed in the clerk's office of Armstrong county, indicates it as " Stump Creek." 
Yet the name " Clarion " gained favor, and was introduced by one of the 
framers of the Olean road act and the accompanying section, given above — 
very possibly Lawson or one of his colleagues — and thus received the pres- 
tige of official saction. Messrs. Lawson and Stanard deserve the gratitude of 
the modern denizens on its banks for the refreshing change from the vulgar 
"Toby" and the unmusical "Stump" to euphonious and graceful " Clarion," 
a name appropriate, not only on account of its clearness of sound, but also the 
lucidity of its current, an idea not comprehended by its christeners. 

The change, however, was very gradual, and the old inhabitants clung to 
the former titles with considerable tenacity. It was not till about 1840 that 
"Stump " and " Toby " disappeared altogether. 

It is mentioned as the latter in the report of the Supreme Court in 1833, con- 
cerning an action of trespass brought by John Clugh against Robert Criswell and 
others for tearing down a mill-dam across " Toby's Creek." Clugh recovered 
damages, and the higher court affirmed the judgment. 

It will be noticed that the river has been blessed with an abundance of 
names ; the Indian Tobeco ; the French Riviere au Fiel, the pioneer Toby and 
Stump, and finally Clarion. 

The earliest militia in the backwoods were " rude and raw in arms " indeed . 
Although existing under the law of 1807, requiring regular organization, uni- 
form and arms, there was Httle of any of those adjuncts. On parade they pre- 
sented a sorry appearance, rivaling General Von Poffenburgh's battalion 1 in di- 
versity of array. "The militia held their reviews at Abram Standford's, near 
Curllsville, twice a year, and a gay time it was, with plenty of whisky and gin- 
gerbread. The uniforms were not all uniform, neither were the arms all arms, 
as some marched with one kind of clothing on and some with another, and 
while some had guns, others marched with sticks, corn-stalks, or anything that 
looked like guns at a distance. The field-officers were well uniformed, and 
looked well ; such as brigade inspectors, generals, colonels, etc., etc. The free 
circulation of the above named whisky caused any amount of black eyes and 
bloody noses, for there were men then, as now, we are sorry to say, who only 
needed some whisky to stir up all that was evil within them." ^ 

1 Irving's " Knickerbocker." 
I ^g^ 2 Judge Clover in "Atlas." 



loo History of Clarion County. 

The first and for a long time the only uniformed company in the county 
was Captain Neely's Richland Rifles. George Kribbs succeeded Captain Neely 
in command ; Michael Weaver was first lieutenant, and Daniel Wingard, sec- 
ond. Their uniform was the same as that of 1814, with a few elaborations. 
In 1830 the company numbered sixty-nine men. 

The Washington Rangers, of Callensburg and vicinity, Captain John L. 
Reed, was one of the earliest volunteer companies in the south. 

The mustering places north of the river were at Neely's, now the Mong 
farm ; south, at Stanford's, Curllsville, and Colonel John Sloan's. 

The polling places for Redbank and Toby townships were at John Sloan's 
and Thomas McKibben's respectively. For the southern county Joseph 
Rankin, of Toby township, and David Lawson were the most prominent 
politicians, and both were elected to the Legislature several times. North of 
the river the voting places were at Alexander McDonald's, Richland township; 
later at Best's mill, and George Kapp's. 

The years between 1820 and 1840 saw great advances, both material and 
intellectual, in the county. It was a period of road-making, of bridge-build- 
ing, and of the opening of churches and schools ; of the introduction, too, of 
many conveniences and ameliorations in modes of life. The country became 
comparatively populous ; the most remote and savage parts of it became the 
habitation of man. In 1826 John Anderson culled a home from the wilds of 
Millcreek; he was soon followed by the McNaughtons. Highland township, 
the home of Alexander McNaughton, as early as about 18 12, was colonized 
by the Reeds and others. George Kapp and John Siegworth were the pio- 
neers of the northwestern extremity of the county, and were followed by a 
colony of Germans, 1825-30. In 1835 John Voglebacher gave his name to the 
settlement in Knox township, and about the same time the wilderness of Farm- 
ington township was peopled by the Alsbachs, the Blacks, the McCloskeys, Wil- 
kinsons and others. These are the latest settled parts of Clarion county. 

Between 1826 and 1828 Shippenville, Callensburg, and Strattanville came 
into existence in the order named ; the first villages in the county. For a 
while Shippenville boasted the only inn. 

September 18, 1806, the original township of Toby was subdivided into 
Redbank and Toby. By the year 1839 Redbank had produced Redbank, Mon- 
roe, and Clarion townships ; Toby, Madison, Toby, and Perry. 

The original northern townships (erected in 1 806) were Richland, Elk, Beaver, 
Paint, Toby's Creek, and Farmington. These were not regularly subdivided as 
in Armstrong county, but new townships were formed from portions of several. 
The townships taken from Venango county were Richland, Beaver, Pine Grove 
(mainly Washington), Paint, Elk, and Farmington. 

About 1830, frame-houses, plaster, glass-windows, and carriages were in- 
troduced. Clumsy Dearborns were the precursors of the graceful and light 
vehicles of the present day, yet they were none too substantial for the roads. 



From Erection of County to Iron Era. ioi 

In and before 1830 flour was three dollars a barrel, beef three cents per 
pound, venison hams one and a half cents per pound, fowls six cents each, but- 
ter six to eight cents a pound, eggs six cents a pound. 

In 1825 Charles Gaskell, agent of the Holland Land Company, sold un- 
seated land in the southern part of the county, at from one dollar and fifty 
cents to two dollars per acre, but this was remarkably low. 

The price of real estate in the more settled parts of the county doubled be- 
tween 1820 and 1830. About the time of the organization of the county im- 
proved land was worth ten dollars per acre. 

In 1829 the construction of the first furnace by Myers and Bear marked the 
beginning of a new era in the history of Clarion county. 



CHAPTER X. 

FROM THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY TO THE IRON ERA— 1839-1845. 

Legislation, etc., Previous to Organization — The Act — Change of Boundaries — Selection of 
Site of County Seat — Public Buildings — Militia— Politics — Statistics — County Finances. 

AS early as 1835 the inhabitants of upper Armstrong and lower Venango 
counties, then filling up rapidly on account of the development of the iron 
industry, began to feel the inconvenience of the distance of their county seats, 
and petitions were signed for the erection of a new county from parts of each. 
In the session of 1835-36 Senator Kelly, representing the district affected, 
presented a bill for the erection of a new county out of Venango and Arm- 
strong, to be called " Stark." ^ At the same period " Clarion " is mentioned in 
some petitions. This bill was tabled. In the following session, 1837-38, Mr. 
Kelly introduced another bill to the same effect, which reached second read- 
ing ; again " Clarion " was mentioned in petitions. 

House. 

In the House, December 15, 1838, Mr. Snowden, of Venango county, pre- 
sented a petition from the inhabitants of Armstrong and Venango counties for 
the erection of a new county out of parts of said counties. (Referred). Decem- 
ber 19, Mr. Yost, of Montgomery, presented a similar petition. (Referred). 

Monday, January 15, 1839, ^^- Snowden presented the proceedings of a 
meeting of citizens of Beaver township, Venango county, asking for the erec- 
tion of a new county out of parts of Venango and Armstrong. January 22, 

1 Senate and House Journal. 



102 History of Clarion County. 

Mr. Snowden, from the committee to whom were referred the petitions on the 
subject, reported a bill (No. 54) entitled, "An act erecting parts of Armstrong 
and Venango counties into a separate county to be called Clarion." (Read, 
and laid on the table.) January 25, Mr. Evans, of Armstrong, presented a 
petition from inhabitants of Armstrong and Venango counties for the erection 
of a new county out of parts, etc., to be called Clarion ; Mr. Snowden one of 
like import. (Tabled). 

January 28, Mr. Purviance (Butler) presented two petitions from inhabitants 
of Butler, Armstrong, and Venango counties, praying for the erection of a new 
county out of parts of said counties to, be called "Jackson." (Referred). 

January 31, petition of like import to that of the 25th. (Tabled). 

February 4, on motion of Mr. Snowden, the House resolved itself into a 
committee of the whole on the bill No. 54, entitled an act erecting parts of 
Armstrong and Venango counties into a separate county to be called Clarion. 

On motion, the said bill was read the second time, considered and agreed 
to ; and ordered to be transcribed for third reading. On motion of Mr. Wil- 
cox (Jefferson, McKean and Warren), the rule which prohibits the reading of 
bills twice on the same day being in this case dispensed with, the said bill was 
read the third time, when a motion was made by Mr. J. Cunningham, of Hunt- 
ingdon, to postpone thfe further consideration of the same for the present, which 
was disagreed to ; and, on the question. Shall the bill pass ? it was determined 
in the affirmative, and ordered that the clerk present the same to the Senate 
for concurrence. 

Senate. 

On Friday, December 21, 1838, Mr. Hays, senator from Twenty-second 
District, composed of Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango, and Warren 
counties, presented two petitions from citizens of Venango and Armstrong, 
praying for the erection of a new county out of parts of said counties. 

Tuesday, February 5, 1839, House bill, act for organization of a new county 
from parts of Venango and Armstrong to be called " Clarion " committed to 
Messrs. Hays, Carpenter, and McConkey. 

February 6, Mr. Hays presented a petition of citizens of Armstrong, Butler, 
and Venango praying for the erection of a new county out of parts of said 
counties. 

February 20, Mr. Hays reported from committee House and Senate bill 
(Clarion) with amendments. 

February 25, Mr. Fullerton presented a petition of citizens of Armstrong 
and Venango counties, etc. 

March 5, 1839, the speaker (Charles B. Penrose) presented a memorial of 
citizens of the counties of Armstrong, Butler, and Venango, remonstrating 
against the contemplated new county to be called " Clarion," and praying for 
erection of a new county out of parts of each to be called " Jackson." 



From Erection of County to Iron Era. 103 

March 6, on motion of Mr. Hays and Mr. Strohm, the Senate resolved 
itself into a committee of the whole, to consider bill from House, entitled, an 
act for the organization of a new county from parts of Armstrong and Venango, 
to be called Clarion. After some debate the committee rose and the chair- 
man reported bill with amendments. 

March 7, bill No. 197 from House, entitled, an act for the erection, etc.,. 
was read the second time ; the several sections and title were agreed to ; and, 
on motion of Mr. Hays and Mr. Fullerton, the rule which prohibits the read- 
ing of bills twice on the same day was in this case dispensed with, and said bill 
was read the third time and passed. Ordered, that the clerk return said bill to 
House, with the information that the Senate had passed the same with amend- 
ments, in which the concurrence of the House is requested. The House con- 
curred in the amendments on the 8th. Saturday, March 8, the bill was pre- 
sented to the governor, David R. Porter; approved March ii. 

It appears that the citizens of eastern Butler and western Armstrong and 
Venango counties, still clung to the idea of a tripartite county. On March 19 
Mr. Pearson presented a petition of citizens of Armstrong, Butler and Venango 
counties, praying that parts of said counties, west of the Allegheny, be annexed 
to Clarion county. Referred to judiciary committee ; reported adversely. 

June 8, Mr. Pearson presented a petition of citizens of Venango county, 
praying for a repeal of the law erecting Clarion county. (Tabled). June 1 1, Mr. 
Pearson presented a petition of Venango county, praying for the repeal of the 
law erecting Clarion county, or that Venango county may be attached to said 
county of Clarion. 

June 18, Mr. Hays presented as above, praying that the boundary lines of 
Clarion county may be enlarged. (Tabled). 

The Act 

" For the organization of a new county from parts of Venango and Arm- 
strong to be called ' Clarion.' " 

Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That all those parts of Armstrong and 
Venango counties, lying and being within the following boundaries to wit : 
Beginning at the junction of Redbank Creek with the Allegheny River, thence 
up said creek to the line dividing Jefferson and Armstrong counties, thence 
along said line to the line dividing Toby and Saratoga townships in Venango 
county, thence along said line to the corner of Farmington township, in Ve- 
nango county, thence a straight line to the mouth of ShuU's Run ^ on the Alle- 
gheny River, thence down said river to the place of beginning, be and the 
same is hereby declared to be erected into a county, henceforth to be called 

^ Now Ritchie's. 



I04 History of Clarion County. 



Clarion, the seat of justice to be fixed by the commissioners hereinafter ap- 
pointed. 

Section 2. That from and after the first day of September, one thousand 
eight hundred and forty (1840), the inhabitants of the said county of Clarion 
be entitled to and shall have all and singular, the courts, jurisdiction, officers, 
rights and privileges to which the inhabitants of other counties of this State 
are entitled by the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. 

Section 3. That the several courts of the counties of Venango and Arm- 
strong shall continue to exercise jurisdiction within their former limit until the 
first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and forty (1840). 

Section 4. That no suit or prosecution which has been commenced or 
which shall be commenced in the courts of the counties of Armstrong and 
Venango before the first day of September, shall be delayed, discontinued or 
affected by this act, but the same process shall be issued, and the same acts 
done on all such suits and prosecutions, and on all judgments thereon by the 
sheriff and coroner of Venango and Armstrong counties as if this act had not 
been passed. 

Section 5. That all taxes and arrears of taxes laid, or which have become 
due within the counties of Armstrong and Venango before the first day of 
September, one thousand eight hundred and forty (ist of September, 1840), 
and all sums of money due to this Commonwealth for militia fines in the said 
county of Clarion, shall be collected and recovered as if this act had not been 
passed. 

Section 6. That the sheriff, treasurer, and prothonotary, and all such of- 
ficers as have heretofore usually given security for the faithful discharge of the 
duties of their respective offices, who shall hereafter be appointed or elected in 
the said county of Clarion, before they or any of them shall enter into execu- 
tion thereof, shall give sufficient security in the same manner and form, and for 
the same uses, trusts and purposes as such officers for the time being are by 
law obliged to do in the county of Armstrong. 

Section 7. That the sheriff, coroner and other officers of the counties of 
Armstrong and Venango shall continue to exercise the duties of their respect- 
ive offices within the county of Clarion until similar officers shall be appointed 
agreeably to law within the said county. 

Section 8. That James Thompson, John Gilmore and Samuel L. Carpenter, 
be and are hereby appointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to fix upon 
a proper and convenient site for a seat of justice for said county of Clarion, a 
court-house, prison, and county offices within the aforesaid county, as near the 
center as the situation thereof will admit, and the said commissioners, or a ma- 
jority of them, having viewed the relative advantages of the several situations 
contemplated by the people, shall on or before the first day of September next, 
by a written report under their hands and seals, or under the hands and seals 



From Erection of County to Iron Era. 105 

of a majority of them, certify, describe and limit the site or lot of land which 
they shall have chosen for the purpose aforesaid, and shall transmit the said 
report to the governor of this Commonwealth, and the persons so as aforesaid 
named as commissioners shall receive three dollars per diem for their services 
out of the money raised in pursuance of this act. 

Section 9. That it shall and may be lawful for the commissioners of the 
county of Clarion, which shall be elected at the next annual election after the 
first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and forty, to take assur- 
ances of them or their successors in office, of such lot or piece of ground as 
shall have been approved of by the persons appointed as aforesaid, or a ma- 
jority of them, for the purpose of erecting thereon a court-house, jail and of- 
fices, and other buildings and reservations, for the safe keeping of the records, 
and for public grounds, and that for defraying the expenses thereof, the county 
commissioners are hereby authorized to assess, and levy and collect in the 
manner directed by the acts for raising county rates and levies, a sufficient sum 
to defray the expenses thereof. 

Section 10. That the judges of the Supreme Court shall have like powers, 
jurisdictions, and authorities within the said county of Clarion, as by law they 
are vested with and entitled to have and exercise in other counties of this State, 
and the said county is hereby annexed to the western district of the Supreme 
Court. 

Section 1 1. That two persons shall be commissioned associate judges of the 
Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Clarion, and that the 
Courts of Common Pleas and General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, to be 
holden in and for said county of Clarion shall be opened on the third Mondays 
after the week of the courts of Venango county, and the said county of Clarion 
shall be and is hereby declared to belong to the sixth district, consisting of the 
counties of Erie, Venango and Crawford. 

Section 12. That in all cases where it would be lawful for the sheriff, jailor, 
or prison-keeper of the county of Clarion, to hold in close custody the body of 
any person in the common jail of the county of Clarion, that all such persons shall 
be delivered to, and kept in close custody by the sheriff, jailor or prison-keeper 
of the county of Venango, who, upon delivery of such prisoner to him or them at 
the common jail of said county of Venango, shall safely keep him, her or them, 
until they be discharged by due course of law ; shall also be answerable in like 
manner, and liable to the same pains and penalties as if the persons so deliv- 
ered were liable to confinement in the common jail of Venango county, and the 
parties aggrieved shall be entitled to the same remedies against them, or any 
of them, as if such prisoner had been committed to his or their custody by 
virtue of legal process issued by proper authority in the said county of Ve- 
nango ; pfovided always, that the sheriff of Clarion county be allowed out of 
the county stock of Clarion county ten cents per mile as a full compensation 



io6 History of Clarion County. 

for every criminal he may deliver to the jail of Venango county by virtue of 
this act, in orders drawn by the commissioners of Clarion county on the treas- 
ury thereof 

Section 13. That the sheriff, jailor, and prison-keeper of the county of Ve- 
nango shall receive all prisoners as aforesaid, and shall provide for them ac- 
cording to law, and shall be entitled to the fees for keeping them, and also to 
such allowance as is by law directed for the maintenance of prisoners in sim- 
ilar cases, which allowance shall be defrayed and paid by the commissioners of 
the county of Clarion out of the county stock. 

Section 14. That the twelfth and thirteenth sections of this act shall be and 
continue in force for the term of three years, or until the commissioners of 
Clarion county shall have certified to the court that a jail is erected and ready 
for the reception of prisoners and approved of by the court and grand jury, 
who shall enter their approbation, signed by them on record of said court, and 
from henceforth it shall be lawful for the sheriff of Clarion county to receive all 
and every person or persons who may then be confined in the jail of Venango 
county in pursuance of this act, and convey them to the jail of Clarion county, 
and to keep them in custody until they be discharged by due course of law. 

Section 15. That the qualified electors of the county of Clarion shall at 
the next general election after the first day of September, one thousand eight 
hundred and forty (ist of September, 1840), for members of the House of Rep- 
resentatives, elect three persons for commissioners of the said county, and shall 
designate on their ballots respectively, the individual who shall serve for one 
year, for two years and three years, and annually thereafter shall elect one 
suitable person to serve as commissioner in place of the commissioner whose 
time may have thus expired. 

Wm. Hopkins, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Jno. J. Pearson, 
Speaker of Senate, pro tempore. 

Approved, The eleventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty- nine (March 11, 1839). 

David R. Porter. 

The county of course took its name from the river. 

James Thompson was then president-judge of the Sixth District, and re- 
sided at Erie ; he was subsequently elected to Congress ; John Gilmore was 
from Butler county; Carpenter was a surveyor, residing at Greensburg, West- 
moreland county. Mr. Thompson resigned shortly after his appointment, and 
by act of June 25, 1839, John P. Davis, afterwards associate judge of Crawford 
county, was delegated in his stead. 

Naturally a contest arose between the leading villages of the county to se- 
cure their adoption as the county seat. The citizens of Callensburg and those 
living in the western part of the new county pressed the claims of the flat 



From Erection of County to Iron Era. 107 

along the river, at Bullock Ford, near Callensburg. Shippenville and vicinity, 
backed by the Shippens, claimed the seat of justice on account of its extensive 
iron interests and central position. Strattanville offered its advantages, too. 

Christian Myers, the proprietor of Clarion furnace at Penn Mills, Philip 
Clover, of Strattanville, and his sons and son-in-law, Levi G. Clover, Peter 
Clover, and James P. Hoover, owned the land now occupied by the county seat. 
They offered it to the commissioners on condition of receiving half the proceeds 
of the sale of lots. 

This had the advantage of being a neutral site ; the surface of the land was 
elevated and level ; it was near the river, centrally situated, and on the Belle- 
fonte and Meadville turnpike. All these considerations, taken with the offer of 
donation, determined the site.^ 

The commissioners received three dollars per day for their work, and from 
the amount paid them it appears that they averaged twelve and one-half days 
each in locating the county seat. 

George B. Hamilton, Lindsay C. Pritner, and Robert Potter were appointed 
commissioners by the governor to take deeds of trust from the donors, to lay 
out the town into lots, to sell the same, and make contracts for the public build- 
ings. The town was laid out in the fall of 1839 ; in the spring of 1840 work 
began on the court-house and jail, which were completed in the winter of 1842. 
Commissioners Hamilton, Pritner and Potter surveyed the county boundary. 

It was seen that the straight line which formed the northwestern boundary 
of the county would operate inconvenienly by arbitrarily dividing tracts and 
farms between Clarion and Venango counties ; causing needless complications 
in taxation and jurisdiction. Accordingly the Legislature, April 16, 1840, 
established a new line as follows : "Beginning at the northwest corner of tract of 
land, number three thousand three hundred and thirty-nine (3,339), being a 
corner of Farmington township ; thence by the northern boundary of tracts 
numbers five thousand five hundred and two, three thousand six hundred and 
seventy- four, two thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and two thousand 
eight hundred and twenty-nine (5,502, 3,674, 2,832, 2,829), westwardly to the 
northwest corner of the latter ; thence by the western boundary of the same 
and tract number two thousand eight hundred and nineteen (2,819), south- 
wardly to the southwest corner of the latter; thence by the northern boundary 
of tracts number two thousand eight hundred and ten, two thousand eight hun- 
dred and seven, two thousand eight hundred and five, and two thousand eight 
hundred and three, (2,810, 2,807, 2,805, 2,803), westwardly to the northwest 
corner of the latter ; thence by the western boundary of the same and tract 
number two thousand eight hundred and two (2,802), southwardly to the north- 
east corner of tract number two thousand five hundred and thirty-eight (2,538); 

1 Jt is not improbable, too, that Hon., afterwards Judge Charles Evans, whose lands adjoined 
south, used his influence with the commissioners in the selection of the spot. 



io8 History of Clarion County. 

thence by the northern boundary of the same and tract number two thousand 
five hundred and thirty-six (2,536), westwardly to the northwest corner of the 
latter; thence by the western boundary thereof, southwardly to the southwest 
corner of the same; thence by the northern boundary of tracts numbers two 
thousand five hundred and twenty-five and two thousand five hundred and 
twenty-six (2,525, 2,526), westwardly to the northwest corner of the latter ; 
thence by the western boundary of the same and tracts number two thousand 
five hundred and five and two thousand four hundred and ninety-eight (2,505, 
2,498), southwardly to the southwest corner of the latter; thence by the south- 
ern boundary of tract number two thousand four hundred ninety-nine (2,499), 
westwardly to the corner of a tract granted to William Nickle ; thence by the 
eastern boundary of the same and tract number eight hundred and six (806), 
southwardly to the southeast corner of the latter ; thence by the southern 
boundary of the same westwardly to the northeast corner of tract number two 
hundred and twenty-two (222); thence by the eastern boundary of the same 
southwardly to the southeast corner thereof; thence by the southern boundary 
of the same and tract number seven hundred and sixty-five (765), westwardly 
to the northeast corner of tract number four hundred and forty-five (445); 
thence by the eastern boundary of the same and tracts number two hundred 
and fifty-eight and eight hundred and fifteen (258, 815), southwardly to the 
southeast corner of the latter ; thence by the southeastern boundary of the 
same and tracts number eight hundred and twenty and eight hundred and 
thirty-one (820, 831) southwestwardly to the northeastern boundary of tract 
number eight hundred and twenty-two (822); thence by the same southeasterly 
to the corner thereof; thence by the southeastern boundary of the same, south- 
westwardly to the corner of tract number five thousand seven hundred and 
twenty-seven (5,727); thence by the northeastern boundary thereof southeast- 
wardly to Richey's Run ; thence down and along said run to the Allegheny 
River, opposite, or nearly opposite to the northeast corner of Butler county." 
This line was run by Richard Irwin and G. B. Hamilton. 

The act of organization provided that Clarion county should become judi- 
cially separate September 10, 1840. It was attached to the Sixth Judicial 
District, previously consisting of the counties of Erie, Crawford, and Venango, 
of which James Thompson was president-judge. But. May 21, 1840 — before 
any court was held — this was changed, and the county was attached to the 
Eighteenth District, Alexander McCalmont, judge, consisting then of the 
counties of Potter, McKean, and Jefferson. Christian Myers and Charles 
Evans were commissioned associates. The first court was held in an unfin- 
ished room in the house now belonging to A. H. Alexander, the first Monday 
of the following November. 

The organization of the county for financial purposes was simultaneous 
with the judicial establishment, but it did not effectually begin until the inaugu- 



From Erection of County to Iron Era. 109 

ration of the regular commissioners. The first election took place October 13, 
1840. A warm contest arose out of the action of the preliminary Democratic 
convention ; some declaring the nominations illegal on the ground that the 
nominees were delegates. An opposition ticket was put in the field. The 
Clarion Republican, the first paper, published by William T. Alexander, opposed 
the straight-out nominees. The Visitor, an ephemeral sheet, imported from 
Butler to neutralize the Republican' s influence, championed the regular ticket. 
The independent candidates emerged victorious. Joseph Goe was chosen pro- 
thonotary ; John Reed, coroner ; George L. Benn, Jacob Miller, and Gideon 
Richardson, commissioners ; John Elliot, Joseph C. King, and George Means, 
auditors. The regular candidate for sheriff, Jarnes Hasson, alone escaped de- 
feat by two votes. The commissioners appointed Amos Williams, treasurer, 
according to the old constitution. 

Militia. 

Under the old organization all able-bodied persons between the ages of 
twenty- one and forty- five, with several exceptions, were bound to militia ser- 
vice, and were organized into companies, regiments, brigades, etc. They were 
to drill one day in the year by companies, and one day by battalions or regi- 
ments. A service of seven years entitled to exemption from further service. 
Those who did not chose to serve were subject to a militia tax, exoneration, or 
commutation, as it was called. 

The citizen soldiery were divided into two classes ; the ununiformed, com- 
monly known as " militia" simply, and the uniformed or " volunteers." The 
first were those who shouldered the gun or broomstick, as the case might be, not 
out of love for the martial field, but perforce, to escape the alternative fine. 
When called into service they were drafted singly and not by companies. This 
branch was always absurdly defective in equipments and organization ; they 
were dubbed the " cornstalk " militia, and were the subject of much ridicule 
and pleasantry. Once a year they met to go through the form of a drill and 
review ; the whole was a huge farce. 

The volunteers where those who were regularly equipped and disci- 
plined, and made a virtue of a military necessity. They disdained to be classed 
with the common herd of " militia," and were supposed to be always ready for 
the field. Three companies formed a battalion ; the commander of a battalion 
of five companies ranked as lieutenant-colonel, and seven were a full regiment. 
The volunteers held battalion encampments of three days' duration every May, 
meeting the previous day for drill and preparation. This was the only time 
during the year at which they were required to meet for duty. The militia of 
Clarion county belonged originally to the Fifteenth Division ; those south of 
the river were attached to the Second Brigade of which General Robert Orr, 
of Kittanning, was the first commander ; those north, to the First Brigade. 
8 



no History of Clarion County. 

In 1849 the militia organization was entirely overhauled ; the old system of 
ununiformed militia was abolished, and each citizen subject to militia duty was 
obliged to furnish himself with a suitable uniform. According to this act, each 
county possessed a separate brigade. Clarion county became the Second 
Brigade, and with McKean, Elk, and Forest counties formed the Twelfth 
Division. 

The uniforms varied ; the predominating color was blue with white facings 
(for artillery yellow) ; white pantaloons were the rule for dress parade. Two 
of the most notable companies were the Clarion Artillerists, of Rimersburg and 
vicinity, and the Clarion Guards of Strattanville. On festive occasions they 
appear to have been favorites, and called forth the most glowing and patriotic 
toasts. The artillery company was only nominally so, their battery consisting 
of one small gun ; they had very gay uniforms of blue coat and buff vest, the 
standing collar of the coat turning yellow ; trimmings of cap-cord, and pompon 
tassels; brass shoulder plates. The uniform of the Clarion Guards was gray 
swallow-tailed coats, with white facings and golden epaulettes, pants of the 
same, and high- crowned grenadier caps, with white cockade and cord. 

Captain Feely's Shippenville company was the best uniformed in the county 
north of the river. Their equipments were of the U. S. Army standard, viz., 
blue coat and waistcoat, etc. 

The^field and staff officers in full uniform, with tinsel broidery, chapcans de 
bras and gold epaulettes, presented a glittering spectacle. 

About 1845 interest in militia matters began to abate ; there was a tempo- 
rary revival in 1849 upon the reorganization, but in a few years indifference 
and disorder again thinned the ranks. The organization, however, was pre- 
served, and at the annual May encampment at Curllsville, in 1861, the com- 
mander of the brigade. General Reynolds Laughlin, offered the services of his 
command to Governor Curtin. The governer replied that he had no authority 
from the national government to send a brigade into the field, but requested 
him to hold the companies together. General Laughlin put the question to 
the company offices, but there were differences of opinion, and difficulties arose ; 
many of the officers and men were anxious to join the army, and the brigade 
dissolved. 

There was practically no militia, except the three months men of '6^, during 
the war. The present effective and uniform system of volunteer militia was 
completed by the act of June 12, 1878. 

The battalion encampment places for the companies of the First Brigade 
were on the George Berlin farm on the turnpike, and at Jacob Sweitzer's near 
Edenburg. The most usual camps of the southern battalions were at Curlls- 
ville, and at Colonel John Sloan's, Limestone township. Under the system of 
1849 the whole brigade met annually at Curllsville for a three days' review and 
inspection encampment. 



From Erection of County to Iron Era. hi 



The following is a list of Clarion county volunteer companies and captains, 
compiled as perfectly as possible : 

Fifth Battaltion, One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Regiment, Majors, Colin 

McNutt and J. Bittenbender . 
Clarion Guards, Strattanville and vicinity. Captains, Robert Barber, Ar- 
chibald Borland, S. S. Burnham, William Lemon. 

Town Creek Rangers, Redbank township. Captain, J. Algeo. 
Jackson Blues, Porter township. Captain, F. Case. 
Redbank Artillerists, Redbank township. Captain, A. Space. 

Sixth Battalion, Majors, R. D. Laxvson and Peter Reed. 

Washington Rangers, Callensburg and vicinity. Captains, John L. Reed, 
Kirk, George Means, Reynolds Laughlin, James Galbraith. 



Perry Guards. Captains, Nichols, Robert Stuart. 

Clarion Artillerists, Rimersburg and vicinity. Captains, George Means, 
Peter Reed, R. Huey. 

Washington Blues. Captain, I. S. Thompson. 

Second Battalion, Venango Volunteers, Major, P. Neely ; Lieutenant-colonels, 
B. Junkin, William Wilson, C. Neely. 

Clarion Blues, Beaver township. Captains, William Wilson, Joseph Myer. 

Richland Rifles, Richland township. Captains, John Kribbs, Paul Neely, 
Prior. 

Beaver Riflemen, Beaver township. Captain, D. Feely. 

Shippenville Riflemen, Shippenville and vicinity. Captains, Jacob Kahl, 
D. Feely, J. Thompson, William Nickles. 

Greenwood Rangers, Highland and Farmington. Captain, John Hulings. 

The Perry Infantry, Perry township, was organized in 1872, with A. J. 
Davis, captain, succeeded by Captain J. W. Roney, he by O. E. Nail. They 
were mustered out in 1877. At present the only militia company of Clarion 
county is Company D, of Clarion, Fourteenth Regiment, N. G. P., M. A. K. 
Weidner commanding. 

Politics. 

Alex. Holman, of Venango, represented the Clarion-Venango district in 
1 840. David B. Long was Clarion county's first native representative and served 
two terms, 1842-43. In 1844 the Democratic State ticket, Shunk for gov- 
ernor against Markle, Whig, was amalgamated with the national, James K. 
Polk and George M. Dallas, against Clay and Frelinghuysen. " Polk, Dallas, 
and Shunk, and the tariff" of '42 ! " was the battle cry of the " locofocos." 
The contest v/as a fierce one, as all the early State and presidential ones were. 



112 History of Clarion County. 

Everybody was then terribly in earnest over politics ; the local newspapers 
of that day are burdened with vituperations, protestations, and editorial appeals, 
liberally spiced with italics, and with large capitals, as heavy artillery. Then, 
as now, there was no lack of personalities. 

Clarion was a strong Democratic county from the start. In 1840 Harri- 
son had 1366 votes against 648 for Van Buren. 

For governor David R. Porter, Democrat, 1500; J. Banks, Whig, 555. 

Polk, Dallas, and Shunk's majority averaged 1069. 

Statistics. 

The census of 1840 did not take cognizance of the new county and there- 
fore the population for that year cannot be exactly given. It was estimated at 
12,500. 

In 1841 there were 8 sheriff sales; in 1842, 10; the lowest and highest 
number before 1846. 

County Finances. 

Taxation for county purposes during the period 1840-45 was very light, as 
almost enough was realized by the sale of lots to defray the expense of the 
public buildings. By the 1st of January, 1844, nearly all the borough lots 
were sold and the total proceeds to that date, including interest, was $27,53 1.64. 
Of this the donors obtained half, leaving a net sum of $13,765.82 to the 
county. 

During and after the construction of the first court-house and jail, the com- 
missioners issued " county scrip," viz., small notes redeemable by the county, 
and which passed for currency. The issuing of such notes was contrary to the 
U. S. statutes, but was connived at. 

In 1845 orders to the amount of $48.98 were issued for fox and wild- cat 
scalps ; 50 cents for each fox, and 87 for each wild-cat scalp. 

December 31, 1845, the debt of the county was $1,653.51. Balance in the 
treasury $368.12. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE FURNACES. 

The Pioneer Furnace — Structure of the Stacks — Methods of Manufacture — Review of the 
Industry — List of Furnaces. 

CLARION county's abundant mineral riches were early apparent. In 1828 
Christian Myers, of Lancaster, then half owner of the Bear- Carpenter- 
Miller purpart of the Lancaster Company's purchase, including a slice of Clar- 



The Furnaces. 113 



ion and the greater part of Paint townships ; and his partner, Henry Bear, came 
to this county with the intention of developing the mineral resources of their 
property. The natives were very distrustful of the strangers, and having no 
credit with the farmers, they were sometimes reduced to desperate straits for 
provisions. Judge Myers wrote home, with a melancholy account of the fare : 
" Bones cooked for soup, and then ground up and cooked over." 

After many difficulties Clarion furnace was erected on Little Toby, near its 
mouth ; the spot is now known as Penn Mills. This was the pioneer stack of 
Clarion county. 

Clarion furnace was soon followed by Shippenville and Lucinda furnaces ; 
the industry gained great impetus, and every year saw the erection of new 
stacks, till the climax was reached in 1845, when eight were erected in that 
year. A few were built after that, making thirty- one in all. 

Clarion's furnaces were with few exceptions of the " half-stack '' size. They 
were built from rough stone dressed at the edges, and keyed with wooden cross- 
beams. The interior of the stack was lined with fire-brick, which required to 
be replaced about every two years ; for this purpose an entrance was left in 
front of the furnace, which was kept walled up while the furnace was in blast. 
The " bosh " is the widest part of the interior or hearth. 

Charcoal was the basis of iron manufacture in Clarion, as well as in Ve- 
nango and Mercer counties. Almost every wood except hemlock was available; 
it was burnt in small clearings called " coalings " and " hearths." Chestnut 
produced the most char to the wood employed ; birch, the least. As a me- 
dium two hundred bushels of charcoal were consumed to each ton of metal 
produced. 

The ore was mined generally from drifts or banks ; sometimes when it lay 
near a level surface open excavations were made called " strippings." It was 
hauled to the furnace yard, which lay about on a level with the top of the 
stack. The furnaces were always constructed at the foot of a little bluff or on 
a hillside, to facilitate the conveyance of the ore to the tunnel-head. After a 
preliminar)^ burning by slack coal to free it from dross and dirt, it was wheeled 
on a bridge to the mouth of the furnace, " tunnel-head," and dumped in with 
the necessary amount of flux. After a proper interval of time a layer of fuel 
was placed on top of this, then another deposit of ore, and so on. These alter- 
nate layers were called the charges, and he who had supervision of this work, 
the founder. The blast, cold or hot, as the case might be, was forced into one 
or more apertures in the sides styled " tuyeres," by means of pistons and drums 
operated either by steam or water power. The molten metal percolated 
through the fire, and made its exit through four openings at the bottom, called 
" notches," one at each side (previously luted), into the moulds. 

To produce one ton of iron required three and one-half tons of ore, and 
about five hundred pounds of limestone as flux. The furnaces at first produced 



114 History of Clarion County. 

from fifteen to twenty-five tons of pig metal a week, according to their capacity, 
but in later years, by improved processes and larger and stronger blasts, the 
weekly output often reached fifty tons. 

St. Charles and Redbank were the first furnaces in the county to employ 
coke ; it was made in pits at their own yards. The former for a couple of 
years previous used the raw coal of the upper Freeport vein very successfully. 

The Sligo and Madison company was the only one to introduce " chills," 
/. e., iron moulds ; all the other furnaces ran their metal into sand. 

The pigs were transported to Pittsburgh in flat boats, sided up ; they were 
somewhat smaller than the present boats, and generally held from seventy- five 
to one hundred tons. The lower bridge at Clarion was one of the chief load- 
ing places; here Clarion, Lucinda, Shippenville, Washington, and Martha fur- 
naces brought their iron for transportation; it was the scene of much life and 
bustle, for often one hundred men were at work together, loading the boats ; 
those were halcyon days ! Beaver furnace and Madison loaded at Hahn's Ferry 
at the mouth of Piney ; the wharf at Callensburg was the lading point for 
Sligo, Prospect, Buchanan, and the other furnaces in that vicinity. Those fur- 
ther south and west sent their products to the Redbank and Allegheny. 

The larger furnaces, such as Lucinda, Madison, and Shippenville, employed 
from seventy-five to one hundred hands; the smaller, as Washington, Wild 
Cat, and Mary Ann, from twenty-five to fifty ; the workmen were ore-diggers, 
teamsters, wood-choppers, charcoal-burners, and furnace men. The wages 
ranged from twenty to twenty-six dollars per month — good compensation for 
those days ; of this, from one-fourth to one-half was payable in cash ; the bal- 
ance in orders on the operators' store. 

Between 1845 ^'"'ci 1854 fully one-half of the pig metal produced in north- 
western Pennsylvania was manufactured in Clarion county, and it deservedly 
won the name of the " Iron County." From 1856 to i860 the ratio was 
about one-third. In 1849 the production was 24,620 tons, in 1856 eighteen 
furnaces smelted 20,368. Taking the low estimate of twenty as being the 
average number of furnaces simultaneously in blast during the most prosper- 
ous periods of the iron trade, viz.: between 1842 and 1846, and between 1852 
and 1858; and averaging the weekly production at twenty-eight tons, or 
yearly (for a year of forty-five weeks), 1,160, and the price at thirty dollars 
per ton ; Clarion county's iron exports in those years realized an income of 
$696,000 per year; in round figures $700,000. Of this we may allow 
$100,000 to non-resident operators. The most extensive iron manufactur- 
ers in Clarion county were Jacob Painter, Samuel F. Plumer, and Lyon, Shorb 
& Co. Painter resided at Pittsburgh, Plumer at Jefferson furnace. Clarion 
county, and J. Patton Lyon, of Lyon, Shorb & Co., at Sligo. 

Notwithstanding the figures (large for that period) given above, it cannot 
be said that the operators were uniformly successful, and amassed fortunes. 



The Furnaces. 115 



On the contrary, the majority of them failed. The profits reahzed in prosper- 
ous times were not sufficient to tide them over the crises in the trade. Still, 
the county in general was decidedly the gainer by this industry. It may be 
said to have developed our resources ; it was the means of colonizing waste and 
rugged spots ; it doubled the population, and for some time kept money in 
beneficial circulation. 

The repeal of the tariff of 1842 in July, 1846, was a severe blow to the in- 
dustry, and one from which it never fully recovered. One of the Clarion 
papers framed in mourning the news, and the announcement that the bill 
passed by the deciding vote of George M. Dallas, whose name had always been 
coupled with the tariff of 1842, in shouting for the ticket. The effects of the 
repeal were not fully felt till 1850, when a number of Clarion firms succumbed 
in consequence ; and prices dropped from twenty-eight dollars per ton to 
twenty dollars, which hardly covered cost of production. However, enterprises 
in which so much money was invested could not be lightly abandoned, and the 
industry lingered several years "from hand to mouth." 

From 1852-54, in consequence of the mania for railroad construction and 
the extraordinary demand for iron, there was a general revival, and in March, 
1854, iron brought the extraordinary figure of forty-two dollars per ton. The 
panic of 1857 again prostrated the business; many stacks were abandoned; 
only those having the firmest financial basis stood the ordeal. A second, but 
transitory revival was created by the war, and from 1862 to 1865 iron com- 
manded "booming" prices. In 1866 and 1867, however, the reaction came, 
and with it the final decay of furnaces in Clarion county ; Madison survived 
till 18/3, Monroe continued making a little iron at intervals till 1882, and Red- 
bank went out of blast in January, 1883. 

Of the thirty-one furnaces once flourishing here, and maintaining an in- 
dustry which immensely increased the population, prosperity and wealth of 
the county, all — except Redbank and Monroe — are now no more. Some have 
been leveled to the ground ; others remain as ruins, their venerable walls re- 
sembling dismantled fortresses ; the ivy clad memorials of bright and busy 
days. 

The primary causes of the extinguishment of the iron industry in Clarion 
county were : 1st, The ill effects of the repeal of the tariff of 1842; 2d, De- 
cline in the price of iron by competition of large coke and anthracite stacks. 
The following minor incidents conspired to the same end : 3d, Depletion of 
timber; 4th, Increasing cost of ore from long drifts and hauls.^ 

1 In connection with the iron industry it is proper to mention here the almost forgotten fact that 
Clarion was once a shipping point, to which the forges in the central part of the State sent their bar iron 
to be transported by water to Pittsburgh and the West. For this purpose Isaac Corbett built a wharf 
and warehouse at "Warehouse Riffle," a few hundred yards above the pump station. This traffic was 
carried on between 1830 and '35 ; the iron being hauled from Bellefonte by contractors living in Clarion 
county, the owners, Shippen, Black, and others. 



ii6 History of Clarion County. 

List of Furnaces. 

1. Clarion Furnace, cold blast, on the Clarion River, a little west of the 
mouth of Little Toby, built in 1829 ; thirty feet high by eight feet bosh ; own- 
ers Henry Bear and Christian Myers, afterward Myers alone, who in 1851 as- 
signed to Nelson Hetherington. Produced about 1,300 tons a year. Aban- 
doned in 1852 on account of difficulty of reaching ore and financial consider- 
ations. 

2. Shippenville Furnace, hot blast, at the junction of Deer and Paint Creeks, 
one mile southeast of Shippenville. Owned by Richard Shippen and Jacob 
Black; erected in 1832; managed by Robert Montgomery and David Mc- 
Kim ; nine feet across the bosh by thirty- two feet high ; production, 1845? 
about 1,200 tons; 1856, 1,500; abandoned in 1859. 

In connection with Shippenville furnace there was a forge — the only one 
in the county. It stood a mile further down Deer Creek, and made altogether 
fifty tons of bar iron. 

3. Lucinda Furnace, built in 1833, on Paint Creek in Knox township, by 
James Humes and George B. Hamilton ; Humes became sole owner and failed. 
The furnace was purchased from John F. Steinman, Humes's assignee, in 
1843, by Hon. James Buchanan, afterward president, and John Reynolds, of 
Cornwall, Lebanon county. They purchased at the same time 4,351 acres in 
Knox township, consideration $20,500. Buchanan visited the furnace in 
June, 1843. It was afterwards leased to Reynolds and Nathan Evans; the 
latter managed it. The iron made at this furnace had a high reputation with 
mill and foundrymen. The stack was hot blast ; eight feet bosh by thirty feet 
high; produced in 1845 1,200 tons per year ; in 1856, about 1,500; abandoned 
in 1858 on account of low prices and scarcity of timber. 

4. Beaver Furnace, 1835, on Deer Creek, two miles from its mouth ; steam 
and water ; hot and cold blast, the last blast was hot ; nine feet bosh, thirty- 
three feet high ; owned by Long, Blackstone & Co.; output 1845, 1,200 tons; 
in 1852, 1,500; abandoned in 1854.1 

5. Madison Furnace, 1836, steam cold blast, situate on Piney Creek, two 
miles from the Clarion ; nine feet across the bosh ; thirty- two feet high ; owned 
originally by Mathiot, Miller & Co., bought by Lyon, Shorb & Co., managed 
by Thomas McCulloch, Samuel Barr, Calvin Rankin, and M. Conrad ; pro- 
duced, 1845, 1,000 tons; 1856, 2,500 tons of mill metal, out of argillaceous 
carbonate ores of the coal measures close by; in 1872, made 3,048 tons. Used 
chills; abandoned, 1873, in consequence of^the panic of that year. 

6. Jefferson Furnace, 1838, eight feet bosh, thirty feet high ; on Beaver 
Creek at Jefferson Station ; built by Arnold Plumer and S. F. Plumer, the lat- 

1 While in the Legislature Mr. D. B. Long, one of the firm, procured the passage of an act, for- 
bidding the sale of intoxicating liquors within a radius of three miles from this furnace. 



The Furnaces. 117 



ter became sole proprietor ; managed by John Haslett. It was run very irreg- 
ularly ; produced, in 1845, 800 tons; in 1856, about 600 tons of forge metal 
out of limestone and bog ores ; abandoned in 1858, chiefly on account of lack 
of timber. 

7. Clinton Furnace, 1841, on Hemlock Creek, in the extreme northwest 
corner of Washington township ; owned first by Clapp and Seymour ; after- 
ward by Samuel F. Plumer, manager, William HoUis ; nine and one- half feet 
across the bosh, thirty- three feet high; production, 1845, i,000 tons; 1856, 
2,000; forge metal, out of fossil buhr-stone and fossil limestone, lower coal 
measure ore, mined two miles south of the furnace. 

8. Elk ("Smearkase") Furnace, 1842, a small stack on Deer Creek one mile 
above Deer Creek furnace. First operator, William B. Fetzer, later, Kahl and 
Call; bosh, seven feet,, height, twenty- two feet; production, 1845, about 700 
tons ; 1854, 400 tons ; abandoned in the fall of 1855. At the time of its aban- 
donment its timber was exhausted. 

9. Buchanan Furnace, cold blast. 1844, on the north bank of the Clarion 
River, opposite Callensburg ; eight feet across bosh, thirty feet high ; owned 
by Plumer, Crary & Co., S. F. Plumer, F. G. Crary, of Kittanning, and Arnold 
Plumer, of Franklin. F. G. Crary became sole proprietor about 1857. Aver- 
aged 1,200 tons a year ; abandoned 1858 ; its timber was then exhausted. 

10. Tippecanoe Furnace, steam cold blast, named after " Tippecanoe and 
Tyler too;" built in 1844, by Black and Maxwell, and run by King and Max- 
well; situated on Canoe Creek, one and one- half miles above Eagle furnace ; 
made, in 1845, i.ooo tons of metal ; abandoned in 1851. 

11. Mary Ann Furnace, cold blast, 1844, on Paint Creek, at the crossing 
of the Franklin-Brookville turnpike ; built by John Black, Daniel Brenneman, 
David McKee, and John Thom ; sold to John and Adam Black ; was eight 
feet across the bosh; produced in 1846, 1,100 tons of iron; abandoned in 

1851. 

12. Deer Creek Furnace, 1844, cold blast, on Deer Creek, at the pike 
crossing immediately west of Shippenville. First proprietors, Kerr and Hasson, 
afterwards Mease & Co.; abandoned, 1851. 

13. St. Charles Furnace (originally Cocheco), 1844. ten feet across the bosh, 
thirty-three feet in height ; situated on Leatherwood Creek, about two miles 
from the Low Grade Railroad ; built by John and Samuel Wilson ; purchased 
in the spring of 1846 by J. and P. Kerr, of Clarion ; leased in 1861 to Michael 
McCue, who operated it till 1865, when it was dismantled. Hot blast intro- 
duced in 1857. 

This is the only furnace that employed raw coal, concerning which the 
Pennsylvania Second Geological Report, for Clarion county, says : " Though 
essentially a charcoal stack, this furnace was run for one year on coke, made 
from the Freeport lower coal, and for nearly a year on raw coal from the Free- 



ii8 History of Clarion County. 



port upper bed, which in this vicinity is of a ' block ' character. Innumerable 

thin layers of mineral charcoal disseminated through the bed, divide the bitu- 
minous portion into such thin laminae that any appreciable swelling or melting 
of the mass is rendered impossible, and each lump preserves its shape until it 
is entirely consumed." Production, 1845. i.oootons; 1 850, 2, ooo tons. 

14. Wildcat Furnace (this was sometimes called Franklin), 1843, steam 
cold blast ; on Wildcat Run, one mile southeast of Rimersburg ; seven and 
one-half feet across the bosh by twenty- eight feet high; built by Flick and 
Lawson ; sold to John L. Miller, of Pittsburgh, and James M. Freeman, of 
Clarion county. Production of 1845, about 1,000 tons ; of 1847, 1.380. Blown 
out in 1857, but not abandoned till 1863. 

15. Black Fox Furnace, 1844, steam hot blast; one mile from Allegheny 
River on Black Fox Run, Perry township ; nine foot bosh, thirty feet high ; 
built by Welsh & Co., subsequently owned by Adams & Varnum (1848), Jones 
& Co., Joseph M. Thompson, I. M. Boyd and others. They failing in 1850, 
the furnace was bought at sheriff sale by Jacob Painter and others ; Samuel 
Barr, superintendent. Production, 1845, 1,000 tons ; 1856, 2,000 tons. About 
1858 the boiler exploded, killing one man and severely injuring several others. 
The furnace never resumed. 

16. Pike Furnace, 1845, steam hot blast, near Wildcat Run, three-fourths 
of a mile north of Lawsonham ; eight foot bosh by thirty feet high ; originally 
built as|^: a cold blast stack. First owned by Lawson, Duff & Orr, afterward 
owned and managed by Hunter Orr. Production of 1845 period, 1,700 tons; 
of 1856, about 1,500 tons. Iron made from limestone ore, soft brown and hard 
blue, in beds which crop out among the coal measures horizontally around the 
furnace. Suspended in 1858 for a while, blown out in 1868—69; now entirely 
dismantled. 

17. Prospect Furnace, steam cold blast; built in 1845, o" Cherry Run, 

one mile south of Callensburg, by H. Alexander and McElroy ; bosh 

eight feet, height, thirty feet ; sold to Moore, Painter & Co.; managed by Will- 
iam Moore, one of the company ; manufactured in thirty-nine and one-fourth 
weeks of 1856, 1,450 tons of mill- iron out of blue coal measure limestone ore 
from many banks within three and one-half miles round ; abandoned in 1862. 

18. Sligo Furnace, 1845, steam cold and hot blast; on Licking Creek near 
Sligo, in Piney township; owned by Lyon, Shorb & Co.; William Lyon, of 
Pittsburgh, J. P. Lyon, resident at Sligo, Anthony Shorb, and Thomas Mc- 
CuUoch, of Sligo. The furnace received its name from Sligo, near Pittsburgh, 
where the company's iron works were situated ; changed to hot blast in 1857 ; 
employed chills ; produced in 1845 1,500 tons; in 1856, 2,400 tons of rolling- 
mill iron; abandoned in 1871. 

19. Monoe Furnace, cold blast ; eight foot bosh by thirty feet high (inside); 
on Piney Creek in eastern Monroe township, on the road between Reidsburg 



The Furnaces. 119 



and Greenville ; original operator, Cochran Fulton, afterwards W. B. Fetzer & 
Co., now owned by Cochran & Timblin ; eight by thirty feet inside ; produc- 
tion of 1845, 1,000 tons ; of 1855, 1,250. This stack still stands ; went finally 
out of blast in 1882. 

20. Limestone Furnace, cold blast; built in 1845; eight feet wide across 
the bosh ; situated on Piney Creek in Limestone township ; owned by Jacob B. 
Lyon & Co., and J. Painter, and G. B. Smith; it was abandoned in 1853 ; pro- 
duced about 1,000 tons per year. 

21. Martha (Polk 1) Furnace, 1845; steam cold blast; built by Christian 
Myers ; it lies near Reidsburg, Monroe township ; Nelson Hetherington owned 
and managed it most of the time. It was erected as a successor to Clarion 
furnace, where ore and timber were growing scarce. Martha furnace was pur- 
chased by Lyon, Shorb & Co., but never put in blast by them ; timber in its 
vicinity grew scarce, and the stack was dismantled in 1856. Its approximate 
production at first was 1,000 tons ; in 1854 it made 1,260 tons. 

22. Hemlock Furnace, 1845 ; steam cold blast ; built by W. B. Fetzer and 
McGuire ; owned later by Horner & Eaton, and finally by F. & W. M. Faber, 
of Pittsburgh ; seven and one-half feet across the bosh ; thirty feet high (in- 
side) ; it was very close to Clinton furnace, on Hemlock; production of 1846, 
2,000 tons; 1856, 1,200; abandoned about i860. 

23. Licking Furnace, 1845 ; cold blast; on Licking Run near Lickingville, 
Washington township ; seven and one-half feet by thirty feet high ; owned by 
Ohler & Co., viz : William Ohler, John G. Seigworth, John Myers, and John 
Kapp ; product of 1846, 1,200 tons ; later about 400 tons per annum; aban- 
doned in 1856. 

24. Helen Furnace, cold blast; built in 1845, by Robert Barber ; eight foot 
bosh, thirty- two feet high ; it was eight miles from Clarion, on the Scotch 
Hill road. On Barber & Packer's failure the property for a short time was in 
the hands of David Richey, and was finally purchased by Samuel Wilson, with 
whom D. McKim was a partner for a while. Made in twenty- six weeks of 
1856 756 tons of iron, from ore mined back of the tunnel head ; stopped man- 
ufacture in 1856 or '57. 

25. Catfish Furnace, 1846, steam cold blast; eight feet across the bosh; 
thirty feet high ; built by Over, Reichart and Lobaugh, on the Allegheny, at 
the mouth of Catfish, who failed in 185 1. The property was purchased by 
Alexander Miller, and leased by J. L. Miller; managed by J. H. Kahl. It 
made in thirty- three weeks of 1856, 925^ tons of metal from carbonate and 
red ores, taken from within a mile to the north. 

26. Washington Furnace, 1846, steam cold blast; bosh eight and one- half 

1 Judge Myers, the first proprietor, was an enthusiastic Polk man, and called his furnace after him. 
When the tariff of '42 was repealed, and the change sanctioned by President Polk, Myers became dis- 
gusted and would not suffer the furnace to longer bear his name. He therefore re-christened it after 
his wife, Martha. 



I20 History of Clarion County. 

feet ; thirty feet high (inside) ; owned at first by D. B. Long and H. Black- 
stone ; subsequently by Lanier & Co., of New York ; production of 1846, 1,000 
tons ; blew out in the spring of 1855, having made 706 tons that year ; Wash- 
ington furnace stood on the southwest corner of Clarion township, a little north 
of Monroe. 

27. Richland Furnace, 1846, steam cold blast ; built by John Keating, of 
Philadelphia ; J. Vensel had an interest in the business for a while ; eight foot 
bosh ; thirty feet high ; it is situated on a small branch of Turkey Run, in Rich- 
land township ; made in 1854, '55, and '56, an average of 550 tons per year. 

28. Eagle Furnace, cold blast, 1846; on Canoe Creek, a mile from the 
Clarion River ; was eight feet in bosh by thirty feet high ; built by Kribbs, 
Reynolds & Curll ; operated by George Kribbs and Joseph B. Reynolds ; pro- 
duced from 700 to 800 tons per annum ; abandoned in 1858. 

29. Corsica Furnace (formerly Mt. Pleasant), built in 1849, by G. W. Cor- 
bet, Solomon Cyphert, and George Reynolds; sold in 1850, to Gates & Co.,. 
of Kittanning, who in turn sold it to J. P. Brown ; eight feet across the bosh ; 
thirty feet high; situate in Clarion township, northwest of Corsica, and a little 
north of the pike ; made about 500 tons yearly out of ore close by. 

30. Redbank Furnace, at the mouth of Redbank ; built by Thomas Mc- 
Culloch, formerly of Lyon, Shorb & Co., in 1859 ; Alexander Reynolds shortly 
became a partner; McCulIoch was replaced by Moorhead, and the firm became 
Reynolds & Moorhead. This stack was a successor to the old Redbank fur- 
nace across the creek in Armstrong county. The first stack on the present site 
of Redbank furnace was thirty-nine feet high, and eleven feet across the bosh; 
since it has been raised to a height of sixty-four feet, and its equipments have 
been much improved and modernized. The old furnace used coke made in pits, 
and produced an average of ninety-five tons a week ; at present there are forty 
coke ovens in connection with the plant, and the capacity is 150 tons of metal 
per week. 

The ore, coal, and limestone are all found together on the river hillside 
above the furnace, and are carried down an inclined plane tramway to the ter- 
race or yard. The coal is prepared for coking by a machine capable of crush- 
ing and washing eighty tons per day. The hearth is of flagstone, and the tun- 
nel mouth has a " bell and hopper" cover; the gases are conducted down a 
pipe called the "down-comer," and distributed between the boiler and hot- 
blast. An upright engine 225 horse power, sixty feet pressure, and five feet 
stroke forces the air into the hot-blast and fan, and thence to the furnace ; there 
are six boilers in a " double-decked battery," three feet wide, and thirty and 
forty-four feet in length. 

Redbank Furnace, from the hands of Reynolds & Moorhead, passed into 
those of Alexander Reynolds, and finally to Alexander Reynolds's Sons, the 
present proprietors. It suspended operations in January, 1883, but is expected 
(February, 1887) to resume in a few months. 






■Zi:yZJ^(P(^ [//^.^^I^^J^ 



) 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 121 

31. Sarah Furnace was completed in i860; erected by S. F. Plumer after 
his retirement from Prospect. It took its name from the wife of the proprietor. 
Sarah furnace stood on the Allegheny, at the bottom of the bend, about one 
mile above Catfish; it used coke as fuel. Passed into the hands of Jennings, 
Morey & Co., and was abandoned about 1867. 



CHAPTER XII. 

FROM THE IRON ERA TO THE CIVIL WAR.— 1845-1861. 

Mexican War — The Underground Railway — The Tornado of '60 — Floods — War Senti- 
ment — Politics — Statistics — County Finances — Old Fashioned Temperance — A Fourth of 
July Celebration — Fox Hunt — A Mass Meeting in '60. 

THE Mexican war excited little interest and less enthusiasm in Clarion 
county. T. S. McCalmont, then a lawyer of Clarion, who was a West Point 
graduate, attempted to raise a company, but failed. Colonel Joseph W. Coul- 
ter obtained about fifteen signers to a volunteer paper ; not sufficient to effect 
an organization. 1 

The " Underground Railroad " in Clarion County. 

"The Underground Railroad " was the title given by Southerners to the 
secret organized dispatch of escaped slaves, through the north to Canada, and 
safe northern points. Few, even among the oldest citizens, have known that 
for years there was a systematic transportation of fugitive slaves through Clar- 
ion county, in other words, that one of the main lines of the Underground Rail- 
road passed through this county ; that there were no fewer than four stations 
here, and that the conductors were among the most respected and substantial 
citizens of the county. 

The harboring and aiding of fugitive slaves was illegal (penalty by act of 
Congress, 1850, fine not exceeding $1,000, and imprisonment not exceeding 
six months, also civil damages), and the greatest care was exercised to conceal 
the operations of the movement ; the conveyance of the slaves from point to 
point was necessarily done by night, and so circumspectly and secretly was 
the work carried on that it was rare for those engaged in it to know who the 
agents were beyond their immediate stations. 

The slaves who passed through western Pennsylvania were all from Vir- 

1 The following are all I have been able to di cover who went to the Mexican war from Clarion 

county: Joseph Shaw, of Clarion ; James .\Iooney, of Strattanviile, now of Clarion ; Rodebaugh, 

a boy drummer, of Monroe township ; Burns, near Curllsville. 



122 History of Clarion County. 

ginia, and of the male sex. In escaping from their masters, they would start 
soon after nightfall, provided with horses whenever possible, and by the time 
their absence would be discovered they would have considerably handicapped 
their pursuers. 

The first assisted fugitives (six in number) arrived in Clarion county in 
June, 1847, ^"^ from thence to 1855 they came from time to time, in num- 
bers from two to seven. For our purpose it suffices to trace the links of this 
mysterious chain back to Armstrong county. 

Rev. John Hindman was an Associated (Seceder) minister, resident near Day- 
ton ; he received and forwarded the negroes to William Blair, of Porter town- 
ship, this county. Mr. Blair in turn sent them on to Rev. John McAuley, 
a Seceder clergyman, of Rimersburg. It appears that the majority oi active 
abolitionists in this vicinity belonged to that denomination, a sect whose mem- 
bers, of the old school, were noted as men of strong and decided views, and 
resolute in carrying out their principles. 

Mr. McAuley kept the " contrabands " in his barn, and under cover of dark- 
ness generally, sometimes in the twilight — through by paths — he, or his eldest 
son, brought them to the house of James Fulton, a member of his congrega- 
tion, who lived a little north of Rimersburg. Mr. Jackson Fulton, his son, in 
speaking of the first party, says : " One of these was a powerful man ; stood 
six feet, three or four inches, and weighed 240 or 250 pounds ; he told me that 
frequently when his master would go to whip him, he would catch him and 
hold him, and thereby he escaped many a whipping." The last, a twain, came 
in the spring of 1855. Mr. Fulton says : " One of these left a wife ; he told 
me if the Lord spared him to get through he would return and steal her. I 
said to him he would certainly be running a great risk. He said he would risk 
his life that they might enjoy their freedom together." Mr. James Fulton {^d 
and cared for the fugitives, and then conveyed them by wagon to Benjamin 
Gardner, sr., of Licking township, two or three miles north of Callensburg.^ 
Mr. Gardner was an ardent abolitionist. 

The next station was Elihu Chadwick's, of Rockland township, Venango 
county, sixteen miles away. Mr. Chadwick had several rooms in his commo- 
dious barn fitted up specially for the reception ol his dusky proteges. The ven- 
erable Benjamin Gardner, jr., enables us to follow the fortunes of the last pair, 
mentioned by Mr. Fulton. He writes : " He (his father) concealed them in 
one compartment until dark, and then escorted them by the underground train 
to next station, but Mr. Chadwick was absent and father put them through 
that night to Franklin, twenty- five miles. He left his passengers at this end 
of the bridge and went over to see if the coast was clear, and on returning 
the darkies were missing, but upon reconnoitering the place he found them 
behind the abutment near the water's edge. Poor fellows ! they thought they 
were abandoned." 

1 Once or twice Mr. Fulton was bold enough to conduct them in liaylight. 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 123 



The Tornado of Redbank Valley. 

On the morning of May 30, i860, a tornado swept up the valley of the 
Redbank, on its northern side, with disastrous effect, leveling houses and barns, 
uprooting trees and causing considerable loss of life. In appearance it was a 
large storm cloud of dense blackness, discharging little water, except along its 
borders, where there were heavy showers of rain and hail accompanied by con- 
tinuous flashes of lightning. The tornado varied in width from thirty rods to 
half a mile. Where it was narrowest its force was greatest, and it ploughed 
up the earth to the depth of two feet, hurled large stones through the air, forc- 
ing smaller ones into trees and wood to such a depth that they could not be ex- 
tricated. The tempest had a rolling, bounding movement, vaulting through the 
air at the height of about one hundred feet, and thus skipping portions of its 
terrestrial path. 

It took its rise on the farm of Christopher Foster, in Sugar Creek township, 
Armstrong county; ricocheted northeasterly over Madison township, that 
county, doing comparatively little injury there, and crossed the Redbank near 
the mouth of Leatherwood Creek. Its dire force was first felt in Clarion 
county, here, at the store of J. B. Hassen, which it wrecked. Hence it passed 
up the valley of the small tributary of Leatherwood in a northeast by east direc- 
tion. Mr. William Shoemaker's house was the next to suffer; it was swept 
away with the exception of the rafters and the lower floor. Mr. Shoemaker 
had both legs broken; an infant was saved by being lowered through an open- 
ing in the floor. Neither the cradle in which the child had been lying, nor 
any parts of the house, barn or spring- house were ever found. The orchard 
was uprooted and carried off, and stones driven into some stumps. 

The current seemed to follow the upper edge of the valley, hugging the 
first range of heights, and maintaining a general parallel course with Redbank. 
Flying embers from ruined houses set fire to barns, hay- mows, and stacks. 
These airy conflagrations were caught up by the cyclone and shot through the 
air in streams, in many places blasting vegetation and burning woodwork. 
The awe- stricken people mistook these fiery meteors for electric flames, and 
their appearance added to the terrors of the situation. 

Another peculiarity of the storm was, that as a rule, where it passed a few 
feet above the ground, groves of trees were prostrated with their tops turned 
towards the quarter from whence the tempest came, having been snapped off 
near the earth and wrenched around, so as to make it appear to the casual ob- 
server that the tornado had come from a diametrically opposite direction. This 
wrenching effect, occasioned b}^ the revolving motion of the cloud, was also 
seen in the moving of buildings from their foundations. 

The next victim of its rage was Valentine Miller. The superstructure of 
his log house was blown awa)', but the family, huddled about the chimney. 



124 History of Clarion County. 

escaped unhurt. The daughter of Thomas Dougherty, about sixteen years of 
age, was killed by a falling log in attempting to escape from her father's house. 

Continuing on its course, the destructive element leveled the homes of J. 
M. Henry, Joseph Smith and John McMillen, wounding the occupants more 
or less. Here the storm deflected slightly to the south, as the stream does. 
New Bethlehem fortunately escaped, the tempest passing half a mile north of it, 
destroying Charles Stewart's house and burning the barn. As the storm ap- 
proached it burst the door open. Mrs. Stewart exclaimed " What a storm is 
coming ! " and attempted to close the door, but while so doing the full fury of the 
tornado fell on the house and removed it some distance from its foundation. She 
was found lying between two rafters and beneath a heavy oak timber, whose 
crushing weight caused her death in a few hours. Her child, with its cradle, 
dropped into the cellar and miraculously escaped ; the rest of the family were 
hurled about in various directions, but not fatally injured. Stewart's barn was 
ignited " by what appeared to be a fluid, two feet thick, borne along by a dark 
cloud." 

John Hilliard's house and barn were in turn destroyed. " The family es- 
caped death by taking refuge under a bed, and were rescued from the ruins of 
a stone chimney, which had tumbled around them." From Hilliard's the tor- 
nado appears to have leaped to John Mohney's, two miles distant, as we can 
trace no disasters in the interval. Mr. Mohney and his wife were absent at 
the time ; the children gathered in the cellar, the house was torn away from 
above their heads, but they escaped injury. A wheelbarrow here was found 
lodged unbroken in the top of a maple tree seventy-five rods distant. John 
-Shick and his horses were blown over and over through a field about half a 
mile east of Mohney's, without serious harm. Jacob Hartzell's barn was razed, 
and his house to the first story. 

Maysville, then a village of about twenty buildings, is situated on a flat at 
the foot of a precipitous hill bordering the Redbank. But its sheltered location 
was of no avail. The tornado, as if endowed with a perverse, demoniac in- 
stinct, instead of leaping over the stream from hilltop to hilltop, plunged sheer 
over the bank, tearing up the ground as it went, into the doomed village. It 
reached it about half past eleven A. M., and passed in a few minutes up the op- 
posite heights, leaving ruin and death behind it. Not a structure escaped. 
Mrs. Irvin McFarland was fatally injured by a jagged timber driven into her 
breast. Ida McFarland, her two-year old child, was lying in her cradle when 
the storm struck the house, and afterwards could be discovered nowhere. A 
_great mass of brick lay where the cradle had been, and the work of removing 
them began. After a number had been thrown off, a smothered cry under- 
neath urged the frantic father to redouble his efforts ; when, lo ! the cradle was 
discovered bottom up, and underneath lay little Ida, alive and unhurt, except 
from a stray brick which had burned her arm. The wife of Mr. Haines, pro- 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 125 

prietor of the inn, was severely injured and her child killed. David Bachman 
was struck by a wagon and killed. Mr. John Hess and family, Mary Farris, and 
Mathew Light (an itinerant daguerreotypist) were severely injured. 

The bridge across the Redbank here was torn away. Hess's grist-mill was 
destroyed ; one of the heavy buhrs was turned upside down, another carried to 
the dam, and the third fell into the mill pit.^ Mr. Haines's hotel was borne 
diagonally across the street and precipitated over the bank into the creek, 
above the bridge. The residence of Joseph Grabe was taken up bodily into 
the air. 

The tornado, after leaving Maysville, continued up the valley of the Red- 
bank, but with abated violence, crossed the turnpike at Roseville, thence turned 
eastward, passed three miles south of Brookville, through Clearfield, Centre, 
and Union counties, and reached the ocean on the Jersey coast. It was only 
in Armstrong, Clarion, and Jefferson counties that it had the intensity of a tor- 
nado ; elsewhere it was only a violent storm. 

This calamity, happily the only one of the kind in our annals, is estimated 
to have destroyed $125,000 worth of property in Clarion county. 

There was a destructive flood in the Clarion and Redbank the second week 
of October, 1847. -^11 the bridges over those streams were swept away. 

The greatest flood that ever occurred on the Clarion was that of Septem- 
28-30, 1 86 1. All the bridges then existing on the river — two near Clarion 
and the Callensburg, were carried off, and an immense quantity of rafts and 
timber were floated down. Beech Bottom mill, in Elk county, and a dwelling 
house were swept down by the waters, which ran at the rate of fourteen miles 
an hour. 

The great frosts occurred on the nights of June 4 and ii, 1859, killing 
nearly all vegetation, even to the leaves of trees. It was general over the 
country, and for a while caused great distress. For a time flour commanded 
$14 to $16 per barrel. 

The feeling on the outbreak of the war is best illustrated by an account of 
the proceedings of a mass-meeting, held at the county seat, as reported in the 
Banner of April 26, 1861 : 

" Adjourned Meeting. — The war meeting met according to adjournment, 
on Monday evening, 22d, in the Presbyterian Church. The crowd was very 
large and enthusiastic. The opening address was made by Colonel Lamber- 
ton. A committee of nine was appointed to draft resolutions, and consists of 
Messrs. Lamberton, Reid, Campbell, R. D. Lawson, Samuel Wilson, Jacob 
Black, Rulofson, Maj. Turney, and W. J. Reynolds. During the absence of the 
committee, Amos Myers, esq., addressed the meeting and his remarks were re- 
ceived with applause. The committee on resolutions reported the following, 
which were read and adopted : 

1 One account says that the book kept by the miller was found in Union county, one hundred miles 
distant. 9 



126 History of Clarion County. 

" Whereas, Rebellious hands have been raised in armed violence against 
the legally constituted authorities of that Government, purchased with blood 
and framed by the wisdom of our forefathers. Therefore, 

Resolved, That believing we truly represent the unanimous feelings of a 
people devoted in their loyalty to the Union and its government, we hereby 
pledge ourselves without reservation, to the maintenance of that Union and 
Government, with all the means that ' God and nature have placed in our 
power.' 

Resolved, That prompt and effective measures should be at once taken, to 
organize military companies in Clarion county, to respond to the wants and 
call of the government ; and we hereby recommend that means should be 
raised to give ' aid and comfort ' to the families of those who gallantly march 
to the call of their country. 

" Resolved, That for the purpose of aiding the patriot cause in our midst, 
of repressing lawless violence, of assisting in the military organization of the 
county ; and, in short, of adopting such measures as circumstances may war- 
rant, the following named citizens be constituted a committee of safety, who 
shall be invested with all needful and necessary powers for the advancement of 
the public good." 

Then follows a long list of the members of this committee. 
" The said Committee to have power to add, alter or change the names 
thereof as circumstances may warrant, and to organize immediately, 

" It was suggested that all persons desiring to become members of either 
of the companies now forming, should come forward and sign the roll. Sev- 
eral additional names were received. After the transaction of some unim- 
portant business, the meeting adjourned in order to allow the companies to 
complete arrangements." 

" Meeting of the Committee of Safety. — In accordance with the meeting held 
on the 22d, the Committee of Safety met on the morning of the 23d and elected 
the following officers and Committees : 

"James Campbell, president; J. B. Loomis, vice-president; G. W. Arnold^ 
secretary ; W. L. Corbett, treasurer. 

" Finance Committee. — Amos Myers, C. L. Lamberton, James Sweney, R. 
Thorne, J. M. Freeman. 

" Executive Committee. — Geo. W. Arnold, B. J. Reid, D. B. Curll, J. B. 
Lyon, Chas. M'Laughlin, Jas. Ross, Saml. Wilson, Jacob Black, J. P. Lyon. 

" Relief Committee. — J. B. Knox, C. Kaufman, W. Alexander, W. T. Alex- 
ander, J. W. Coulter." 

The executive committe issued the following : 

"Circular. 

"Clarion, April 24, 1861. 
" Sir : War is upon us. Civil war, in stern and awful reality, already rages 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 127 

in our midst, and threatens to devastate the borders of our beloved Common- 
wealth, Our revered — our glorious flag has been fired upon and struck 
down by traitors to their country, — and an insurgent army, headed by a rebel 
chief, is marching against the Capitol itself The very existence, as well as 
the honor of our country, is at stake, and it behooves every citizen to be a pat- 
riot, and to act a patriot's part now when our country demands, in an especial 
manner, our love, our fidelity, and our services. 

" Clarion County should not be behind any of her sister counties in this mo- 
mentous crisis. The love of country beats as warmly in the bosoms of her 
her sons as it does in those of Jefferson or Armstrong. Yet the noble youth 
and manhood of these and other counties have set us an example, in the alac- 
rity with which they have responded to their country's call. Let us not sleep 
at our post. Let us emulate their chivalrous conduct. Let it never be said 
that Clarion County has faltered in her duty, or hesitated in her action in such a 
crisis. Let us prove now, in the hour of trial, that we value as dearly as any 
the priceless legacy bequeathed to us by the patriots of the Revolution, and 
that we are ready to do our full share in protecting and defending it, and hand- 
ing it down unimpaired to posterity. Let us arouse to deliberation and to ac- 
tion, each in his own sphere, and according to his means and opportunities, — 
and laying aside all former distinctions let us be united as one man under our 
country's banner, and animated by one spirit, — the spirit of earnest, patriotic, 
self-sacrificing devotion to the Government, the Constitution and the Union. 

"It is therefore, that the undersigned Executive Committee, acting under the 
authority of the County Committee of Safety, address this circular to you, con- 
fident that you take an active interest in our country's cause, and that from 
your position and influence in your locality you can render efficient aid in pro- 
moting the objects for which the Committeee of Safety was appointed. These 
objects are : 

" I. To call the attention of every citizen to the urgency of the crisis, and the 
importance of showing his fidelity and rendering his services to the country, in 
one shape or another. 

" 2. To canvass every locality for efficient and patriotic volunteers, to form 
themselves into military companies in their own or adjoining neighborhoods, 
for drill and practice, — so as to be in readiness for answering the call of the 
Governor whenever more troops may be needed. 

" 3. To give assurance that ample arrangements will be made by the proper 
Committees for the support of the families of all who may enter the service. 

" In addition to the Executive Committee, the County Committee of Safety 
have appointed a Finance Committee, to raise funds for this and other necessary 
purposes, and a Relief Committee, to apportion the supplies of money, provisions, 
clothing, &c., among the families of volunteers. These Committees will ap- 
point and duly notify sub-committees in the different election districts, and you 



128 History of Clarion County. 

will please request the citizens of your vicinity to contribute only at the call of 
those duly commissioned for that purpose by the Finance Committee. 

"We enclose you herewith some blank muster-rolls to take charge of your- 
self, and to put in the hands of active and earnest volunteers or military men 
of your neighborhood, at your discretion. Let each man who holds a muster-roll 
report to Geo. W. Arnold, Secretary of this Committee, by mail or otherwise, 
the names of the persons enrolled, at the close of every week. This is impor- 
tant. Where companies are formed or started, no matter how few in numbers, 
they should be urged to meet frequently for drill. The Secretary or any mem- 
ber of this Committee may be corresponded with or called upon at any time, 
for further information upon anything connected with these and kindred matters. 
" Relying upon your hearty co-operation in this important juncture, we are, 

"Very respectfully yours, 
" James Campbell, President, George W. Arnold, Secretary, 

B. J. Reid, J. Patton Lyon, 

Daniel B. Curll, Jacob Black, 

James Ross, Samuel Wilson, 

Jacob B. Lyon, Charles M'Laughlin. 

" Executive Committee." 
Politics. 

In 1854 the Native American movement revived. George W. Zeigler, of 
Jefferson county (and Thomas McGee, of Clarion) were nominated by the 
Democracy of the district for the Legislature. Zeigler was elected by a sur- 
prisingly heavy majority, and it transpired that the Democrats had been duped 
into voting for a man of Know- Nothing proclivities, and who had been secretly, 
but strongly supported by the Know-Nothing element. In 1855 the Whig 
party became completely merged in the Native American, and came out openly 
as such. Their county ticket polled 1,630 votes, against an average of 2,075 
Democratic. 1856 saw the birth of the Republican party. 

The Free Soil, or Anti-Lecompton wing of the Democratic party, did not 
gain large accessions in Clarion county. The majority of the leaders, the press, 
and the machinery of the party were with Buchanan and the Lecompton con- 
stitution ; and at the polls the masses fell into line. Even the leaders who took 
courage to proclaim themselves Anti-Lecompton, with a {q^n exceptions fin- 
ally succumbed to partisan pressure. Temporarily, though, the dissenters 
were respectable in numbers and influence. Judge Gillis, of Ridgway, had 
been elected to Congress from this district. In canvassing the county he made 
repeated and emphatic pledges of his intention, if elected, to resist the admis- 
sion of any more slave States to the Union. When President Buchanan, in 
1858, sent in a message to Congress, recommending the admission of Kansas, 
with a slavery constitution, Gillis wavered between allegiance to the administra- 
tion and fidelity to his pledges. In this dilemma he consulted his constituents. 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 129 

He addressed a letter, stating the difficulties of his situation, to Charles L. 
Lamberton, a leading politician of Clarion. Lamberton hastily summoned J. 
B. Knox, J. C. Reid, James Sweny, B. J. Reid, and a few other local Democrats 
of prominence to consult ; they unanimously agreed that Gillis's only course 
was to stand firm, and so advised him. The mail was kept open till a late hour 
that night in order that the reply might go the next morning. It appears that 
Gillis had similar advices from his other lieutenants ; but all in vain. The news 
soon came that Congressman Gillis had voted pro-slavery, and it aroused con- 
siderable indignation. When he ran the second time he was rebuked by de- 
feat. Chapin Hall, of Warren, was his successful opponent. The opposition 
ticket in this county ran as an independent one. B. J. Reid, of Clarion, and 
R. S. McCormick, of Franklin, both Democrats, stumped Clarion county against 
Gillis. 

On September 7th, 1858, Senator Bigler addressed a Democratic mass-meet- 
ing in a speech, which was widely quoted. 

The leading Democratic politicians of Clarion county, in ante-bellum times, 
were : Christian Myers, Amos Myers (till 1846) ; Charles Evans, Charles L. 
Lamberton, John Klingensmith, J. M. Fleming, Reynolds Laughlin, John 
Keatly, J. S. Turney, D. B. Hamm, Patrick Kerr, Seth Clover, Peter Clover, 
James Sweny, Thomas Sutton, D. B. Long, Robert Barber (very active), John 
Keating, Hugh A. Thompson, William T. Alexander, William L. Corbett 
(Whig till 1857), David Morrell (a great "worker" and whipper-in), B. J. 
Reid, J. C. Reid, Daniel Delo, Rev. William McMichael, William Curll, J. B. 
Knox. 

Prominent Whigs and Republicans : James Campbell, D. W. Foster, G. 
W. Arnold, Samuel Wilson, Jacob Black, Richard Shippen, G. W. Lathy, 
George Means, J. R. Strattan, J. B. Lawson (until Know-Nothingism). 

In 1848, for Congress, Joseph Thomas, Democrat, had 2,160 votes in Clar- 
ion county; James Campbell, Whig, 1,286; for president, 1848, Cass, Dem- 
ocrat, 2,306; Taylor, Whig, 1,372. 

In 1852, Pierce, Democrat, 2,642 ; Scott, Whig, 1,218. In 1854, Bigler, 
Democratic candidate for governor, polled 2,173 votes in Clarion county; 
Pollock, Native American, 2,015. 

In 1856 Buchanan had a majority of 938 in this county. 1859, Gillis polled 
2,019 votes here ; Hall, 1,558, a falling off of 439 votes for Gillis, from his pre- 
vious election. 

In i860 the Fusion ticket (a provisional Breckenridge-Douglas affair, which 
dissatisfied many Democrats), had 2,030 votes ; Lincoln, 1,833. 

By a supplemental act, passed on the i6th of April, 1840, Clarion county 
was annexed to the Twenty-fifth Congressional District, composed of the coun- 
ties of Erie, Crawford, Venango and Warren ; and the same provided for its 
representation in the State Legislature with Venango county. 



130 History of Clarion County. 

In 1850 the Twenty-third Senatorial District was formed out of Armstrong 
Indiana and Clarion counties, who were to elect one member. 
1 1 ( In^i858 Clarion county became a part of the Twenty-eighth Senatorial Dis- 
trict, with Jefferson, Forest and Elk ; and at the same time Clarion and Forest 
counties were united to elect one member of the Legislature. 

Statistics. 

I Cc Population, 1850, 23,565. Acres of improved land, 1850, 107,317. Acres 
of unimproved land, 111,504. Cash value of farms, $2,779,989. Value of 
farming implements and machinery, $160,202. 

Number of horses, '4,157 ; cows, 6,122; sheep, 26,868; swine, 13,150. 
Value of live stock, $402,946. 

Wheat, [number of bushels raised, 165,060; rye, II2,0I0; Indian corn, 
111,534; oats, 279,287; pounds of wool, 6'],'J'}iO\ potatoes, 42,936 bushels; 
buckwheat, 56,575 ; pounds of butter, 422,081 ; hay, 17,086 tons. 

Churches, 1850: Baptist, 3 ; German Reformed, 8; Lutheran, 13; Pres- 
byterian, 12,; Roman Catholic, 4; Total 40. 

Population, i860, 24,988. 

The lowest and highest number of actual sheriff sales between 1845 ^"<i 1861, 
were, 1846, ii ; 1852,36. 

County Finances. 

In 1852 the militia fines received amounted to $788.50 ; 1856, $172.07 were 
paid for scalps; January i, 1861, the county treasury contained $9,882.83. 
The county debt was $875.05. 

County finances between 1845 ^"d 1862 were in a weak condition. The 
treasury was frequently unable to meet the demands on it, and county orders 
were for a while below par and liable to interest. Money was borrowed to 
pay for the erection of the court-house and jail, and to meet the current ex- 
penses of the county. 

Clippings from Old Weeklies. 

': The following thesis on total abstinence societies, from the pen of Rev. J. 

M , of this county, exhibits some curious reasoning r^ "But if we discuss 

the character of the temperance society at all, we are under the necessity of 
running into politics and religion both, from the original or proteus-like char- 
acter of the Temperance Society, it having neither a civil nor ecclesiastical char- 
acter, yet pretending to reform both Church and State. When struck at by 
the civil power, it contends that it is a ' blow struck at nothing,' for they are 
not a civil body, when assailed by the Church, it denies that it is an ecclesias- 
tical body, and that it is only a piece of wanton hostility. Thus you see, that 

1 From Clarion Republican of March, 1842. 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 131 



the Temperance Society is perfectly amphibioics. When attacked on the land, 
it will run to the sea. Then you know, that in catching such animals, we must 
trap on land and harpoon at sea, or they will escape us. 

" I have been led to beHeve that both Church and State are Divine insti- 
tutions, and that they are as much superior to human institutions, as God is to 
man — because human institutions derive their character from man, but Divine 
institutions derive theirs from God. 

" Again I believe that God has given both to Church and State their own 
appropriate duties and prerogatives, and has forbidden either to interfere or 
meddle in any way with the duties and prerogatives of the other. 

" Now let it be remarked, that although the Church and State are entirely 
distinct bodies, 'yet they are homogeneous bodies, that is, have a common origin, 
and a common design or end. God is the author and giver of both, and God's 
glory and the good of man, the end of both. But the Temperance Society is 
not of the same genns, it is perfectly heterogeneous. God is not its author, has 
not chosen it for the promotion of his glory or our good. 

" And now, if God does not suffer the Church to interfere with any of the 
duties and prerogatives of the State, nor the State to interfere with any of those 
of the Church, both being species of the same genus, can it be supposed that 
he will either acknowledge or bless the rude and rash meddUng of this amphib- 
ious heterogeneous progeny thdit is springing up in the nineteenth century, as 
•rampant as the locusts of Egypt and as fierce as the tigers of Bengal ? 

" Now, I suppose that the reason why God gave only two institutions to 
man, is because he required only two kinds of duties, civil and religious, and 
he divided these duties between these institutions. — assigning civil duties to 
the State, and religious duties to the Church. Each has plenty of its own kind 
of duties to discharge and nothing more, and neither can attend to the duties 
of the other, without neglecting its own. If He had required a third kind of 
duties. He would doubtless have given a third institution." 

He then appends the constitution of the Self Examining Society, as organ- 
ized by himself, with one hundred members. 

"Constitution of the Self-Examining Society. 

" Article ist. This society shall be known by the name of the Self- Ex- 
amining Society, and shall be composed of both sexes, whose heads and hearts 
are capable of moral improvement, and to be auxiliary to the Germantown, 
Philadelphia county. Society of the same name. 

" Art. 2. This society shall adopt as its motto, 
^ *^ Practice before Precept.' 

" Art. 3. The object of this society shall be, while we may see all other's 
faults, to feel and correct our own, to depress all manner of deceit and hypoc- 
risy, slander, and defamation, — back-biting and evil speaking, with all that 
tends to injure or defraud our neighbor, either in property or character. 



132 History of Clarion County. 

" Art. 4. This society shall be independent of all other societies, each 
member shall be vested with full powers and privileges to attend to his own 
concerns ; and that he make it his duty to mind his own business, and to let 
others mind their business. And no Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, 
Spies, Informers, or Committees of delegates shall ever be chosen by the so- 
ciety to watch over the conduct of others, or to make report upon their neigh- 
bor's misdoings, until a thorough reformation shall have been commenced, first 
at home. ............. 

"Art. 9. Every member of this society shall be allowed to drink tea or 
coffee, cold water or hot water, rum, gin, brandy, wine, Jamaica, old West In- 
dia, whisky, lemonade or butter-milk, as suits him best, or to chew or smoke 
tobacco, or take snuff, when not offensive to the company he is in, without 
being excommunicated from good society, or delivered over to the buffeting of 
those long faced Pharisees, or in other words, to those ravenous wolves in sheep's 
clothing, (or sheep-skins). 

"Art. 10. No member of this society shall ever set himself above his fel- 
lows, building his own character and consequence upon the ruins of a neighbor's 
good name. True it is, that two blacks will not make one white, and no mem- 
ber must ever attempt to hoist his own dingy character on the society of white, 
by meddling with his neighbor's character, which may happen to be a shade 
blacker than his own. 

"Art. 1 1. This society shall form no christian party in politics, and no po- 
litical party under the name of the self-examining society. And again, it 
shall have nothing to do with free masonry or anti-masonry, colonization or 
anti-colonization, missionary, bible, or tract societies, as being in any manner 
connected with it. Nor shall any religious creed, test or inquisition, council or 
synod, ever be established or countenanced by this society, but every member 
shall enjoy his own religion, and allow all others the same liberty he claims for 
himself, without being pointed at as a heretic or branded as an infidel. 

"Art. 12. Good society shall not be formed out of the aristocracy of wealth 
exclusively, nor made out of the popularity of swindling speculators, or of 
civil or religious professions — but it shall include the poor, who are honest, in- 
telligent and industrious, as well as the rich. 

"Art. 13. The members of this society shall seek to do good and not evil 
— love, and not hate each other ; and when reviled they shall not revile again, 
but they shall bear with the faults and infirmities of others, know that they 
themselves are men of like passions and imperfections. They shall respect the 
virtues and talents of all men, nor shall the honor and deference be overlooked, 
which is justly due to the working part of the community, to the farmers and 
mechanics, and to all whose honest labor is a public as well as a private benefit. 

"Art. 14. That every member of this society (if his conscience shall tell him 
so) may cultivate and raise as much rye or other grain as he pleases, distilleries 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 135 



or not — get his rye distilled and use his home-made whisky as a medicine, or 
common antidote, and thereby depress the duty on foreign liquors. And if he 
wishes to take a social drink, or to use it as a beverage, or in his harvest field, 
or wherever he pleases, not to be daunted or in any way backward on account 
because that his neighbor is a long faced Pharisee, or Teetotal disciple, but to 
drink when he sees fit so to do, and in the presence of any one, and not act the 
infernal hypocrite." 

Major John Camp struck out on a bold line in offering himself for the suff- 
rages of the people, as follows : 

" Sheriffalty. 

•'Oflicers, soldiers, and fellow-citizens: The usual custom of advertising for 

any office is to commence by being induced by a number of friends to offer 

oneself as a candidate for the office, &c. But this is not the case with me ; I 

come out with my own free will and accord, and offer myself as a candidate for 

the office of SHERIFF, at the ensuing election. And as regards my claims to 

this office, I would say to the citizens of Clarion county that I have been a 

resident of the county since it was organized, and a resident of that part of 

Venango county now called Clarion, for nine years. I was also a regular 

United States soldier for five years, and received an honorable discharge, and 

I now offer^myself to the public for the above office, and if elected, I do not 

say, or pledge myself, that I shall perform any extrordinary duties of the office 

with favor, &c., but will discharge the duties of the office according to the law. 

" Yours Respectfully, 

" Maj. John Camp." 

"iV. B. The custom has been heretofore for candidates to ride through the 
county, electioneering. As drinking has become unfashionable, and being a tee- 
totaler myself, I do not intend to electioneer any in this way."'^ 

The postscript indicates an attempt to inaugurate a praiseworthy reform, 
but, alas ! it was crushed under the heel of iron custom. Daniel Delo was 
elected in this contest. 

" By Mutual Consent." 

"Caution. — Whereas, my wife R , has, on sundry occasions, taken the 

liberty of leaving my bed and board, to wander, I know not whither, — and 
whereas, she still persists in going where she will, and doing what she will, 
without giving any just reason for such obstinate, wild goose-like conduct ; and 
whereas, it is not in human nature to bear such growing ills without complaint 
— this is therefore to notify those concerned that all partnership heretofore ex- 
isting between the subscriber and the said R , his wife, is this day dissolved 

1 Iron County Democrat, June 8, 1843. 



134 History of Clarion County. 

by mutual consent, and to caution the public against harboring or trusting either 
of us on the other's account, from this date forth without further notice. 

" G G . 

" Redbank tp., April 1st, 1843." 

An Old Time Fourth. 

" Toby Township Celebration of the 4TH of July. — The 67th anni- 
versary of American Independence was appropriately celebrated at Cherry Run, 
in Toby township, by the 6th Battalion of Volunteers, and a large number of 
ladies and gentlemen from the neighborhood and from the more distant parts 
of the country. Some came on foot, some on horseback, and many in wag- 
ons, buggies, etc. 

" Thomas F. Riley acted as President of the day, assisted by Daniel Ful- 
mer, James Foster, William Means, and Francis Hilliard, Vice Presidents, and 
Robert D. Lawson and George Means, Secretaries. 

" The Battalion paraded at 1 1 o'clock under the orders of Major P. Reed, 
and performed a number of evolutions in its usual style of correctness and 
promptitude. At 2 o'clock the whole party, numbering about five hundred, 
partook of an excellent dinner, prepared by the Battalion's committee of ar- 
rangement. 

" When the table was cleared the Declaration of Independence was read by 
James B. Lawson ; after which a set of regular toasts, prepared for the occa- 
sion, were read by one of the secretaries, and a number of individual toasts 
and sentiments, accompanied by the firing of the artillery and the rifles of the 
Battalion — and the cheering of the multitude. During the proceedings, ani- 
mated and spirit-stirring extempore addresses were delivered, by Messrs. David 
R. Craig, James B. Lawson, and George Means, Esq. 

" At an early hour in the evening the company separated, well pleased with 
the day's performance. 

" Regular Toasts. 

" I. The 4th of July '']6 — The birth day of our national freedom — a 
proper observance of its anniversary is well calculated to keep alive the remem- 
brance of those who, in the time that tried men's souls, did by their united 
wisdom, bravery, and patriotism, lay the foundation of our glorious republic. 
They only who feel no interest in recollections, will neglect the day. 

" 2. The Heroes and Sages of the Revolution — They achieved their coun- 
try's independence, and earned for themselves an imperishable renown. 

" 3. The Memory of Washington — He found his native country a mere ap- 
pendage to England — he left her a glorious, free, and independent empire. 
His character is admired by all. But few, indeed, are his imitators. 

" 4. The Memory of Adams and Jefferson — They outlived the storms of the 
Revolution ; they lived to see the full fruition of their hopes in the independent 



From Iron Era to Civil War. i35 



happiness of their country, and on the anniversary of this most glorious day 
their pure spirits ascended to receive the reward of their virtues. 

" 5. The Union of the States— Upon this depends our safety and our glory 
—Seared be the eyeballs of him who would look with complacency upon any 
project for its dissolution. 

" 6. The Rights of Conscience, of Suffrage, and of Opinion— May they ever 
be cherished as the main elements of civil and religious liberty. 

" 7. The Army and Navy of the United States.— In the support of the just 
rights of their country they will never shrink from danger nor suffer a blot to 
tarnish the National Honor. 

" 8. West Point Military Academy— An aristocratic institution which ought 
to be abolished. It is anti-republican to confine the army appointments to 
those only who have received their education at the public expense. 

" 9. The Militia System— The main constitutional defense of our country 
—Withered be the arm and palsied the hand that attempts to bring it into 

ridicule. 

" 10. Agriculture, Domestic Manufactures, Foreign Commerce— The first 
supplies us with necessaries, the second with comforts, and the third with lux- 
uries. May they be fostered by Government in proportion to their intrinsic 

merits. 

"II. A General System of Education— The foundation and pillar of civil 
and religious liberty — a properly educated people cannot be enslaved. 

" 12. The Land we Live in— It is our birthplace, our home, our country- 
may we be ever ready to defend it against foreign enemies and domestic traitors. 

" 13. The Ladies.— Our patriotism is warmed by their approbation, and 
our gratification increased by their presence at our national festivities. 

" Volunteer Toasts. 

" By E. F. Lerch — May the general mass of office-holders and office seek- 
ers in Clarion county be as zealous for the welfare of the county hereafter, as 
they have been for personal interest, and political popularity heretofore. 

" By T. I. Elliott — The memory of that gallant band, who, in that trying 
hour, proclaimed our Independence in spite of British power. 

"By Isaiah Fetzer — May the numerous candidates for office in Clarion 
county 

Stand firmly on their own feet, 
And staunch in their own knees, 
* And in spite of unmanly strife 

We will vote for who we please. 

" By Harvey Philips — Education ; the balm of consolation, the mother of 
peace, the foundation of civil society, preserver of liberty, the sword of religion, 
and the safe defense of a nation ; may we ever see it prosper, and the time ar- 
rive when its present enemies will all be its friends. 



136 History of Clarion County. 

" By James Stitt — The three greatest and best Generals — General Peace, 
General Plenty, and General Satisfaction. 

" By T. F. Riley — The members of the 6th Battalion of Volunteers. — Their 
strict discipline and correct moral deportment give a fair promise of future use- 
fulness, whenever their services are required by their country. 

" By J. B. Lawson — A Protective Tarijf — The sheet anchor of our pros- 
perity ; to be truly independent we must protect the industry of our own 
country. 

" By D. R. Craig — The Hon. John Q. Adams — His history is the history 
of his own country — posterity will wonder at the ingratitude of his own gen- 
eration. 

" By James Colwell. 

" An independent nation with independent right 
Secures to each a blessing, and gives to each delight, 
An independent dinner as we have had to-day, 
With the fairest of the fair that grace America ; 
We here do celebrate in peace and harmony. 
The 4th day of July, the 67th anniversary. 

" By R. R. Means — Citizen soldiers, the best safe-guard of republics ; as cit- 
izen soldiers our fathers gained our liberties ; and as citizen soldiers we will 
maintain them. 

" By James Pollock — The Public Lands — A fund provided by the wisdom 
and foresight of our ancestors for the people. It is high time to apply it to 
its legitimate object, and no longer suffer it to be used to corrupt the general 
Government. 

" By George Means — Our Republican Institutions — Founded by the wis- 
dom and virtue of our ancestors upon the broad basis of equal rights ; it is a 
sacred duty imposed upon us to guard them from pollution and transmit them 
unimpaired to our posterity. 

" By Emanuel Over — May Virtue, Liberty and Independence continue to 
characterize our happy nation, until the last shock of time shall bury the king- 
doms of the world in undistinguished ruin. 

" By Washington Stitt — Peace and honest friendship with all nations, en- 
tangling alliances with none. 

'• By R. D. Lawson, Esq. — The Ladies of this vicinity — Theirs is the hon- 
or of following the example of their Revolutionary mothers, by cheering the 
soldiers with their presence on all proper military occasions. 

" By Francis Hilliard — The 6th Battalion of Volunteers, gentlemen and 
tacticians; may they always maintain their high standing as soldiers so mer- 
itoriously gained. 

•' By Dr. J. M. Rankin — The memory of the illustrious dead. 

" By E. F. Lerch — May temperance, morality, and true repubHcanism ever 
pervade the minds of American people. 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 137 

" By Dr. J. A. Graff — American jurisdiction, American rights, and Amer- 
ican liberty ; may these glorious privileges ever be defended with American 
spirit. 

" By Jonas Flick — United independence of liberty, no submission of tyran- 
nical integrity, free-trade or eternal war. 

" By Adam Kester. 

" The best of all business is this, when we find 
Each man his own business himself for to mind, 
This carefully done each finds it is true, 
To mind his own business he's enough for to do ; 
Ihen take this advice, Independence prize high, 
And celebrate always the fourth of July. 

" By John Beck — The people of our glorious Union ; may Liberty and In- 
dependence run through and fill our breasts as the water fills the sea, and may 
all that are opposed to liberty be lathered with aquafortis and shaved with a 
handsaw. — 4 cheers and 100 guns." ^ 

" Grand Circular Fox Hunt. — We, the committee appointed at an ad- 
journed ' Circular Hunt,' held at Brinkerton, Saturday, 28th of January, i860, 
have agreed upon the following arrangement for a ' Grand Circular Fox Hunt/ 
to come off and be held and centre at John Brinker's, senr., on Saturday, loth 
March next. First it is agreed that the former boundaries be established, and 
further that the following persons be and were chosen Marshals of the day. 

" Col. P. Kerr, Grand Marshal, Assis't G. M., J. Y. McNutt, Wm. M. Ab- 
rams, T. F. Newell, J. Alexander, Dr. W. Reicherdt, J. P. Lyon, D. Maclay, 
W. T. Alexander, S. Young, C. L. Lamberton, Dr. J. T. Pritner, J. S. Turney 
J. Keatley, S. S. Jones, E. B. Orcutt, Dr. Jones, J. W. M'Nutt, Evans R. Brady. 
Brookville. 

" Marshals for the different points : 

" Point 1st — Greenville. J. K. Lowry, Jos. Craig, C. E. Patton, D. John- 
ston, D. Craig, Aug. Craig, G. C. Harvey, J. A. Ogden, J. Sloan, jr., H. Say- 
ers, H. Rhodes, Thos. Sloan, S. Baird. 

" Point 2d — Rynard's. Jos. Cochran, J. Orr, D. Henry, Jos. Aaron, jr., W. 
Cyphert, A. C}'phert, jr., J. Aaron, J. J. Orr, J. Rynard, H. Shultz, G. B. 
Mohney, G. Miller, D. Weckerly, P. Shingeldecker. 

" Point 3d — A. Rhodes's. Capt. Geo. Frazier, Jno. Wilson, J. Bish, J. S. 
Stahlman, A. Rhodes, A. Moore, J. Sayer, T. M'llheny, J. Rocky, S. Stewart, 

" Point 4th — Brown's. S. Peoples, Jas. Mercer, J. Shick, M. Lucas H. 
Eader, jr., J. M. M'WiUiams, H. Grube, A. Brown, N. Brown, H. Shick, F. D. 
Campbell, S. dinger, P. Ferringer, P. Myers, I. M'Farland. 

" Point 5th— Bowersock's. J. Hilliard, D. Silvis, J. Mohney, N. B. McWill- 
ams, G. Bowersock, Jos. Hilliard, A. Hilliard, J. W. Shaffer, L. Bigley, J. Big- 
ley, Jno. Sayers, jr., Chas. Sayers. 

1 Demoa-atic RegisUr, July 19, 1S43. 



138 History of Clarion County. 

" Point 6th— R. W. Nutt's. Jos. Appel, W. M'Nutt, A. Slagle, W. Slagle, 
J. A. Magee, D. Mohney, Jno. Himes, Jos. Conger, A. Shankle, Wm. Moore^- 
F. M'Nutt, S. Lowrie, J. Beaty, Sol. Silvis, Craig Sayers. 

"Point 7th — Musser's. A. Payne, Dr. Criswell, I. Musser, M'C. Henry, J. 
Latimer, J. Tosh, Jas. Goheen, W. Michael, W. Kirkpatrick, D. Goheen, Jas. 
Goheen. 

" Point 8th — S^. Charles Furnace. Dr. H. M. Wick, R. M. Corbett, Jos. 
Hutton, Guyer Delp, R. M'Cue, J. Kew, T. Helper, G. Pence, P. Knight, Wm. 
M'Clelland, J. Laughlin, Ab. Wyant, G. T. Henry, T. Armagost. 

Point 9th — Bittenbender's. H. Male, T. Henry, H. Boyles, P. Bittenbender, 
N. Lerch, W. S. Beck, C. Brinker, G. Hamm, P. K. Hamm, W. L. Johnson, 
J. Bittenbender, C. M'Nutt. 

" Point lOth — Churchville. W. Miller, J. Armstrong, J. Edmonds, J. E. 
Kaster, J. Lee, Jos. Hamm, D. B. Hamm, L. Pritner, M. Turney, A. Fox, S. 
Newell, D. Sarby, J. Hamm. 

"Point iith — Delp's Cross Roads. Jos. Kuhns, T. Brown, G. K. Magee, 
H. R. Frampton, Maj. Keever, Robt. Henry, M. Fulton, G. W. Fulton, Wm. 
Irwin, P. Kribbs, Jacob Kifer, T. Parsons, sr., D. H. Parsons, David Small, J. 
Delp, Wm. Beaty, Jno. Bigley, R. Shirey. 

"Point 1 2th — Smith's Mills to place of beginning. Callen Painter, R. 
M'Cormick, Jno. Connor, J. G. M'Cammont, L. Guthrie, S. Pierce, G. Smith, 
T. Allison, B. Allison, T. Williams, Alf. Strickler, P. Williams, L. Gibson, H. 
Baker, Henry Eader, C. M. Sloan, Wm. C. Sloan, S. W. Jones. 

" The duty of each Grand Marshal shall be to confer with their assistants 
from each of the different points most convenient to their appointees, so as to 
start precisely at 10 o'clock, and scatter so as to form as perfect a circle as pos- 
sible, and travel in good order, stopping at straw circle within half a mile of 
closing point. Every person is prohibited from using fire-arms — no dogs are 
allowed to run loose until the inner circle is closed. A signal will be given at 
the proper time for closing, as well as starting in the morning. 

" The Bugle will commence sounding at Greenville, and sound both ways 
for the time of starting. 

" The lovers of sport are determined to have it, independent of what may 
be procured in the circle, having now on hand three live Foxes ; and offer two 
dollars a head for four more delivered uninjured, within a week of the chase, to 
the Committee. 1 

"James Steuart. 
John C. M'Nutt. 
John M. Brinker." 

To complete the series we will illustrate ; Politics (and the Art of Reporting) 
in '60 : 

1 Clarion Democrat, February 24, i860. 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 139 

" Strattanville Mass Meeting. — Decorations, Banners, Speeches, &c. 
— One of the greatest political gatherings ever witnessed in this county was 
held at Strattanville on Thursday, Oct. 25th. The weather for a few days pre- 
vious presented unfavorable indications, but that morning the Eastern horizon 
was illuminated by the rays of an October sun — casting its shadows over the 
Autumnal scenery, rendering to the expectant people the pleasing knowledge 
that the smiles of an all-wise Providence favored on this occasion their wishes. 

" In point of numbers as well as enthusiasm it has never been excelled in 
this county, even by the * grand, unterrified Democracy' of this 'Berks of the 
West' It was the inauguration of a series of meetings, that is destined to carry 
dismay into the ranks of the dissatisfied, discordant and belligerent nigger- 
driving Democracy of this county. This was the place of universal consent, 
where the great Republican Rally should be held, being the borough in the 
county giving the largest majority for the Gubernatorial and Congressional 
candidates. 

" The following call was published in the Banner, aside from a printed bill^ 
extensively circulated throughout this and the adjoining county : 

" ' Lincoln, Hamlin and Victory ! 

" 'Grand Mass Convention at Strattanville, on Thursday, October 25th, i860. 

" ' All persons in favor of Free Homes, Free Men and Free Speech, turn 
out in your might for Lincoln and Hamlin. The Wide Awakes of the whole 
country will be present. And a Grand Torch Light Procession will take place 
in the evening, &c.' 

" It was the most impressive, spirited, dignified and picturesque manifesta- 
tion that has ever been made by the people of this county to the hearty devotion 
of the interests of that party which will protect the laboring man in all branches 
of industry. The very appearance of so many true, honest voters, avowing 
together their adherences to that mighty man of Springfield, Illinois, who will 
guide the Ship of State for four years, hereafter, was calculated to excite in 
the minds of earnest Republicans and liberal Democrats, great enthusiasm. 

"Great credit is due to the citizens of Strattanville for the manner in which 
they acquitted themselves. By persistent, hard work, they accomplished what 
is done in few towns of the same population. Despite the unfavorable reports 
as to numbers, they prepared to receive all in such a manner that demonstrated 
their feelings were enlisted in the cause ; and we are glad to announce they 
rendered universal satisfaction. From personal observation, we can attest to 
their ceaseless working on the day and night of Wednesday — not to mention 
the preceding days, of which we are credibly informed were wholly occupied 
in preparing devices, emblems and decorations, which we will describe here- 
after. 

" At an early hour the different avenues leading to the village were thronged 



140 History of Clarion County. 

with gaily dressed men and women (in their holiday attire), to witness the gor- 
geous spectacle existing in their imaginations, which was soon after exempli- 
fied in reality. By 10 o'clock the different delegations approached, added con- 
tinually to the increasing procession ; and the never ceasing shouts that went 
up from thousands of voices, greeting their brother Republicans in thunder- 
tones, bespoke in stronger Saxon than we can indite with the feeble pen, that 
the people of Clarion county, in sympathy with other Democratic strongholds, 
desired to relieve that old Corrupt Public Functionary from his position, and 
substitute a man capable of administering the Government on principles — not 
sectionally. The display confirmed it. It was a scene that will not be eradi- 
cated from the minds of those who witnessed it until they cross the deep valley 
whose shadow is death. 

" The streets were lined with ladies, attired in costume most becoming for 
the day, presenting a sight of rare beauty ; and the bevy of ladies congregated 
in different places added animation to the scene, and this gave an emphatic 
recognition to the claims of Abraham Lincoln from the ladies of Clarion county, 
whose waving handkerchiefs gave an impetus to the gathering. With excus- 
able inefficiency the marshals were unable to get the vast crowd together be- 
fore the hands of the clock pointed to the hour of one. Before giving an outline 
of the procession, we will briefly describe the decorations of the town : At the 
Western end there was a wreath suspended across the street, on which were 
five circular wreaths, and ' Lincoln ' in letters 14 inches in length, composed of 
evergreens. Farther down, near the center of the town were two beautiful 
arches extending across the street, with round wreaths hanging to the middle 
and sides. Below this is a 40 foot flag inscribed ' Lincoln and Hamlin, Presi- 
dent and Vice President.' In the Eastern portion of the town there was an 
arch differing from the others in regard to shape, they all being composed of 
hemlock branches. Also a wreath with no inscription ; another arch beauti- 
fully prepared, requiring much labor to get it up, with ' Lincoln ' in letters 
composed of spruce. Several private houses were adorned in a manner highly 
creditable to the cause. The speaker's stand in the centre of town was embel- 
lished by a long wreath, two circular wreaths and an arch, composed of ever- 
greens and Autumnal flowers. One full length steel engraving of Washington, 
one of Henry Clay, a bust of Washington, &c. 

" At last Grand Marshal Barber succeeded in bringing into line the follow- 
ing delegations (assisted by 21 marshals.) Sligo and Curllsville Wide Awakes, 
under command of H. W. Longwell, drawn by six two horse teams ; one team 
of four horses. Caps, capes, lamp posts, miner's lamps, &c., preceded by the 
Clarion brass band. Then came the Clarion township delegation drawn by 
one six horse team ; two wagons ; forty-four one horse buggies ; three two- 
horse carriages, bearing banners with various mottoes, which, in the hurry of 
ihe moment we were unable to procure. Next followed the Jefferson county 



From Iron Era to Civil War. 141 

delegation, which consisted of nine yoke of oxen drawing one wagon, contain- 
ing two men making shingles, which were distributed along the streets, calling 
forth the loudest plaudits from the assembled thousands; one four-horse team ; 
six two horse wagons ; two Phaetons; one rockaway; two one horse carriages ; 
twenty- three horseback riders. We might just here say, that on account of 
all appearing equally well, it would be difficult to bestow praise on any one 
delegation. 

" Next followed the Porter and Limestone township delegations (majority 
being from Porter). This consisted of five assistant marshals ; four, four-horse 
teams, finely decorated with evergreens, bearing flags with appropriate mottoes, 
among which we noticed ' Hurrah for the Rail-Splitter.' Two teams of two 
horses each ; one buggy ; then came in order ten ladies on horseback from 
Strattanville — Helen and Mill Creek townships came in with a band of music ; 
ten men on foot ; four marshals ; fifteen yoke of oxen, driver for each yoke. 
The Garibaldi Wide Awake Club, of Strattanville next appeared, drawn by six 
horses, in three teams, without uniform. (This company having sent off for 
the regalia, were disappointed in receiving it in time for this occasion). The 
Strattanville brass band drawn by four horses was followed by two wagons, 
filled with the precious freight of thirty-three little girls, in snow white dresses, 
representing the several States ; and one other larger girl on horseback, dressed 
in mourning, emblematical of Kansas, entirely deprived of admittance into the 
Glorious Confederacy of these United States on account of her hostility to 
Democracy ; twelve young ladies did a considerable quilting, which attracted 
much attention, and they were frequently greeted with cheers. A regular 
* blacksmith shop ' was erected on a wagon drawn by two horses. Another 
wagon contained a saddler making girths, and during the time consumed in 
marching and counter-marching, we learned twenty-two were manufactured ; 
also in this conveyance was a boot and shoemaker, who endeavored to keep 
up the reputation of the ' craft ' for work. Five men in one wagon following 
— were engaged at the various trades enumerated below. One geared a wheel ; 
another put together a bedstead, with an assistant ; while the fourth prepared 
a threshing machine cylinder with a chisel, the crank being turned by the fifth. 
All the mechanics in the last wagon described wore white hats, to the infinite 
amusement of the entire party. Immediately following was represented an oil 
derrick, in full tide of successful operation, attracting from its novelty much 
attention. The grand feature of the day was thirty-two yoke of oxen, drawing 
a wagon containing the rail- splitters, who mauled plenty of rails and distrib- 
uted them along the streets, each yoke of oxen attended by a driver, with 
chapeaus a la Napoleon. For want of space we are compelled to omit a de- 
scription of several wagons. The Pike Furnace Wide Awakes made a very 
creditable display, belated it is true, but on account of the distance they came 
were received more cordially. In the evening, after the torch-light procession 
10 



142 History of Clarion County. 

the citizens of Strattanville tendered them a supper, which was accepted and 
passed off finely. They were forty-eight in number, accompanied by a mar- 
tial band ; five two horse teams ; one four horse wagon — horses adorned with 
plumes tipped with red. They counted ninety-six wagons and buggies as the 
several delegations came in, but in the large procession they were not all out, 
as the more timid expressed their fears of accommodations in the thronged 
condition of the town. 

" The crowd was variously estimated, and conflicting opinions expressed in 
regard to the number of thousands, but we will not discuss that point here. 
At length after the 'inner man ' was bountifully supplied, the assembled thou- 
sands congregated about the stand ; Sanmel Wilson, of Strattanville, called the 
meeting to order by appointing Hon. C. Myers, President, who was assisted by 
a large number of Vice Presidents ; several Secretaries were nominated, and 
took their respective stations. The President returned thanks for the honor of 
presiding over so vast an assemblage of Republicans, and congratulated them 
on the result of the last election — he would not make a speech (cries of go on) 
to the great crowd here ; if there were but twenty of them present in a log 
school-house he could do better. He then introduced G. W. Lathy, Esq., who 
was received with three hearty cheers. He delivered in an hour one of his 
learned, powerful and pleasing speeches on the various topics of the day, which 
was listened to with great attention ; we are sorry our space will not permit 
us to publish it entire, as furnished us — together with the synopsis of the other 
speeches. Mr. Hickok, Ex-State Superintendent, then followed. The balance 
of the speakers were Messrs. Finley, Craig, Amos Myers, C. Myers, of Clarion, 
and M. A. Dowling, of Jefferson. 

" The torch-light procession was a brilliant display, although it was not so 
large as expected, being one hundred and sixty lamps and twenty-two trans- 
parencies. The proceedings did not terminate until a late hour." ^ 



CHAPTER Xni. 

THE SOLDIERS OF CLARION COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.2 

Introduction. 

IT has been said that human history never has been and never can be written. 
Let this sentiment here apply. The history of Clarion county's soldiers 
never has been written, and it never can be written in such a manner as justly 

1 Clarion Banner 'November 2, i860. 

2 This and the following chapters, giving the history of Clarion County military organizations in 
the War of the Rebellion, are ]ireparecl by Mr. W. A. Beer. 



Clarion County in the Rebellion. 143 

to pass down to future generations all that was done by them worthy of emu- 
lation, or deserving of condemnation. 

Every community has a history ; which history, if written, would not all be 
clean, honest, noble, and inspiring. It could not be. A true history is a record 
of motives and purposes that bring about events, as well as a record of tran- 
spired events. Alas ! too often, therefore, history, if truly written, would bear 
upon its pages the sophistical palaver of the knave, and the untempered har- 
angues of the fool ; the unjust murmurings of disappointed ambition, and the 
unwept tears of broken-hearted love ; the midnight skulkings of the coward^ 
and the inhuman acts of the villain and the murderer. 

Concerning a community of 24,988 souls, which was the population of 
Clarion county in i860, posterity would .scarcely expect to find the history of 
that community's nearly three •thousand soldiers to be entirely without some 
of those darker pages. As they went forth to the struggle well might it be 
said : 

Some few may cause a noble wife to weep ; 

Some few may break a mother's Spartan heart ; 
Some few may fail their martial vows to keep ; 

Some few, too weak, may play the coward's part ; 
But see the Heroes in that band ! 

Heroes, indeed ! The writer has in mind instances of suffering and devotion, 
of patriotism and bravery, and of complete and perfect manliness as exempli- 
fied by the lives of some Clarion county soldiers, that would stand in splendor 
on history's page side by side with the most notable exploits of the soldiers of 
Miltiades at Marathon, or those of Leonidas at Thermopylae, or of those of 
Napoleon at Austerlitz. It is a truth of history, for which every true son of 
Clarion county has cause to be proud, that the number of dishonest men, cow- 
ards, or worse men, who went to the war from Clarion county was exceedingly 
small. 

Believing that human inspirations and aspirations are identical the world 
over, when human beings stand on the same plane of civilization and enlio-ht- 
enment, it is reasonable to conclude that soine of our soldiers entered the army 
for gain, and some for mere adventure. It has been so in all time. Men have, 
in other times, walked over the ground sanctified by the blood of the slain, to 
gather indications of a " deal," and why not some of these ? Men have, in 
other times, shared the prison of comrades and intensified that prison's damnable 
memories by setting unnatural and unholy prices upon that which they had 
" to sell " to a suffering companion, and why not some of these ? Men Have 
in other times, stolen a fellow soldier's meager pay, or stolen away from duty' 
willing to be known as a '/ deserter," and why not some of these ? 

Some did make for themselves records like these in the memories of their 
comrades, and that fact emphasizes the grandeur of the lives of the great ma- 
jority, who had kindled upon their hearthstones the fires of patriotism long 
before they ever thought of seeing them burn upon the battle-field ; who would 



144 History of Clarion County. 

scorn to traffic for profit where the dead were buried or where the wounded 
suffered, while they were not armed and equipped to defend the flag ; who 
shared their last pinch of salt, for nothing, with a comrade ; who would sooner 
die than rob a soldier ; and who would rather stand by the flag and suffer than 
forsake it. 

The following rolls are an eloquent tribute to the twenty-nine hundred men 
and more whose names constitute the honor roll of Clarion county. The man 
who deserted because he expected to get " bounty " by returning, certainly de- 
served a death ignominious. The man who fled the carnival of death because 
of mortal terror, deserved to be pitied. God made him as he was. The man 
who forsook the flag, fearing that his loved ones at home would not be cared 
for, might well renounce his share of the government in which he had not faith 
.enough to trust it with his all. These things are all a part of the history of 
the wars in which mankind participates. 

To judge of the deed, the motive should be known, so if by the following 
pages any one soldier is shown in the light of facts to have been not a true sol- 
dier, it is hoped that the mantle of charity will be thrown over the errors of 
both the living and the dead, to the end that the descendants of the dead may 
not feel the iron in their souls, but may be loyal, patriotic, brave and useful 
citizens ; and that the undutiful living may live down the mistakes of the past 
and bequeath to their children a correct conception of duty to our country. 

The noble women of Clarion county who kept watch by day and vigil by 
night during these four deathless years, deserve a more fitting tribute than this 
poor pen can give. Their reward is for the future. 

The sturdy yeomanry who remained at home to work and to encourrge the 
bereaved ones, and care for the widow and the orphan, and do the duties that 
devolved upon them as civilians, are worthy of commendation, and no true history 
will question the motives or challenge the sentiments of that honorable class of 
our population, unless perhaps it might be to call in question the loyalty of some 
particular individual or individuals. With the hope that this sketch of the mil- 
itary achievements of the men of Clarion county may have a correct influence 
upon posterity, it is respectfully dedicated to the soldiers of Clarion county, by 
their friend, THE Author. 



Company H, 37TH Regiment. 145 

CHAPTER XIV. 

COMPANY H, THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT — EIGHTH RESERVE, 
Organization — Service in the Field — Roll of the Company. 

COMPANY H, of the Eighth Reserve, was the first company recruited in 
Clarion county with a view to entering the war. It was recruited at Strat- 
tanville April 30, 1 861, by Captain William Lemon, at which time fifty-four men 
joined the company. ^ Before being mustered into the State service at Pitts- 
burgh, about the 28th of June, the company was increased to seventy-five men, 
and when mustered into the United States service at Washington on Meridian 
Hill, July 27, 1861, it numbered eighty-four men. 

Company H was recruited for the three months service and proceeded from 
Clarion to Camp Wilkins near Pittsburgh. It was not accepted. It removed 
from Camp Wilkins to Camp Wright, twelve miles above Pittsburgh on the 
Allegheny River. Here it remained with forty-two other companies, which 
had been recruited for three months service, but not accepted. None of the 
companies, except those belonging to the Erie Regiment, had any regimental 
organization. Colonel John W. McClane was in command of the camp. Early 
in June General McCall visited the camp and selected the companies to form 
the Eighth Regiment. Captain Lemon's company was designated as Company 
H of this regiment, and on the 28th of June it was organized and officered as 
follows : George S. Hays, M. D., of Allegheny county, colonel ; S. D. OH- 
phant, lieutenant-colonel, and J. B. Gardner, major. 

The regiment having been armed and uniformed at Camp Wright, it was 
ordered to Washington on the 20th of July. By rail it went to Harrisburg; 
there it received other equipments, and proceeded thence to Baltimore. At 
Baltimore it received tents, and then went on to Washington, where it arrived 
July 23, and went into camp on Meridian Hill, where it was mustered into the 
service of the United States, July 27. 

It remained here till August 2, when it was ordered to the Reserve Camp 
at Tenallytown. At Tenallytown the Eighth was assigned to the First Brigade, 
commanded by Brigadier General John F. Reynolds. At this time the Eighth 
numbered eight hundred and ninety men, armed with muskets of improved 
pattern and with rifles. Company H numbered eighty-two men ; it had eighty- 
four when mustered in July 27, but two had deserted July 29, leaving the num- 
ber stated. Soon after being assigned to the First Brigade the regiment was 
ordered to support the Seventh, which was on picket duty at Great Falls, and 
was being shelled vigorously by the enemy. The Eighth remained on duty in 

1 Bates says in roster of Company H, on page 778 that John H. Beck was recruited April i. This 
seems to be an error; however, it is not important, and if correct the company numbered fifty-five on 
the 30th of April. 



146 History of Clarion County. 

that vicinity several days, and during that time Company H was initiated into 
the hardships, but not into the horrors of war; that ordeal was reserved for it 
till after having experienced the vicissitudes of a winter in camp, as a part of 
a mighty invading army ; an army destined to be a triumphant and magnani- 
mous army, in the achievements of which Company H, with the other twenty- 
five companies recruited wholly or in part in Clarion county, was to bear such 
a part as could only be borne by an efficient organization of patriotic men. 

On the 9th of October the regiment crossed the Potomac to Langley, Va., 
and took position, with the division, in line with the Army of the Potomac. 
Here it went into winter quarters. While in its winter camp the Eighth was 
thoroughly drilled and instructed by its officers. On the 20th of December, 
the regiment, with the brigade, marched five miles to Difficult Creek, but hear- 
ing the guns of the enemy who had engaged the Third Brigade at Dranesville, 
General Reynolds started with his brigade on a double quick to assist General 
Ord. He reached the field in time to see the steady fire of Ord's victorious 
troops scatter the rebels and drive them from the field. 

After breaking up winter quarters the regiment moved to Hunter's Mills, 
and, under orders to concentrate to embark for the Peninsula, thence to Alex- 
andria. While encamped at Alexandria the division was attached to McDow- 
ell's First Corps, and remained in front of Washington, going from Alexandria 
to Manassas, thence to Warrenton Junction, and thence to Falmouth. From 
Falmouth, Reynolds moved across the river and occupied Fredericksburg, and 
then commenced an advance on the Richmond and Potomac Railroad. The 
brigade was then recalled, and sent by water to the Peninsula. The regiment 
landed at White House, and joined McClellan's army at Gaines's Mill. 

Meantime on the 20th of May, 1862, before embarking. Lieutenant Wetter, 
of Company H, was promoted to adjutant. Adjutant Wetter was well known 
throughout Clarion county as Major Wetter. 

June 26, 1862, at Mechanicsville, the Eighth entered upon its stern work of 
offering human life upon its country's altar. On that day began the terrible 
experience of guard, and march, and struggle^ and bivouac for Company H. 

During the Seven Days' fight Company H had some severe fighting at Me- 
chanicsville, Gaines's Mill, White Oak Swamp, and Charles City Cross Roads. 
Colonel Lemon, Adjutant Wetter, and Lieutenant A. H. Beck were wounded 
at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, 1862. Adjutant Wetter was subse- 
quently wounded, with loss of leg, at Thoroughfare Gap, August 18, 1862, and 
■ he resigned December 28, r863. Colonel Lemon was mustered out with the 
regiment. May 24, 1864. 

At Bull Run, Hiram McKendree was killed August 29. At South Moun- 
tain the company was engaged, and Wolfgang Heppinger was killed Septem- 
ber 14. At Antietam the Eighth occupied the center, being with General 
Meade. The artillery fire of the enemy beat back the Reserve with severe loss. 



Company H. 37TH Regiment. 147 

Company H had Daniel Barr killed, and Jacob Noll and William A. Sipler 
wounded, September 17. 

At Fredericksburg, December 13, the loss of the company was as follows: 
Colonel Lemon, Captain Keatley, Wilson M. Dorey, Joseph Owen, and Joseph 
Hoover, all wounded. Owen lost a leg, and Hover died from his wounds. 

During the battle of the Wilderness Company H had the following wounded : 
Stephen D. Myers, William Crooks, Daniel McNany, William O'Brien, and 
Warren Whitehill. George W. Stover was wounded at Spottsylvania Court 
House, May 12, 1864. 

During the time the company was in service the following died from wounds 
received in battle. The dates and names of the battles are unknown to the 
writer : Robert Cunningham, John Peters, and William B. Showers. The fol- 
lowing were discharged for wounds ; date and battle not known : A. J. Gallo- 
way, A. M. Brenneman, Carson R. Crisman, Calvin Basim, loss of leg ; Albert 
J. Goble, J. W. Henderson, William Maloney, John M. Ross, John H. Sweeney, 
John H. Vensil, Daniel Walters, and John Young. 

The company went out with eighty-four men. It received six recruits. 
Captain William Lemon and Lieutenant Wetter were promoted to field offi- 
cers. Twenty-nine were wounded, four were killed — one accidentally and 
three in battle ; four died from wounds ; eleven died of disease ; twelve were 
discharged for wounds, and seven for other causes ; twenty-five were trans- 
ferred ; one was taken prisoner ; one was not on the muster-out roll ; five re- 
signed ; three deserted ; and twenty-one, including the one prisoner, were mus- 
tered out with the regiment May 24, 1864. Lieutenant Beck and Lieutenant 
Dunkle have both been sheriff of Clarion county. 

The following roll of Company H is from Vol. I of Bates's " Pennsylvania 
Volunteers " ■}- 

Roll of Company H, Thitry-seventh Regiment — Eighth Reserve. 2 

William Lemon, captain, April 30, 1861, three years; wounded at Charles 
City Cross Roads and Fredericksburg ; promoted to lieutenant-colonel March 
10, 1863. 

James Keatley, captain, April 30, '61, three years; promoted from private 
to sergeant August 20, 1861 ; to captain March 10, 1863 ; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862 ; mustered out with the company May 24, 1864. 

J. N. Hetherington, first lieutenant, April 30, 1861, three years; resigned 
October 10, 1861. 

Alfred T. Clark, jr., first lieutenant, April 30, 1861, three years; promoted 
from sergeant-major October 10, 1861 ; resigned October 25, 1862. 

Anthony H. Beck, first lieutenant April 30, 186 1, three years; promoted 

1 In these rolls of the companies the name is followed by a brief record which gives rank, date of 
muster, term of service, promotion, wounds, &c. 

2 Copied from Bates. 



148 History of Clarion County. 

to sergeant May 2, 1 861, to first lieutenant March i, 1863 ; wounded at Charles 
City Cross Roads June 30, 1862 ; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

B. B. Dunkle, second lieutenant, April 30, 1861, three years; resigned 
November 16, 1861. 

Henry Wetter, second lieutenant, April 30, 1861, three years; promoted 
from first sergeant to second lieutenant November 16, 1861, to adjutant May 
20, 1862. 

Joseph M. Owens, second lieteunant, April 30, 1861, three years ; promoted 
from private to sergeant July 29, 1861'; to second Heutenant August i, 1862; 
wounded, with loss of leg, at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862; resigned 
April 14, 1863. 

H. R. Brenneman, second lieutenant, April 30, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant, July i, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

George E. Cowan, first sergeant, April 30, 1861, three years ; promoted to 
first sergeant, transferred to One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., 
May 15, 1864, veteran. 

A. J. Galloway, sergeant, April 30. 1861, three years; discharged January 
15, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

John Monace, sergeant, April 30, 1 861, three years; promoted to sergeant, 
transferred to the One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 
1864, veteran. 

J. M. Rankin, sergeant, June 24, 1861, three years; promoted to sergeant, 
transferred to the One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 
1864, veteran. 

Stephen D. Myers, sergeant, April 30, 1861, three years; wounded at Wil- 
derness May 8, 1864; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

George W. Stover, sergeant, April 30, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania Court House ; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

A. M. Brenneman, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged Feb- 
ruary 4, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

S. R. Stratton, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years; transferred to Reg- 
imental Band, July 20, 1861. 

Joseph Dolby, corporal, April 30, 186 1, three years; accidentally killed 
October 10, 186 1. 

J. R. Whitman, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years ; discharged July 11, 
1862. 

Jasper N. Maxwell, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged July 
II, 1862. 

Carson R. Crisman, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged 
March 30, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

William Crooks, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years ; wounded at Wilder- 
ness May 6, 1864; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 



Company H, 37TH Regiment. 149 

James Greer, corporal, April 30, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company May 24, 1864. 

Anderson, Robert, private, April 30, 1861, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Agnew, John, private, July 21, 1861, three years; deserted, date unknown. 

Bender, Henry, private, July i, 1861, three years ; mustered out with com- 
pany May 24, 1864. 

Burns, Samuel R., private, July 24, 1861, three years ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, December 14, 1863. 

Brua, Henry W., private, April 30, 1861, three years; transferred to the 
One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Boyles, Irwin, private, February 26, 1 864, three years ; transferred to the 
One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 1864. 

Basim, Calvin, private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged December 
6, 1862, for wounds received in action. 

Beck, John H., private, April i, 1861, three years; died August 7, 1862. 

Barr, Daniel, private, July i, 1861, three years ; killed at Antietam Sep- 
tember 17, 1862. 

Callihan, Harvey, private, April 30, 1861, three years; died October 10, 
1861 ; buried in the Military Asylum Cemetery at D. C. 

Cunningham, Robert, private, June 14, 1861, three years; died September 
17, 1862, from wounds received in action. 

Davis, Andrew J., private, June 24, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company May 24, 1864. 

Dorey, Wilson M., private. May 18, 1861, three years; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862 ; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

Dolby, Charles, private, April 30, 1861, three years ; died October 8, 1861. 

Furman, W. W., private, April 20, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Frazier, George W., private, June 24, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety- first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Frazier, Philip, private, July 21, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Free, Benjamin, private, July i, 1861, three years ; transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Fox, Jacob D., private, April 30, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Fulton, Reed W., private, March 4, 1864, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety- first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 1864. 

Fulton, Wm. T., private, March 4, 1864, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., May 15, 1864. 

Goble, Albert J., private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged April 
22, 1863, fo^ wounds received in action. 



I50 History of Clarion Count v. 

Girt, David, private, June 22, 1861, three years; deserted July 29, 1861. 

Hall, James, private, April 30, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany May 24, 1864. 

Henderson, J. W., private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged Febru- 
ary 7, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

Henderson, John W., private. May 6, 1864, three years ; not on muster out 
roll. 

Horton, James, private, April 30, 1861, three years; transferred to Battery 
E, Fourth U. S. Artillery, September i, 1862. 

Hepinger, Wolfgang, private, April 30, 1861, three years; killed at South 
Mountain September 14, 1862. 

Hoover, Joseph, private, April 30, 1861, three years; died January 4, 18631 
from wounds received at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1861. 

Kilgore, Hugh L., private, April 30, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company May 24, 1864. 

Kelly, Thomas, private, July i, 1861, three years; transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Ninty-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Linegrover, James, private, May 18, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company May 24, 1864. 

Laughner, Nathan, private, June 14, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

McNany, Daniel, private, June 14, 1861, three years ; wounded at Wilder- 
ness May 8, 1864; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

McKibbens, John, private, April 30, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company May 24, 1864. 

McNaughton, Dun, private, July 21, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate November 26. 1862. 

Maloney, William, private, June 24, 1861, three years; discharged Decem- 
ber I, 1862, for wounds received in action. 

Mortimer, John R., private, June 24, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Moody, Silas D., private, June 24, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninty-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

McKendree, Hiram, private, April 30, 1861, three years ; killed at Bull Run 
August 30, 1862. 

Noll, Jacob, private, April t,o, 1861, three years; wounded at Antietam 
September 17, 1862 ; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

Noll, George, private, September 26, 1861, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninty-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

O'Brien, William, private, June i, 1861, three years; wounded at Wilder- 
ness May 8, 1864 ; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

Potter, George, private, April 30, 1861, three years; transferred to regi- 
mental band July 12, 1861. 



Company H, 37TH Regiment. 151 



Potter Henry, private, April 30, 1 861, three years ; died at Camp Pierpont, 

Va., November 9, 1861. 

Pritner, Camden A., private, April 30, 1861, three years; died at Camp 

Pierpont, Va., February i, 1862. 

Peters, John, private, July i, 1 861, three years; died October 3, 1862, of 
wounds received in action ; buried in National Cemetery, Antietam, sec. 26, 
lot F, grave 568. 

Ross, James, private, June i, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate September 24, 1862. 

Ross, John M., private, June 20, 1861, three years ; discharged January 22, 
1863, for wounds received in action. 

Rheese, Samuel H., private, March 3, 1864, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninty-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864, veteran. 

Sipler, William A., private, June 14, 1861, three years ; wounded at Anti- 
etam September 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

Showers, Lewis, private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate October 9, 1 86 1. 

Sweeny, John H., private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged Janu- 
ary 27, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

Shaner, Leander, private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate February 16, 1863. 

Shull, John, private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate February 14, 1863. 

Stroup, James, private, April 30, 1861, three years ; transferred to Company 
B, Sixth U. S. Cavalry. September i, 1862. 

Sample, James, private, June 14, 1 861, three years; died at Camp Pierpont, 
Va., December 21, 1861. 

Showers, William B., private, April 30, 1861, three years; died July 5, 
1862, of wounds received in action. 

Stover, Thomas, private, June 14, 1861, three years ; deserted July 29, 1861. 

Templeton, William, private, July 21, 1861, three years ; prisoner from May 
8, to May 12, 1864; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

Vensel, John H., private, April 30, 1861, three years ; discharged February 
20, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

Wilson, Harrison B., private, April 30, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company May 24, 1864. 

Whitehill, Warren, private, April 30, 1861, three years; wounded at Wil- 
derness May 8, 1864 ; mustered out with company May 24, 1864. 

Walters, Daniel, private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged January 
15, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

Wilson, Sylvester, private, April 30, 1 861, three years; died at Camp Pier- 
pont, Va., December 14, 1861. 



152 History of Clarion County. 

Young, John, private, April 30, 1861, three years; discharged December 
22, 1862, for wounds received in action. 

Yingling, John, private, January 5, 1864, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., May 15, 1864. 



CHAPTER XV. 

COMPANY E, THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT —TENTH RESERVE. 

Organization — Route to the Field — Service in the Field — Losses — Rocord of Hugh 
Wilson — Roll of Company. 

ON Friday of the May court in 1861, Brigadier- General R. Laughlin, com- 
manding the First Brigade of the Twelfth Division of the Pennsylvania 
Militia, organized a company at Clarion under the militia act of 1849. The com- 
pany was named the "Clarion River Guards," and J. B. Knox, esq., was chosen 
captain. General Laughlin had letters from the brigade inspector to proceed with 
the organization of companies in the absence of that officer. The Clarion River 
Guards encamped at Curllsville with other companies of the brigade early in 
June, 1 86 1. Captain Knox was commissioned in the State service on the 14th 
of June, and on the 24th of June he sent out written orders from Clarion to the 
members of the company which he had recruited, notifying them to report at 
that town, and be ready to move to Pittsburgh on the 1st of July. Almost 
the entire company reported, and they proceeded by way of Reidsburg and 
Curllsville to Watterson's Ferry, where they got aboard an old canal boat, and 
floated down the Allegheny River to Kittanning. From there they proceeded 
by rail to Camp Wright, where they arrived on the 3d of July. On the 4th 
the company took a holiday, and most of the men spent the day in Pittsburgh, 
as Camp Wright was only twelve miles above the city. On the 5th of July 
eighty-one men of the Guards were sworn into the service of the State, making 
with Captain Knox, a total of eighty-two men. 

On the 15th of July the company was joined by fifteen other members, who, 
being mustered in, increased the roster of the company to ninety- seven men ; 
officered as follows : J. B. Knox, captain ; David R. Craig, first lieutenant ; Val- 
entine Phipps, second lieutenaut; and other officers as noted in the roster which 
follows this sketch. 

At Camp Wright the Clarion River Guards were assigned to the Tenth 
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, and designated as Company E. The Tenth 
had been partly organized in the latter part of June at Camp Wilkins, also near 
Pittsburgh. Camp Wilkins was very unhealthful on account of its uncleanli- 



Company E, 39TH Regiment. 153 

ness ; however, good, wholesome rations were plentifully and regularly supplied, 
and immediately after entering camp the men were supplied with a superior 
grade of blankets. That portion of the regiment which had assembled at Camp 
Wilkins removed to Camp Wright on the 1st of July, and on the arrival of 
those troops which completed the regiment, the organization was perfected, and 
the officers who had been elected at Camp Wilkins proceeded to drill and dis- 
cipline the troops. The officers were, colonel, John S. McCalmont, a regular 
^army officer, from Venango county, also a West Point graduate; lieutenant- 
colonel, James T. Kirk, formerly captain of Company D ; and major, Harrison 
Allen, formerly captain of Company H. 

The regiment was ordered to Cumberland, Md., July 18. It proceeded to 
Huntingdon, thence to Bedford Springs, by rail. Here the order was counter- 
manded and the regiment was dispatched hastily to Harrisburg where it was 
mustered into the United States service July 21, antedating all other Clarion 
county companies in that respect. Captain Lemon's company was the first 
recruited, the first in camp, the first to enter the State service, and the first to 
reach Washington, but Captain Knox's company was the first to enter the 
United States service. It was mustered in the same day the battle of Bull Run 
was fought, and on account of the anxiety and suspense, it was hurriedly taken 
to Baltimore late in the afternoon of July 22. It took possession of the open 
square near the depot and bivouacked there till the evening of July 23, when 
with loaded guns and fixed bayonets it marched to the common south of the 
city. July 24 it went on to Washington. At the depot it met some New 
York troops who had been in the battle of Bull Run. The sight of these 
wounded and maimed men produced a profound impression on the members of 
the Tenth, and they then began to realize the terrible work upon which they 
were entering. 

The regiment marched about a mile east of the capitol and encamped. On 
the 1st of August it left this place and proceeded to the reserve camp at Tenal- 
lytown. It served a week on picket duty at Great Falls early in September. 
The regiment was drilled at Camp Tenally, and it also observed the usual camp 
duty. General McCall pronounced it well drilled. It was assigned to the 
Third Brigade. Colonel McCalmont first commanded the brigade, but was suc- 
ceeded by Brigadier- General E. O. C. Ord. The regiment marched into Vir- 
ginia and took position in line with the army October 10. On the 20th of 
December the brigade engaged the enemy, under Stuart at Dranesville. The 
skirmish began a little past noon and resulted in a Federal victory, which had 
a good effect on the army, as it served to counteract the bad effect produced 
by the Union disaster at Ball's Bluff, October 21. The Tenth sustained no loss 
at Dranesville. Major Allen resigned February 14, on account of ill health, 
and Adjutant Sion B. Smith was elected major. He was succeeded by Ser- 
geant-Major O. H. Gaither, who was appointed adjutant. 



154 History of Clarion County. 

After several weeks spent in moving from place to place in the early springy 
of 1862, the Reserves were attached to General McDowell's command, which 
was charged with the defense of Washington. They were now lying in the vi- 
cinity of Fredericksburg, which place they had reached via Alexandria, Fair- 
fax, Centreville, and Manassas. While in the neighborhood of Fredericksburg 
General Ord was transferred from the command of the Third Brigade to the 
command of a division, and Brigadier-General Truman Seymour succeeded to 
the command of the Third Brigade. Colonel McCalmont resigned May 9, and 
Lieutenant- Colonel James T. Kirk was elected to succeed him. Captain A. J. 
Warner, of Company G, was elected lieutenant-colonel. The regiment was de- 
tached from McDowell's Corps, and ordered to reinforce General McClellan on 
the Peninsula. It went by water to the White House on the Pamunky. Hav- 
ing marched from the White House to the vicinity of Mechanicsville, the Tenth 
was attached to the corps commanded by General Fitz John Porter, which oc- 
cupied the left bank of the Chickahominy. The battle of Mechanicsville was 
fought on the 26th of June. In that sanguinary struggle Company E received 
its first baptism of fire, and was consecrated to the cause of the Union by the 
blood of the first of its members who were killed in battle. 

During the battle of Mechanicsville the Tenth lay close to the right of the 
road leading into Mechanicsville. It faced up the Chickahominy, and looked 
down into Beaver Dam Creek, which flows into the Chickahominy a short dis- 
tance below the bridge over which the road passes which has just been men- 
tioned. The Ninth lay on the left of the Tenth and connected with it at the 
road near the bridge, where there was an embankment by an old mill. The 
Union troops were on this side of Beaver Dam Creek facing Mechanicsville, and 
the Confederates on the Mechanicsville side. The creek is here sluggish. On 
both sides of it the ground is swampy, and was at that time covered with a 
growth of underwood. On the Mechanicsville side the distance from the brow 
of the hill down the slope to the creek bottom is about eighty rods. Down 
this slope the enemy would have to march to attack the Federal troops. 
Meantime the Tenth had improved its time by digging rifle pits along the slope 
on its side of the creek. This was its first experience in that line of duty. 
The work was directed by Captain McDaniel, of Company D, and Lieutenant 
Joseph B. Pattee, of Company B. As soon as they were completed a portion 
of the regiment was posted in these pits, while another part was placed in posi- 
tion in the woods to the right of them. Company C and Company I were put 
forward as skirmishers. Just in the rear of the Tenth was stationed Easton's 
Battery. Thus stood facing each other, these two portions of two great armies. 
They were soon to enact the first carnival of death in which many of them had 
ever borne a part, and as the men nervously, fearfully, resolutely, and bravely 
grasped their weapons of death and anxiously awaited the moment when the 
awful silence would be broken, it indeed seemed to many of them the " pause 
of carnage — the brink of fate." 



Company E, 39TH Regiment. 155 

The Confederates advanced down the slope on the Mechanicsville side of 
the creek, along the road and through the fields ; but scarcely had they began 
the descent when Easton's Battery belched forth its iron hail and poured into 
their ranks a rapid and constant fire. Still on they came until within rifle range, 
when they were met with a terrible fire from the rifle pits and from the banks 
along the old mill dam. 

They fought hard, but human flesh and blood could not endure such terrible 
slaughter, and they were forced back up the slope. They rallied and came on 
again to the attack ; struggling desperately and frantically to turn the tide of 
victory toward their hoped for Confederacy. They concentrated their efforts 
to pass the bridge and break the Union line, but they were met by men as 
brave and efficient as themselves. Every attack was repulsed with remarkable 
vigor by the Ninth and the Tenth, and with broken columns and slaughtered 
warriors, the enemy was driven from the field, when night mercifully put an end 
to the conflict. The enemy had gained nothing in this battle, and the result 
was due largely to the Reserve and to Easton's Battery. Schmucker says : 
" The Pennsylvania Reserves on the left, commanded by Seymour and Rey- 
nolds, also fought with much heroism, and succeeded in defeating the attempts 
of the rebels to cross the bridge over the Chickahominy." 

In this battle the Tenth preserved its line intact, and the troops were in an 
exultant mood when night brought the battle to a close. 

Captain Knox's Company E lost two men. Both were killed. They were 
John C. Phillips and James G. Treyzulany. This being the first battle for 
Company E, the sketch details the movement of the regiment. Notes of sub- 
sequent battles will be made mainly, with reference to the company only. 

About half past three o'clock P. M., June 27, the company became engaged 
in the bloody battle of Gaines's Mill. During the struggle it had two men 
killed — Alpheus Reynard and Amos Kieser. The following were wounded : 
Lieutenants Valentine Phipps, James L. Wray, and Charles McLaughlin ; Cor- 
porals Samuel Waley and Samuel S. Wilson ; Privates Mathew Black, Thomas 
Henderson, Daniel Keely, Patrick McLaughlin, George Stiner, John H. Sloan, 
David Whitehill, Elliott G. Walter, and David Yates — fourteen in all. The 
wounds of Mathew Black, Thomas Henderson, and John H. Sloan proved fatal. 
Lieutenant Charles McLaughlin, Sergeant F. M. Lewis, and Private Elliott G. 
Walter were taken prisoners. The regiment made a valiant and effective charge 
about five o'clock, and when the battle ceased, it closed its broken ranks and 
retired across the Chickahominy. 

In the fighting at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, Sebastian Cook, Henry 
Miller, and George W. Wilson were wounded. On account of their wounds 
Cook and Wilson were discharged. No further losses were sustained by the 
company during the Seven Days' fight. 

The regiment was at Malvern Hill, but was not seriously engaged in the 



156 History of Clarion County. 

fight. Burton Turney was taken prisoner July i, 1862. From Malvern Hill 
it went to Harrison's Landing, where Major Sion B. Smith resigned, and Cap- 
tain Knox, of Company E, was promoted to major, August 15, 1862, and on 
the same day Lieutenant Phipps became captain of the company. 

During the second battle of Bull Run, on the 29th of August, Company 
E had the following wounded : Second Lieutenant N. B. McWilliams, and 
Privates Celin S. Kapp and Davis McBride. Kapp's wounds proved fatal. The 
regiment was now under Pope in the "Army of Virginia." On the 31st of 
August Hugh Wilson 1 was taken prisoner. 

While joining in the stubborn contest which the Tenth sustained at South 
Mountain, September 14, Company E had three wounded — Sergeant George 
F. Kapp, and Privates Fred Brenneman and David Yates. 

Immediately after the battle of Antietam, in which the company took part 
without loss of any kind. Major Knox was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, 
and Captain Ayer, of Company I, succeeded him as major. On the hard-fought 
field of Fredericksburg, Lieutenant-Colonel Knox led the Tenth, and was 
highly commended for his skill and bravery. Fredericksburg was fought De- 
cember 13, and in this engagement Company E suffered severely. Sergeants 
Allen W. Corbett and Thomas Vausden, and Privates John Disel and Daniel 
V. Jones were killed. The following fifteen were wounded : First Sergeant F. 
M. Lewis ; Sergeants John D. Lyon and Samuel D. Grable ; Corporals George 

B. Kieser, David Craig, and Harrison Whitehill, and Privates Fred Brenneman, 
Henry C. Barr, James K. Clark, William R. Livingstone, Henry Miller, George 
Stiner, David Smith, Robert Whitehill, and James W. Ganoe. James K. Clark 

I In volume I of Bates's " History of Pennsylvania Volunteers " on page 834 the remark opposite 
the name " Hugh Wilson " reads, " Deserted August 26, 1862." Hugh Wilson did not desert. In the 
autumn of 1861 he was prostrated with typhoid fever. In December he joined the regiment and went 
into active service. The effect of the fever and subsequent exposure rendered him unfit for service dur- 
ing a portion of the spring and summer of 1862. While suffering from yellow jaundice he was offered 
a discharge, but refused to accept it. At Harrison's Landing, being much worse, he applied for a dis- 
charge, but did not get one. He continued to grow weaker, until at the time of the series of battles 
beginning August 24 and ending September i, he was so worn down and exhausted by chronic diarrhea 
that he could not endure the fatigue of that succession of engagements. On the 29th, while the regi- 
ment was making a rapid march toward Washington, Wilson found it impossible to keep pace with it, 
and he was left on its line of march. He wearied along to the water, drank, seemed revived, and tried 
to get back into the Union lines. He tramped around and hid from the enemy until some time in the 
morning of the 31st of August, when a body of Confederates came upon him, and he was captured. He 
■was paroled and sent to Harper's Ferry; thence to Parole Camp, at Columbus, Ohio, About the 1st of 
December, 1862, he was exchanged, and being considered incapacitated for infantry service, he was 
transferred on a special order from the War Department to the mounted service, and assigned to Battery 

C, Third United States Artillery, and mounted in General Custer's Brigade, Kilpatrick's Division of 
Cavalry, Army of the Potomac. The officer commanding Company E certified Wilson to the com- 
mander of Battery C as having a correct record. In 1867 or 1868 Wilson applied for the one hundred 
dollars additional pay due him. He was astonished to receive notice from the War Department that he 
was on the rolls as a deserter. He applied to the commissioned officers of Company E, who promptly 
made affidavit that Wilson 7vas not a deserter. He thereupon received his additional pay, and is now a 
pensioner. The subject of this note is known throughout Clarion county as Cal. Wilson. He is a re- 
spected resident of Cullensburg borough, and is now a justice of the peace. W. A. Beer. 





^l^/^i 



Company E, 39TH Regiment. 157 

was discharged for wounds here received. David Smith, Robert Whitehill, and 
WiUiam Young were captured. May i, 1863, WiUiam R. Shippen was pro- 
moted to regimental quartermaster. 

The Tenth reached Gettysburg at nine o'clock, July 2, 1863, having spent 
the winter and spring in and around Washington, and having been ordered to 
join the Fifth Corps in its northward march to assist in repelling the rebel inva- 
sion of Pennsylvania. In the afternoon of July 2 the regiment was engaged 
near Round Top and between that point and Little Round Top. It was also 
engaged on the 3d. The regiment lost two killed and four wounded. James 
G. Wyon, of Company E, was one of the wounded. 

On account of ill health, Lieutenant-Colonel James B. Knox resigned No- 
vember 23, 1863, and Major Ayer took command. On the 27th of February, 
1864, Major Ayer was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. 

On the 6th of May, 1864, in the Wilderness, Jacob Raifsnider was killed, and 
Reynolds Bole wounded. On the 9th of May Reed M. Mills was wounded, 
and on the same day, at Laurel Hill, Silas Davis was mortally wounded. On 
the 6th, Colonel Ayer was severely wounded, and being borne from the field, 
Captain Phipps commanded the regiment. Raifsnider was the only one of the 
regiment killed. On the 30th of May, 1864, Corporal David Craig was wounded. 
Captain Phipps was breveted major on the field at the Wilderness. The com- 
pany was mustered out at Pittsburgh June 1 1, 1864. Of Company E, the fol- 
lowing are known to have died since the war : Colonel Knox, Tolbert Dale, 
John D. Lyon, Reed Mills, Clarence Wilson, Adam Rankin, William Vesey, 
John M. Laughlin, and Davis McBride. Of these Lyon, Mills, and McBride 
died violent deaths. Lyon was killed by a log rolling on him; Mills by a 
chain breaking and hitting him on the head, and McBride by a horse falling 
on him. 

Colonel Knox was elected president-judge in 1881, for the Clarion- Jefferson 
district. He died at Brookville, where he had been holding court. Captain 
Phipps was once elected county commissioner for Clarion county. 

Of this company, let it be observed, it numbered all told one hundred and 
sixteen men ; two of its members were promoted to field officers ; one was 
breveted; three resigned ; ten were killed in battle ; thirty-eight were wounded • 
five died from wounds ; six died of disease ; four were discharged for wounds ; 
twenty-two were discharged for sickness and other causes; two were discharged 
by sentence of court martial ; two deserted ; eight were taken prisoners ; thirty 
were transferred ; and forty were mustered out with the regiment. 

Bates says of the regiment : " The remnant of this brave and once strong 
body of men, which had fought in nearly every battle in which the Army 
of the Potomac had been engaged, and which was not excelled in valor by 
any other organization of the division, was mustered out of service at Pitts- 
burgh." 
11 



158 History of Clarion County. 

Roll of Company E, Tenth Reserve. 

James B. Knox, captain, June 14, 1861, three years; promoted to major 
August 15, 1862. 

Valentine Phipps, captain, July 5, 1861, three years; promoted from sec- 
ond to first lieutenant August 12, 1861 ; wounded at Gaines's Mill, June 27, 
1862 ; promoted to captain August 15, 1862 ; to brevet major ; mustered out 
with company June 11, 1864. 

David R. Craig, first lieutenant July 5, 1861, three years ; resigned August 
7, 1861. 

James L. Wray, first lieutenant, July 5, 1 861, three years; wounded at 
Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862 ; resigned December 10, 1862. 

Charles McLaughlin, first lieutenant, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded 
and taken prisoner at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862; promoted from first ser- 
geant to first lieutenant June 4, 1863; mustered out with company June li, 
1864. 

N. B. McWilliams, second heutenant, July 5, 1861, three years; promoted 
from sergeant to second lieutenant August i, 1862; wounded at Bull Run 
August 29, 1862 ; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

Charles McLaughlin, first sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate March 12, 1863. 

Francis M. Lewis, first sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; taken prisoner 
at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg December 13, 
1862 ; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

Samuel D. Grable, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years ; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

J. J. Greenawalt, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June 11, 1864. 

Tolbert Dale, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate June 21, 1862. 

Smith Strickler, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 31, 1863. 

Daniel Black, sergeant, July 5, 1 861, three years ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate August 22, 1862. 

William H. Fetzer, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December i, 1861. 

John D. Lyon, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years ; wounded at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862 ; transferred to One Hundred and Ninety-first Regi- 
ment P. v., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

George F. Kapp, sergeant, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at South 
Mountain September 14, 1864; transferred to One Hundred and Ninetieth 
Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 



Company E, 39TH Regiment. 159 

George B. Kieser, corporal, July 15, 1861, three years; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862 ; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

Samuel Kieser, corporal, July 15, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Samuel Waley, corporal, July 15, 1861, three years; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862 ; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

David Craig, corporal, July 15, 1861, three years ; wounded at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862, and at Bethesda Church May 30, 1864; mustered 
out with company June ii, 1864. 

Simon Mohney, corporal, July 15, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Hugh Carson, corporal, June 15, 186 1, three years ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate October 31, 1862. 

William Vesey, corporal, July 15, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate, date unknown. 

William R. Shippen, corporal, Juh' 3, 1861, three years ; promoted to first 
lieutenant and regimental quartermaster May i, 1863. 

Harrison Whitehill, corporal, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862 ; transferred to One Hundred and Ninetieth 
Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Samuel Wilson, corporal, September i, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862 ; transferred to One Hundred and Ninetieth Regi- 
ment P. v., May 31, 1864. 

Allen W. Corbett, corporal, July 5, 1861, three years ; killed at Fredericks- 
burgh December 13, 1862. 

Thomas Vausden, corporal, July 5, 1861, three years ; killed at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862. 

Alsbaugh, Oliver P., private, September i, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

Agnew, Joshua B., private, July 5, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Agnew, Samuel, private, August 20, 1862, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Ayres, James, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 30, 1864, veteran. 

Allen, Isaac, private, September i, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Breneman, Fred, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at South 
Mountain September 14, 1862, and at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862 ; 
mustered out with company June 1 1, 1864. 

Brush, George, private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany June II, 1864. 



i6o History of Clarion County. 

Bole, Reynolds, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at Wilderness 
May 6, 1864 ; mustered out June 23, 1864. 

Best, William, private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged May 4, 1864, 
by sentence of general court martial. 

Bales, John W., private, August 4, 1862, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Barr, Henry C, private, August 20, 1862, three years; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862; transferred to One Hundred and Ninetieth Regi- 
ment P. v., May 31, 1864. 

Black, Mathew, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; died of wounds received 
at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862. 

Callihan, Robert, private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Cook, Sebastian, private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged January 15, 
1863, for wounds received at Charles City Cross Roads June 30, 1862. 

Clark, James K., private, July 6, 1861, three years; discharged June 3, 
1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 

Cyphert, George, private, March 20, 1862, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Craig, Adam, private, August 12, 1862, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Dixon, George, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate February 9, 1863. 

Disel, John, private, September i, 1861, three years; killed at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862. 

Davis, Silas, private, August 20, 1862, three years ; died of wounds received 
at Laurel Hill May 9, 1864. 

Eminger, John H., private, July 15, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Eminger, Daniel B., private, July 15, 1861, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Foreman, Miles, private, July 5, 1 861, three years ; mustered out with com- 
pany June 1 1, 1864. 

Ferry, Patrick T., private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate May 15, 1863. 

Farringer, William, private, September i, 1862, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Gates Henry, private, July 15, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany June 1 1, 1864. 

Ganoe, James W., private, July 15, 1861, three years; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate March 16, 



Company E, 39TH Regiment. 161 

Grace, George, private, July 15, 1861, three years ; transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V,, May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Henry, Calvin B., private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December i, 1861. 

Holmes, Alvin B., private, July 5, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Henderson, Thomas, private, June 5, 1861, three years; died of wounds 
received at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1861. 

James, Jasper N., private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged February 
II, 1864, by sentence of general court martial. 

Jones, Daniel V., private, July 5, 1861, three years; killed at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862. 

Keely, John, private, July 5, 1 861, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate, date unknown. 

Kapp, Celin S., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; died of wounds received 
at Bull Run August 29, 1862. 

Kieser, Amos, private, July 5, 1861, three years; killed at Gaines's Mill 
June 27, 1862. 

Keely, Daniel, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Livingston, William R., private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Fredericksburg December 13, 1862; mustered out with company June il, 
1864. 

Lewis, John A., private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany June 1 1, 1864. 

Lewis, Thomas E. H., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 11, 1864. 

Lewis, Thomas E., private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June 11, 1864. 

Lowe, Henry A., private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Lindsay, John, private, August 20, 1862, three years; transferred to One- 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Laughlin, John M., private, July 5, 1861, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Third Regiment P. V., by promotion to second 
lieutenant June 12, 1862. 

Miller, Henry, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; wounded at Charles City 
Cross Roads June 30, and at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862; mustered 
out with company June 1 1, 1864. 

Morgan, William, private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Morris, Harvey, private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate December 6, 1861. 



i62 History of Clarion County. 

Magee, John A., private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 7, 1863. 

Mills, Reed M., private, August 12, 1862, three years; wounded at Wilder- 
ness May 9, 1864; transferred to One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. 
v., May 31, 1864. 

McCoy, Joseph, private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June 11, 1864. 

McBride, Davis, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at second 
Bull Run; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

McKenzie, Thomas, private, July 5, 1861, three years; transferred to Bat- 
tery C, Fifth U. S. Artillery, April i, 1862. 

McLaughlin, Patrick, private, July 5, 1 861, three years ; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862 ; mustered out with compan}^ June il, 1864. 

McLaughlin, Edward, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 6, 1861. 

McClune, Charles R., private, August 12, 1862, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Ogden, James C, private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Parsons, Silas W., private, July 15, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Phillips, John C, private, July 15, 1861, three years; killed at Mechanics- 
ville June 26, 1862. 

Randolph, Harmon, private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company June 11, 1864. 

Rankin, Adam A., private, July 5, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Raifsnider, Jacob, private, July 5, 1861, three years; killed at Wilderness 
May 6, 1864, veteran. 

Reynard, Alpheus, private, July 5, 1861, three years; killed at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862. 

Reeser, Charles A., private, July 5, 1861, three years; deserted August 
12, 1862. 

Stiner, George W., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862, and at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 ; mustered out 
with company June 11, 1864. 

Spence, Ashabald, private, July 5, 1861, three years; prisoner at Freder- 
icksburg December 13, 1862 ; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

Smith, David, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded and prisoner 
at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862; mustered out with company June II, 
1864. 

Strickler, David E., private, July 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1864. 



Company E, 39TH Regiment. 163 

Sloan, David P., private, July 5, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December i, 1861. 

Stigers, John, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Stover, Aquilla, private, September i, 1 861, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Sloan, David A., private, July 5, 1861, three years; died February, 1862, 
at Camp Pierpont, Va. 

Sloan, John H., private, July 5, 1861, three years; died of wounds received 
at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862. 

Sample, James C, private, July 5, 1861, three years; deserted August 2, 
1862. 

Turney, Burton, private, July 5, 1861, three years; prisoner July i, 1861 ; 
mustered out with company July ii, 1864. 

Trainer, James A., private, July 5, 1 861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864, veteran. 

Travis, Samuel L., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; killed at Gaines's 
Mill, June 27, 1862. 

Treyzulina, Jas. G., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; killed at Mechanics- 
ville June 26, 1862. 

Whitehill, David, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862 ; mustered out with company June 1 1, 1864. 

Walter, Elliott G., private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded and pris- 
oner at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862; mustered out with company June 11, 
1864. 

Wilson, George W., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; discharged October 
17, 1862, for wounds received at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, 1862. 

Wilson, Clarence B., private, September i, 1861, three years; transferred 
to One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Wyon, James G., private, July 15, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettys- 
burg July 2, 1863; transferred to One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment P. 
v.. May 31, 1864. 

Whitehall, Robert, private, August 20, 1862, three years; wounded and 
prisoner at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862; transferred to One Hundred 
and Ninetieth Regiment P. V., May 31, 1864. 

Wilson,! Hugh, private, July 5, 1861, three 'years ; transferred to Battery 
C, U. S. Artillery. 

Yates, David, private, July 5, 1861, three years; wounded at Gaines's Mill 
June 27, 1862, and South Mountain September 15, 1862 ; mustered out with 
company June ii, 1864. 

Young, Robert, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; mustered out with com- 
pany June II, 1864. 



1 See foot note, page 156. 



i64 History of Clarion County. 

Young, William, private, July 5, 1861, three years ; prisoner at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862; mustered out with company June 11, 1864. 

Young, Jerome W., private, July 5, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate March 24, 1863. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

COMPANIES OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH EEQIMENT — MILITIA OF 1863. 

Company D: Recruiting — Service in the Field — Roll. Company H: Enlistment — 
Service — Roll. Company I: Recrmting — Familiar Names — Roll of Company. Company 
K : Where Recruited — Service — Roll of Company. 

Company D, Fifty-Seventh Regiment. 

IN obedience to the call of the president for fifty thousand Pennsylvania 
volunteers, Captain B. J. Reid recruited Company D at Clarion in the latter 
part of June, 1863, for the "emergency" service, to repel Lee's invasion of 
Pennsylvania. It numbered fifty- eight men. On the 7th of July it marched 
for Pittsburgh, officered as follows : captain, B. J. Reid ; first lieutenant, B. B. 
Dunkle ; second lieutenant, J. M. Alexander. At Pittsburgh Company D 
joined the Fifty-seventh Regiment of three months volunteers, commanded by 
Colonel J. R. Porter, of Indiana. Cyrus Butler, of Brookville, was lieutenant- 
colonel, and on the 8th of July Captain Reid was elected major. Lieutenant 
Dunkle became captain of the company, J. M. Alexander, first lieutenant, and 
Albert J. Goble second lieutenant. Meantime Lee had been defeated at Get- 
tysburg and had retreated into Virginia. The company was armed and drilled, 
but the only active service it performed was in assisting to head off and cap- 
ture the rebel General Morgan and his raiders, which was accomplished, after 
several days of watching and chasing near New Lisbon, O., Sunday, July 26, 
1863. The company returned to camp at Pittsburgh and was mustered out 
on the 17th of August, 1863. The regiment was in the department of the Mo- 
nongahela, commanded by Major-General William T. H. Brooks, whose head- 
quarters were at Pittsburgh. The following company roster is copied from 
Bates. Captain Dunkle has been mentioned under Company H, of the Eighth 
Reserve, as having been honored by being elected sheriff. Joseph H. Patrick 
is a leading attorney at the Clarion bar, and Frank Ross one of the most pop- 
ular physicians in Clarion county ; both reside in Clarion. 

A number of the company afterward enlisted and saw hard service in 
the army. 



Company H, 57TH Regiment. 165 

Roll of Company D, Fifty-Seventh Regiment.^ 

Mustered in at Pittsburgh July 8, 1863 ; discharged August 17, 1863. 

Bernard J. Reid, captain, promoted to major July 8, 1863 ; Bartlett B, 
Dunkle, captain ; James M. Alexander, first lieutenant ; Albert J. Goble, sec- 
ond lieutenant ; Landis T. Dufif, first sergeant ; Joseph H. Patrick, James W. 
McClune, Robert Shippen, and Bordley S. Black, sergeants ; Marion Whitehill, 
Jacob W. Kahle, James M. Potter, Herbert A. T. Loomis, Thomas Callen, 
Frank Ross, James T. Arnold, and Daniel A. Delo, corporals ; John F. Por- 
ter, and Thomas M. Alexander, musicians ; and privates, Miles Brenneman, 
Wm. Brenneman, Josiah B. Black, John Dolby, Andrew J. Donaldson, Benja- 
min Evans, Wm. Flack, Hiram S. Goble, Lewis Gathers, Wm. Hagan, John 
W. Hagan, Henry Hight, Jeremiah Harkles, George W. Haun, Charles Jones, 
Wm. Kirkwood, Abner Kelly, Benjamin S. Long, Joseph C. Long, Edward 
Marlin, George Magnus, Thomas Mills, Leonard Mong, Samuel W. McCamant, 
James McEntire, Thomas McCoy, Daniel McElvy, Samuel B. McLane, Jere- 
miah Phipps, John Randolph, Gideon F. Richardson, Frank Smith, Moses 
Stickler, David Sheets, John F. Wedekin, James H. Wentling, John T. Wilson, 
and Samuel Young. 

Company H, Fifty-Seventh Regiment. 

When the president called for volunteers to protect the border States, Cap- 
tain John C. McNutt recruited a company of sixty-two men in the eastern 
part of Clarion county. This company was assigned to the Fifty-seventh Reg- 
iment under Colonel Porter. It took part in the capture of Morgan near New 
Lisbon, in Ohio. The company was recruited between the 3d and 8th of 
July, 1863, and the men were discharged August 17, 1863. 

First Lieutenant Martin H. Shannon was promoted quartermaster of the 
regiment July 18, 1863. Rev. Wm. J. Wilson, of Callensburg, was a member 
of this company. A number of these men afterward enlisted in the regular 
service and had some hard experience. 

Roll of Company H, Fifty-seventh Regiment.'^ 

John C. McNutt, captain ; Martin H. Shannon first lieutenant ; James E. 
Long, first lieutenant ; J. N. Garrison, second lieutenant ; Henry Keihl, first 
sergeant ; David Milliron, George Richards, and Daniel Hoy, sergeants ; John 
W. Alcorn, Joseph Heazley, John J. Fisher, Elijah H. Clark, Joseph Gloutz, 
Alvin Startzel, Jacob Smith, and Hiram McAninch, corporals; Samuel Gear- 
hart and Amos Lerch, musicians ; and privates, Wm. W. Alcorn, James G. 
Averell, Silas R. Anderson, Louis A. Brady, Amos Cailor, A. H. Divines, 
Franklin Dubels, John B. Farr, P. H. Freas, Robert Geist, James Geist, Wm. 

1 Copied from Bates. '^ lb.- 

12 



i66 History of Clarion County. 

J. Geist, G. M. Gibson, Edward Henderson, George B. Hane, Wm. Jenkins, 

C. N. Jackson, Thomas Jones, Israel Johnston, Elijah Keller, John Lash, James 
Lang, Wm. R. Loder, George Mauk, J. J. Montgomery, G. S. Montgomery, 
Wm. Milliron, John McFarland, Joseph Neal, J. G. Porterfield, Amos Rabuck, 
John Ross, George J. Reitz, F. S. Spankle, Henry Shilling, M. Smith, Wm. R. 
Shafer, Henry Snyder, Wm. Swaub, Abraham Thomas, Wm. Wonderling, 
Wm. J. Wilson and James Walmer. 

Company I, Fifty-seventh Regiment. 

In response to the call for troops to enter the service to repel the invasion 
of the Border States in 1863, Captain Wilbur Orr recruited a company early 
in July, 1863, principally from the southern and southeastern townships of 
Clarion county. The men assembled at Kittanning and]proceeded to Pittsburgh, 
where the company was designated Company I, and assigned to the Fifty- sev- 
enth Regiment. It took part in the campaign which resulted in the capture 
of Morgan, and was discharged August 17, 1863. 

George W. Parker was promoted to hospital steward July 8. The com- 
pany numbered sixty-six men. Many of the readers of this note will recog- 
nize many familiar names on the roll of this company. For instance, Wilbur 
Orr, F. A. Detrich, Neal Lawson, Thomas A. Brinkley, Rev. O. A. Elliott, Jo- 
seph F. Lobaugh, John H. Craig, and O. E. Nail, are names well known to 
most of the people of Clarion county. 

Roll of Company I, Fifty-seventh Regiment.^ 

Robert W. Orr, captain ; F. A. Detrich, first lieutenant ; Neal Lawson, 
second lieutenant ; Samuel C. Lawson, first sergeant; George W. Parker, John 
Snyder, Joseph M. Foster and Samuel B. Gray, sergeants ; John Reed, C. J. 
Blair, Henry Dougherty, T. A. Brinkley, Joseph McGregor, Orin A. Elliott, 
George W. Yingling, and David McKibben, corporals ; Joseph F. Lobaugh 
and Matthew H. Dunkle, musicians ; privates, J. W. Armstrong, J. H. Albert, 

D. R. Blair, Alfred Bitters, C. Bcnninger, J. D. Burns, Emery Boyles, John 
Campbell, John H. Craig, James E. Craig, John Crissman, Jacob Detwiler, M. 
L. Eshbaugh, W. G. Elder, J. A. Fox, J. S. Ferguson, John Hawk, J. C. Jack- 
son, John Livermore, Wallace Mortimer, L. A. Mortimer, Samuel Maize, Wm. 
McCauley, S. W. McCalmont, O. E. Nail. Wm. Wolf, J. H. Patton, Wm. W. 
Patton, George W. Perry, H. C. Piatt, J. W. Risher, W. P. Rupert, John 
Rider, Wm. Smathers, James Simpson, Abram Sampsell, R. A. Stewart, M. 
S. Stewart, James Summerville, Wm. Stewart, Wm. Snyder, Wm. Travis, John 
A. Wise, Casander Wise, H. H. Wilson, Abram C. Wiant, and Wm. Wolf 

1 Copied from Bates. 



Company C, 62d Regiment. 167 



Company K, Fifty-seventh Regiment. 

Captain Jacob Shick, of Redbank township, was one of the leading citizens 
of Clarion county, ready to respond to the call of our president in 1863. He 
recruited a company of sixty-five men in the vicinity of New Bethlehem, which 
was designated Company K, and attached to the department of the Monon- 
gahela in the Fifty- seventh Regiment, and shared in the campaign against 
Morgan. The company was mustered between the 3d and 8th of July, and 
mustered out of service August 17, 1863. This company, like others of the 
Fifty-seventh Regiment, which were recruited in Clarion county, was composed 
of the best citizens of the respective communities from which they went. Their 
readiness to serve their country, though some were young and some old, is a 
noble expression of their patriotism and devotion to their country and their 

homes. 

Roll of Company K, Fifty-seventh Regiment.^ 

Jacob Shick, captain ; James McWilliams, first lieutenant ; J. F. McNutt, 
second lieutenant ; Joseph T. Shoemaker, first sergeant; R. G. Heiner, J. S. 
Sloan, J. E. Hamilton, and J. R. Sarvey, sergeants ; Joseph Shick, John Cole- 
man, M. Hankey, D. S. Paine, George Renard, S. Sherman, Joseph Himes, 
and Jacob Coleman, corporals ; privates, Daniel Baughman, Wm. Bradley, H. 
Case, Wm. Copenheifer, H. Coleman, T. Clark, Wm. Drain, S. Evans, W. Far- 
ringer, D. F. Ferden, G. W. Ferden, C. C. Gibson, J. E. Gruber, J. F. Gruber, 
George Hilliard, John Harriger, G. W. Hankey, A. G. Hartzell, J. F. Himes, 
S. H. Hoffman, T. S. Johnston, I. J. Keck, D. Lankert, Wm. Long, John May, 
D. Mercer, H. Myers, Lewis Mohney, James McClain, A. McKee, G. W. 
Painter, J. M. Paine, James Peoples, L. Reed, Jacob Reynard, John Retinger, 
Wm. D. Rites, James Reynolds, V. Shingledecker, J. Shreckenghost, George 
Shick, D. Shick, J. C. Shafer, John H. Snyder, J. P. Smith, L. C. Shaffer, J. 
Watterson, Charles White and Wm. Yost. 



CHAPTER XVn. 

COMPANY C, SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT, P. V. 

When Eecruited — Organization and Muster — Service in the Field — Death of Colonel 
Black — Roll of Company. 

ON the 4th of July, 1861, Thomas B. Monks recruited a company at Curlls- 
ville and Sligo, Clarion county, which was officered as follows : Captain, 
Thomas B. Monks ; first lieutenant, Benjamin Huey ; second lieutenant, Wm. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



i68 History of Clarion County. 

G. Lowry ; first sergeant, John E. Myers, and other company officers as shown 
in the accompanying roll. 

Authority to recruit a regiment was given Colonel Samuel W. Black by 
the secretary of war, on the 4th of July, and when Colonel Black was ready to 
receive recruits Captain Monks's company was ready to enter the regiment. 
It was taken in wagons to Kittanning, from that place it went on the cars to 
Pittsburgh. It was mustered into the United States service in Lafayette Hall, 
Pittsburgh, on the 25th of July, i86i,and soon after proceeded to Camp Cam- 
eron, near Harrisburg. At Pittsburgh the company was designated Company 
C, of Colonel Black's regiment, which was at this time designated the Thirty- 
third Independent Regiment, and was organized as follows : Samuel W. Black, 
of Pittsburgh, colonel ; F. T. Lehman, of Pittsburgh, lieutenant-colonel, and 
J. B. Switzer, of Pittsburgh, major. Colonel Black had served in the Mexi- 
can war as lieutenant-colonel, and Lieutenant- Colonel Lehman was afterward 
made colonel of the One Hundred and Third. 

The war department issued orders to recruit troops, but the governor of 
the States claimed the right to commission all the officers of the troops raised 
in their respective Commonwealths. This controversy between the national and 
State authorities was not settled till late in the fall of 1861. On the 19th of 
November the war department issued an order placing all independent regi- 
ments on the same footing as other State troops. The governor then imme- 
diately commissioned the officers of the "Thirty-third," and on its being 
adopted as a State organization, it was designated the Sixty- second Pennsylvania. 
The commissions bore date July 4, 1861. After spending a few weeks at 
Camp Cameron the regiment proceeded to Baltimore, and thence to Washing- 
ton. It took up quarters at Camp Rapp, on Kendall Green, in the northern 
suburbs of the city. Here the regiment was armed and equipped for service. 
Six companies were furnished with the improved Springfield rifles. The other 
six had smooth-bore muskets. Company C had muskets at first, but were 
afterward supplied with rifles. The regiment crossed the Potomac on the iith 
of September, and was assigned to the Second Brigade of Porter's Division. It 
was camped near P'ort Corcoran. The officers immediately began to drill the 
troops, but little progress was made in this line, as the men were almost con- 
stantly on duty, making roads and entrenchments, and in cutting away the pine 
forests in the vicinity of Arlington Heights. The Confederates had occupied 
Munson's Hill, but they fell back and the lines of our army were advanced and 
re-formed. In the new line the camp of the Sixty-second was located near 
Falls Church on the Alexandria, Loudon and Hampshire Railroad. It lay 
here a few weeks, when it moved to Minor's Hill and went into winter quarters, 
in Camp Bettie Black, named in honor of the colonel's youngest daughter. At 
Camp Bettie JBlack drill and discipline were rigidly enforced. The routine ob- 
served was squad drill from six to nine A. M., company drill from ten A. M. to 



Company C, 62D Regiment. 169 

twelve M., and battalion drill from one to five P. M., daily. The entire division 
was also drilled, and occasionally a sham battle was had. Other exercises were 
observed, and the soldiers felt relieved when spring came with its duties in the 
field. Before leaving Pittsburgh the regiment received a present of a flag from 
the ladies of that city. It received the State colors at Hall's Hill in December. 
On the 6th of November First Lieutenant Benjamin Huey, of Company C, re- 
signed, and on the 1 2th of that month Second Lieutenant Wm. G. Lowry suc- 
ceeded him. The company lost a number of other men during the fall of 1861 
and the winter of 1861-62. On the 3d of August John Hilbert and Wm. 
Flick deserted. On the 20th of August Abraham Mock and Alexander Craig 
were discharged. Wm. Ong deserted from the company on September i and 
joined Company K, of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth P. V. George W. 
Springer deserted on the 28th of September. John Karns died at Washing- 
ton, D. C, October 5. John Barlett died at Georgetown, D. C, November 6, 
and Andrew Barlett died near Hall's Hill on the i6th of the same month. 
Simeon Callen was discharged on surgeon's certificate December 16. Jackson 
McCannaha died at Washington, D. C, October 15. and Tate Henry was dis- 
charged March 10, 1862. Corporal Robert A. Lowry accidentally shot him- 
self with his brother Wm. G. Lowry's revolver, February i, 1862. The greater 
part of this loss was sustained as a result of a malignant form of camp fever 
which prevailed in the camp in the early part of the winter. From the date of 
its entering the service to March 10, when the army moved upon the enemy, 
Company C had lost fourteen men. When armed and equipped the com- 
pany numbered loi men. It received two recruits August 20, 1861 ; five Jan- 
uary 28, 1862, and one on the 7th of February, 1862, making a total enroll- 
ment of 109 men. March 10, 1862, it numbered ninety-five men, some of 
them sick. 

When the army moved upon the works of the enemy at Manassas, March 
10, it found them abandoned. The Sixty-second was halted at Fairfax Court 
House. The army was to be transferred to the Peninsula, so the regiment left 
Fairfax on the 15th of March and proceeded to Alexandria. It embarked 
upon transports and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where it went into camp 
near the little village of Hampton, which Magruder had destroyed. It was 
soon put on duty in a reconnaissance toward Yorktown. The troops returned 
to camp after having gone as far as Big Bethel. When the army moved upon 
Yorktown on the 3d of April, the Sixty-second marched up near the enemy's 
works, and the men of Company C got their first sight of Confederate troops 
uniformed in gray. 

Skirmishing ensued, and the Sixty-second marched forward and took its 
place in line of battle under fire. The enemy was soon obliged to evacuate. 
Bates says : " Colonel Black was first apprised of the evacuation by three de- 
serters, who came in with a flag of truce ; the regiment happening to be on 



I/O History of Clarion County. 

picket near the river on the night in which it was made." The regiment had 
one man killed and three wounded. Company C suffered no loss. It remained 
near Yorktown, as did all of Porter's division, till May 8th, when it moved on 
transports up the York River to a place opposite West Point, where the divi- 
sion landed and went into camp. Here Porter was placed in command of the 
Fifth Provisional Corps, which was then formed. Morrell assumed command 
of Porter's division and Brigadier- General Charles Grififin became commander 
of the Second Brigade. When the army advanced up the Chickahominy, 
Porter's Corps moved up on the left bank. On the 27th of May Porter's Corps 
encountered the enemy at Hanover Court House, defeating him and capturing 
a number of prisoners and arms. Colonel Black earnestly commended the 
Sixty-second for its conduct in this engagement. The loss was small. At Me- 
chanicsville the regiment moved to support the Pennsylvania Reserves, and was 
under fire for an hour, but was not actively engaged and sustained no loss. 
On the morning of the 27th of June, Porter withdrew his troops from Beaver 
Dam Creek, where the Reserves were engaged, and posted them on an eleva- 
tion south of Gaines's Mill. Here he awaited the advance of the enemy. The 
enemy came on and opened the battle about 2 P. M., on the 27th. The Sixty- 
second Pennsylvania, with the Ninth Massachusetts, was ordered forward to 
charge across a ravine in front. They advanced under a terrific infantry fire, 
and driving back the enemy with frightful slaughter, they gained the woods on 
the opposite side of the ravine. Before the regiment reached the woods Col- 
onel Black was instantly killed. Under the lead of Lieutenant-Colonel Switzer 
the men pressed on, drove the'enemy back, and gained a position considerably 
in advance of the main line of battle. In this position they were soon discov- 
ered, and the enemy pressing hard upon their flank, poured into their ranks 
a withering enfilading fire, which forced them to withdraw. The Sixty-second 
re-formed in an open field to the right of the woods. The battle was raging furi- 
ously. Their ammunition was exhausted. The men had scarcely got into po- 
sition when General Seymour rode up, and ascertaining that they had no ammu- 
nition he directed that their cartridge-boxes be filled at once. He then ordered 
Colonel Switzer to proceed immediately to the extreme left of the line to help 
check the furious onset of the enemy at that point. Colonel Switzer led his 
gallant men on a double quick, over swampy ground towards the Chickahominy, 
to the point indicated. The ranks of the regiment were sadly thinned, but it 
was immediately formed and bravely charged up the hill and into the woods, 
upon entering which, it received a most frightful volley of musketry. It re- 
turned the fire, and the battle at this time was most terrible all along the entire 
line. The right gave way. The Sixty-second was again flanked, and unable 
to sustain the shock of such vastly superior numbers, it was carried back with 
the entire army toward the Chickahominy. Desperately fighting to hold his 
ground. Colonel Switzer was captured and taken away to Libby Prison. In 



Company C, 62D Regiment. 171 

this terrible conflict Company C had James H. Craig, Thomas B. McEwen, 
Henry Stewart, and John H. Boyles killed. William H. Myers was wounded, 
and Stephen McTigue was captured. 

The Sixty-second reached Malvern Hill June 30. It had no field officers. 
It was commanded by Captain James C. Hull, of Company A, and supported 
Battery D, of the Fifth United States Artillery. The Confederates gave 
special attention to the battery. It sustained a fearful cannonading, which was 
poured upon it in return for its rapid and effective work. When the enemy's 
artillery failed to silence the battery, his infantry charged it with frantic bravery, 
and in the fiery ordeal the Sixty- second suffered severely. Company C's list 
of killed at Malvern numbered three, viz.: Corporal Andrew Jenkins, Decatur 
S. Wyman, and William A. Winkett. William B. Wyman, James C. Meanor, 
William H. Hileman, Andrew Loux, George Rockafellow, Christian Chromer, 
John Freeman, George Kribbs, Daniel D. Smith, and John Stover were wounded. 

The regiment took part in the engagement at Harrison's Bar on the 31st of 
July, without much loss. At Gainesville, on the 27th of August, the regiment 
engaged the enemy, had two men wounded, one of whom was George W. 
Boyer, of Company C, who was also captured. The regiment was held in re- 
serve during the remaining two days of the disastrous second Bull Run. On 
the 4th of September the Sixty-second went into camp at its old camp near 
Minor's Hill, Camp Bettie Black. Few in number and worn down, it presented 
a strong contrast to the full ranks of strong men who encamped here before 
starting to the field. At Antietam, on the 17th, Company C suffered no loss- 
On the 20th of September the regiment crossed the Potomac at Blackford's 
Ford, captured a few stragglers and returned to the army without loss. It 
joined the corps, moved to follow up the retreating army. The corps had 
scarcely started when the enemy attacked the head of the column and the en- 
gagement became general. The Union troops were routed. Company C came 
out without any loss. On the 29th of September the company was in the en- 
gagement at Kearneysville, Va., but had no loss. 

On the lOth of September, 1862, Lieutenant W. G. Lowry, of Company 
C, was promoted to major of the regiment. When Burnside re-organized the 
army, Colonel Switzer became commander of the Second Brigade, and Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Hull took charge of the Sixty- second. 

At Fredericksburg the company, in common with the brigade, were in the 
front and thickest of the fight from Saturday noon, December 13, to Sunday 
night, when the troops were relieved. Monday they again went to the front. 
The regiment was reported to have had two officers and five men killed; seven 
officers and fifty-six men wounded. Samuel H. Moore and William Timms, of 
Company C, were killed ; and Charles Glaze and Joshua Knox were wounded. 
The company next took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, escaping 
without loss, but participating in some of the most desperate fighting during 



172 History of Clarion County. 



the progress of the battle. At Middleburg the company was also engaged. 
The Sixty-second reached the bloody field of Gettysburg before daylight, July 
2, 1863. It fought hard all day, and maintained its reputation for bravery and 
devotion. During the 3d it occupied a position along the stone wall. Major 
Lowry, Samuel Dearmott, and William H. Myers, of Company C, were killed ; 
Charles Glaze, Milton C. Goheen, James C. Meanor, Thomas H. Bowser, Will- 
iam Geer, John Konkle, William B. Larimer, and James Pence were wounded, 
and Thomas H. Bowser, John Konkle, David Fink, and Thomas Kiskaddon 
were taken prisoners. 

On the 1 2th of July the regiment encountered the enemy at Funkstown, 
Maryland. The company had no casualties. Returning to Virginia, the troops 
were engaged at Rappahannock Station, Grove Church, and Mine Run. Thus 
closed the year, and they went into winter quarters at Licking Run. In 1864, 
during the Wilderness campaign, the regiment lost heavily. On the I2th of 
May, at Spottsylvania, Adjutant John E. Myers and Lieutenant William H. 
Johnston, of Company C, were killed. On the 8th of May George Coursin was 
wounded, and Leroy Abbott on the I2th. 

Colonel Hull being mortally wounded. Captain McClay, of Compay C, as- 
sumed command. On the night of the 13th the regiment took position in front 
of Spottsylvania. It was almost constantly under fire here till the 21st of May. 
It engaged the enemy at North Anna about noon of that day. On the 2d of 
June it engaged the enemy at a place near Tolopotomy Creek. On the 3d it 
performed signal service duty, and lost heavily. In this series of engagements 
Company C sustained no loss. On the i8th of June it was hotly engaged be- 
fore Petersburg. Company C had Milton C. Goheen killed. The company 
was again in battle on the 2ist of June at Jerusalem Plank Road, without loss. 
It served on picket and fatigue duty until the 2d of July, when, its term of 
service having expired, it was ordered to the rear. On the 4th of July it 
started from City Point for Pittsburgh, and having reached that city, it was 
mustered out of service July 13, 1864. Not to particularize further, be it said 
that Company C was a worthy representative of the patriotic organizations 
of Clarion county. Its officers were men who led. They were found with 
their men, and the death of Lowry, Myers, and Johnston emphasizes this 
declaration. 

The writer is indebted to Sergeant David R. Lobaugh for valuable assist- 
ance in correcting the attached roll ; also in procuring some dates of decided 
importance. It is not too much to say that Company C, of the Sixty-second 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, has every reason to be proud of its record. The few 
who failed to do their whole duty are entirely lost sight of in contemplation 
of the great majority who won enviable distinction by their devotion and 
valor. I. M. Shannon, of this company, was elected sheriff of Clarion county 
in 1882. 



Company C, 62D Regiment. 173 

Corrected Roll of Company C, Sixty-Second Regiment. 

Thomas B. Monks, captain, July 25, 1861, three years; resigned October 
17, 1862. 

William P. McClay, captain, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from 
first sergeant to second lieutenant November 12, 1861 ; to captain October 17, 
1862 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Benjamin Huey, first lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years; resigned No- 
vember 6, 1 86 1, re-enlisted August 8, 1862 ; transferred. 

William G. Lowry, first lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted 
from second to first lieutenant November 12, 1861 ; to major September 10 
1852 ; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

John E. Myers, first lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years ; promoted from 
first sergeant to first lieutenant September 10, 1862 ; to adjutant June 20, 1863 ; 
killed at Spottsylvania March 12, 1864. 

Wm. H. Johnston, first lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted 
from sergeant to second lieutenant October 17, 1862 ; to first lieutenant July 
20, 1863 ; died May 17, 1864, of wounds received in action May 12, 1864. 

Charles Glaze, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from cor- 
poral October 17, 1862 ; wounded at Fredericksburg, and also at Gettysburg, 
July 2, 1863 ; transferred to Invalid Corps. 

Jacob M. Conrad, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal October 17, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Reuben Dunkle, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from cor- 
poral November 12, 1861 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

David R. Lobaugh, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal March 10, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Milton C. Goheen, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa.; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864. 

Tate Henry, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years ; discharged March 10, 
1862. 

William B. Wyman, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Mal- 
vern Hill; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

James C. Meanor, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral May 20, 1862; wounded at Malvern Hill and Gettysburg; mustered 
out with company July 13, 1864. 

Thomas Stover, corporal July 25, 1861 ; promoted to corporal July 5, 1862 ; 
mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Wm. H. Hileman, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral July 3, 1863; wounded at Malvern Hill; mustered out with company 
July 13, 1864. 

Wm. J. Sample, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral July 3, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

13 



174 History of Clarion County. 

Charles Bicehouse, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral July 3, 1863 ; absent, sick, at muster out. 

Joshua Knox, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to corporal 
July 3, 1863 ; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862 ; mustered 
out with company July 13, 1 864. 

Thos. H. Bowser, corporal, July 25, 186 1, three years; promoted to corporal 
October 4, 1 863 ; wounded and taken prisoner at Gettysburg; mustered out 
with company July 13, 1864. 

Andrew Loux, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Malvern 
Hill ; discharged January 23, 1863. 

Henry Z. Wilhelm, corporal,'July 25, 1 861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate June 5, 1862. 

Andrew Jenkins, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral March 15, 1862 ; killed at Malvern Hill July i, 1862. 

George Rockafellow, ^corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal March 15, 1862; wounded at Malvern Hill ; transferred to Invalid 
Corps October 15, 1863. 

Robert A. Lowry, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral November 12, 1861 ; killed by accidental shot February i, 1862. 

Lewis Coursin, musician, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged for disa- 
bility February 9, 1863. 

James Low, musician, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 

Abbott, Leroy, private, August 20, 1861, three years; wounded at Spott- 
sylvania May 12, 1864; in hospital when discharged. 

Bartlebough, Jos., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Boyles, John H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Gaines's Mill 
June 27, 1862. 

Barnes, Joseph, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged October 
23, 1862. 

Boyer, George, private, January 28, 1861, three years; wounded and pris- 
oner at Gainesville August 27, 1862 ; transferred to Invalid Corps September 
I, 1863. 

Barlett, Andrew R., private, July 25, 1861, three years; died near Hall's 
Hill November 16, 1861. 

Barlett, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Georgetown, D. 
C, November 6, 1 86 1. 

Clugh, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Caldwell, James A., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 



Company C, 62d Regiment. 175 



Craig, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 

Coleman, Henry, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Carson, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 

company July 13, 1864. 

Chromer, Christian, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Mal- 
vern Hill; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Coursin, George, private, July 15, 1861, three years; wounded in action 
May 8, 1864; discharged, date unknown. 

Craig, James H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862. 

Carson, James, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; discharged January 14, 
1863. 

Craig, Alexander, private, July 25, 186 1, three years; discharged August 
20, 1861. 

Callen, Simeon, private, July 25, 186 1, three years ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate December 16, 1861. 

Dunkle, Anderson, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Dearmott, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Gettys- 
burg July 2, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery, section E, grave 22. 

Elder, Marion, private, August 16, 1862, three years ; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Elder, William, private, August 16, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Fox, Obed E., private, July 25, 186 1, three years ; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 

Fisher, James M., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Freeman, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Malvern 
Hill ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Fink, David, private, July 25, 1861, three years; prisoner at Gettysburg; 
died at Pittsburgh October 11, 1864. 

Frank, Martin, private, July 25, 1861, three years; re-enHsted, veteran, 
December 27, 1863. 

Flick, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years; deserted August 3, 
1861. 

Geer, William, private, August 16, 1862, three years ; wounded at Gettys- 
burg ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Hagan, David, private, August i6,|i862, three years ; died in Philadelphia 
June 19, 1863. 



1/6 History of Clarion County. 



Hagan, Bartlett C, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Hariger, Andrew, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Henry, Robert J., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged July 24, 
1862. 

Hilbert, John, private, July 25, 1 861, three years ; deserted August 3, 1861. 

James, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 

Konkle, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; wounded at Gettysburg ; 
discharged April 12, 1864. 

Kisskaddon, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years; prisoner at Get- 
tysburg; re-enlisted, veteran, January 30, 1864. 

Kribbs, George, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Malvern 
Hill ; discharged. 

Karns, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Washington, D. 
C, October 5, 1861. 

Keller, John M., private, August 18, 1862, three years. 

Larimer, William B., private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; discharged. 

Lewis, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged February, 
1863. 

Lewis, James, private, July 25, 1861, three years; transferred to Invahd 
Corps December i, 1863. 

Levan, Elias, private, January 28, 1862, three years; recruited January 
28, 1862; discharged October 20, 1862. 

Levan, Lorenzo S., private, January 28, 1862, three years; recruited Jan- 
uary 28, 1862; transferred to Invalid Corps September i, 1863. 

Maitland, Jeremiah, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Manly, George B., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Muhnkarn, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Myers, WilHam H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral ; wounded at Gaines's Mill, Va.; killed at Gettysburg, Pa. 

Myers, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Philadelphia, 
Pa., January 12, 1863. 

Moore, Jacob K., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Decem- 
ber 20, 1862. 

Moore, Samuel H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 



Company C, 62d Regiment. 177 



Mock, Abraham, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged August 

20, 1 86 1. 

McBride, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 

company July 13, 1864. 

McMillen, Shrader, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

McTigue, Stephen, private, July 25, 1861, three years; prisoner at Gaines's 
Mill, Va., June 27, 1862; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

McCartney, Jacob, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

McMillen, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Octo- 
ber 20, 1862. 

McE wen, Thomas B., private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Gaines's 

Mill June 27, 1862. 

McGarvey, Hugh, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Novem- 
ber 15, 1862. 

McCannaha, Jackson, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, October 15, 1861. 

Ong, WiUiam, private, August 20, 1861, three years; deserted from com- 
pany and joined Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth P. V., September 
I, 1861. 

PoHn, Henry, private, July 25, 1861, three years; transferred to Invalid 
Corps September i, 1863. 

Pysher, Stephen G., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Octo- 
ber 23, 1862. 

Pence, James, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettysburg, 
Pa.; re-enhsted as veteran volunteer February 8, 1864. 

Reynolds, W. N., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Redick, Alexander, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died January 3, 
1863; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Riley, John, private, March 26, 1864, three years; transferred to Company 
G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment. 

Snyder, Samuel T., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Sampson, Charles, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Sage, Joel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with company 
July 13, 1864. 

Salade, Harvey J., private, July 25, 1861, three years; absent at muster 
out. 

Stewart, Henry, private, July 25, 186 1, three years; killed at Gaines's Mill,. 
Va., June 27, 1862. 



178 . History of Clarion County. 

Smith, Daniel D., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Novem- 
ber 15, 1862, for wounds received at Malvern Hill July i, 1862. 

Shick, Joseph, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged July 24, 
1862. 

Stover, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged on account 
of wounds received at Malvern Hill. 

Shannon, Irwin M., private, January 28, 1862, three years; discharged De- 
cember 10, 1862. 

Shannon, Philip M., private, January 28, 1862, three years; discharged De- 
cember 10, 1862. 

Springer, George VV., private, July 25, 1861, three years; deserted Sep- 
tember 28, 1 86 1. 

Timms, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Fredericks- 
burg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Turney, Simon P., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Febru- 
ary 24, 1863. 

Wyman, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Wagoner, Solomon, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Wyman, Decatur S., private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Malvern 
Hill, Va., July i, 1862. 

Williams, Walter L., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Williams, John L., private, July 25, 1861, three years; died June 9, 1864; 
buried in the National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 

Wilson, Joseph, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged April 16, 
1863. 

Winket, William A., private, February 7, 1862, three years; killed at Mal- 
vern Hill, Va., July i, 1862. 



CHAPTER XVni. 
COMPANY E, SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 

When Recruited — Captain Kerr's Dismissal — Service in the Field — Roll. 

COMPANY E was recruited at Rimersburg, July 4, 1861, by Captain Thomas 
Kerr. The organization proceeded by wagons to Kittanning, thence by rail 
to Pittsburgh, where it was mustered into the United States service July 25, 1861. 



Company E, 62D Regiment. 179 

The movements of the company, in common with the regiment, are detailed 
under the title " Company C, Sixty-second Regiment," which chapter imme- 
diately precedes this. On account of some trouble relative to the rent of re- 
cruiting office at Rimersburg Captain Kerr' was dismissed April 5, 1862, and 
Sergeant FrankHn Sweet succeeded to the command of the company. The 
first loss in battle which the company suffered was at Gaines's Mill, June 27, 
1862. In that struggle James Frier (or Friar), and Joseph McCray were killed; 
Wilson Crick and James E. Elder were missing. Both are supposed to have 
been killed. Bates says, Thomas Irvin was discharged March 19, 1862. Some 
surviving members of the company say he was killed in this battle. 

Samuel W. Lobaugh was wounded in the head, being shot through from 
the back of his head when the regiment was beaten back at the time when 
Colonel Black was killed. (See preceding chapter.) John B. Fox was wounded 
in the foot, Neal Lawson in the thigh, Thomas Gatings in the neck, Henry Bu- 
chanan in both legs ; Lot M. Anderson, George O. Carson, Henry Beer, John 
A. McKee, and David Mortimer also were wounded ; Thomas Gatings, Sam- 
uel W. Lobaugh, and Henry Buchanan were captured. 

At Malvern Hill, July i, 1862, Lawson D. Reed was mortally wounded. 
Samuel Benn, William Boyd, Thomas Baker, Jonathan Buzzard, Samuel L. 
Mortimer, and Daniel Punkhard were also wounded ; James H. Thomas was 
missing. 

In the attack on Fredericksburg, December 13, William H. Hillis and Rob- 
ert P. McFadden were wounded. George W. Devore died at Sharpsburg, Md., 
December 26, 1862. The company did some hard fighting at Gettysburg, 
July 2 and 3, 1863. James McKinley was mortally wounded. The others 
wounded were Captain Franklin Sweet, First Sergeant Martin Hartzell ; Ser- 
geant William Ransel ; and Privates William F. Ferguson, Eli Hastings, Sam- 
uel Hours, Alexander Mohney, John Miller, Daniel Punkhard, Samuel Varner, 
and Thomas A. Work ; Corporal John W. Paine was taken prisoner ; George 
McCoy was accidentally shot in the foot by a comrade in camp ; he was sent 
to the hospital. His wound took a serious turn, causing his foot to be ampu- 
tated, from the effects of which he died February 25, 1864. Punkhard (or 
Prunkhard) returned to the company June 6, 1864. During the Wilderness 
campaign Robert T. Barr and Samuel Carson were killed at Spottsylvania 

1 Captain Kerr had rented a room from Mr. Henry Fox at Rimersburg, which he used as a recruiting 
office. Not knowing how much the government allowed for rent of office, he negotiated with Mr. Fox 
to pay a certain sum. When the captain submitted his report his superior officer mformed him that the 
government paid more than the amount agreed upon with Mr. Fox. Accordingly the larger amount 
was inserted in the report, with the intention to pay Mr. P'ox the full amount allowed. Captain Kerr 
reported to his regiment for duty, after forwarding the account to the Adjutant-General's office in Har- 
risbug. Meanwhile Mr. Fox, learning that the captain had submitted a larger amount of rent than he 
(Mr. Fox) had received, at once reported the matter, while Captain Kerr was on duty at the front, all 
unconscious of having committed any wrong act, the case was made up against him. Military law 
is relentless, and he had to sutler its penalties. 



i8o History of Clarion County. 



Court House, May 12, 1864. William Storey was wounded May 5, Henry 
Buchanan May 8, Francis Cook, Samuel L. Mortimer, and D. L. McGregor, at 
Spottsylvania, May 12. Thomas Gatings, James Probasco, and James F. Stew- 
art were wounded at North Anna River. On the 2d of June Martin V. Hart- 
zel was wounded at Bethesda Church ; Hugh Fackender was killed at Cold 
Harbor June 3, 1864. In addition to those already mentioned, the company 
took part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Funkstown, Rappahannock Sta- 
tion, New Hope Church, and Mine Run. The original members of the com- 
pany, with the original enlistment of the other companies, were ordered to City 
Point at four P. M., July 2, 1864. Before eight P. M. the remaining twenty-three 
men of Company E, Sixty- second Pennsylvania Volunteers were turned over to 
Company D, of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

In a well written diary of Private Joseph W. Graham, is found the follow- 
ing entry: 

"Tuesday, May 10, 1864. — Weather hot. Skirmishing again this morning. 
About eight A. M. Corporal Thomas Barr, of Company E, killed in front of the 
works. Ten A. M. our skirmishers advanced in force and drove the enemy out 
of their rifle pits and took possession of them. When this advance was made 
we got the body of Corporal Barr and consigned it to its long home. Heavy 
artillery and infantry firing in front, and the enemy held in check. 7:15 P. M. 
the enemy made an advance, and our artillery and infantry drove them back." 

Relative to the disappearance of Jonathan Buzzard, the same soldier notes 
on the 9th of May : 

" Jonathan M. Buzzard, brigade pioneer of Company E, 62d P. V., is miss- 
ing. Supposed to be killed. He was out digging rifle pits for the pickets." 

And again, " May 12. — This day wet all day. At nine A. M., after a short 
cannonading, the 9th and 3 2d Regt's, Mass. Vols, and the 62d P. V. made a 
charge on the enemy's works in our front but were repulsed. The 62d P. V. 
had their Lieut.-Col. J. C. Hull and Adjutant John E. Myers severely wounded, 
and Co. E had privates Samuel Carson, Sam Mortimer, Daniel McGregor, and 
Francis Cook wounded." 

On the 14th of May Graham noted : " Adjt. John Myers, and Samuel Car- 
son dead from wounds." 

On the 25th of May he notes : " Hugh Pastorius, of Co. E, wounded in 
the foot." 

In the following roll under " remarks," the transfers to the One Hundred 
and Fifty-fifth are noted January 3, 1864. This seems to be an error, but in 
deference to Bates we leave it unchanged, and give below memorandum in full 
made by J. W. Graham in his diary : 

" Saturday, July 2, 1864. — This day, as usual, hot. Six o'clock A. M. some 
shelling done on our part from the mortars, but when it got hot there was a 
cessation till evening, when it was again resumed. After dark there was some 



Company E, 62d Regiment. i8i 



picket firing done. The old men of the 62d P. V. are getting ready to go 
home. Four P. M. they are relieved and ordered to City Point, and by 8 P. 
M. the remaining men of Co. E, 62d P. V., are turned over to Co. D. 155th 
P. v., twenty-three being present ; 1 1 : 30 the old company regiment leave for 
City Point." 

On Sunday the orderly sergeant of Company D, of the One Hundred and 
Fifty-fifth, assisted by Mr. Graham, made a return of the men which had been 
transferred, and this return probably gave the date to the record of the trans- 
fer. It is with pleasure the writer acknowledges the courtesy and valuable 
assistance extended to him by Corporal Thomas Gatings and Private Williant 
M. Pollock, who have been the means of presenting a comparatively correct 
roll of the company. The diary of Private Graham, now dead, is indeed valu-^ 
able, but lack of space prevents expansion on topics therein carefully noted. 
The company saw hard service. Some of its members were not the most con- 
stant, but the great majority were earnest, loyal, and courageous men. 

Corrected Roll of Company E, Sixty-second Regiment. 

Thomas Kerr,i captain, July 25, 1861, three years; dismissed April 5, 
1862. 

Franklin Sweet, captain, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from first 
sergeant December 22, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; mustered 
out with company July 13, 1864. 

W. B. Montgomery, first lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 3, 1863, by order of Major-General Sykes. 

Philip Arner, first lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted from 
sergeant September 30, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Daniel Rivers, second lieutenant, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 8, 1863, by order of Major- General Sykes. 

Martin V. Hartzel, first sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to 
sergeant December 22, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863, and at 
Bethesda Church June 2, 1864; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Wilson Crick, first sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years ; missing at Gaines's 
Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

William H. Hillis, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to ser- 
geant August I, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; 
mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

William Ransel, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

George Miller, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed sergeant 
November i, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

William F. Furgeson, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed cor- 

1 See fool-note at the beginning of this chapter. 
14 



1 82 History of Clarion County. 

poral July i, 1862; sergeant December 22, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg; 
mustered out with company. 

Sylvester D. Hamler, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Jan- 
uary 21, 1862. 

Jackson McPherson, sergeant, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged. 

Johnson C. Gardner, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed cor- 
poral July I, 1862, color guard ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Thomas J. Springer, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed cor- 
poral September 4, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

C. R. Armstrong, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed corporal 
September 4, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

John W. Paine, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years ; appointed corporal De- 
cember I, 1862; prisoner at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 

William Hays, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed corporal, 
November i, 1863; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

John L. Gilbert, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; appointed corporal 
August 12, 1 86 1 ; discharged to accept promotion February 22, 1862. 

Neal Lawson, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to corporal 
October 25, 1863; discharged November 17, 1862, for wounds received at 
Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862. 

Thomas Gatings, corporal, August 30, 1861, three years; wounded and 
prisoner at Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862; also at North Anna in May, 1864; 
transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864, 
veteran. 

John M. Shaffer, corporal, February i, 1864, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral December 22, 1863 ; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regi- 
ment P. v., July 3, 1864, veteran. 

Robert T. Barr, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years ; promoted to corporal 
March 12, 1863; killed at Spottsylvania Court House May 10, 1864. 

Henry W. Mahey, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral October 25, 1861 ; died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 24, 1862. 

Lawson D. Reed, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; captured; died at 
Richmond, Va., July, 1862, of wounds received at Malvern Hill, July i, 1862. 

James McKinley, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral July I, 1862; died July 15, of wounds received at Gettysburg July 2, 1862. 
Daniel Mitchell, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years; deserted July 30, 
1861. 

William J. Gifford, corporal, July 25, 1861, three years ; appointed corporal 
April 15, 1862 ; deserted June 20, 1862, 

Anderson, Lot M., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862 ; discharged November 17, 1862. 



Company E, 62D Regiment. 183 

Addleman, Eph. W., private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Minor's 
Hill, Va., March 17, 1862. 

Buchanan, Henry, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded and pris- 
oner at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862; wounded at Wilderness May 8, 1864; 
mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Benn, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Malvern 
Hill July I, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Boyd, Levi, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged September 5, 
1861. 

Boyd, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged February 
20, 1863, on account of wounds received at Malvern Hill July i, 1862. 

Barr, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; discharged July 30, 
1862. 

Baxter, John, private, September 2, 1862, three years; substitute; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864 ; burial 
record — died at Alexandria, Va., June 24, 1864; grave 2,233. 

Beer, Henry, private, July 25, 186 1, three years; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps September i, 1863. 

Baker, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Malvern 
Hill July I, 1862 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps September i, 1863. 

Barrett, John T., private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Minor's Hill, 
Va., February 12, 1862. 

Buzzard, Jonathan, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Mal- 
vern Hill, Va., July i, 1862; missing at the Wilderness Va., May 9, 1864; 
supposed to be killed. 

Buzzard, Thomas, private, three years ; not on muster-out roll. 

Bell, James, private, three years ; not on muster-out roll. 

Curry, Jacob P., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Cooper, John H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Culberson, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Cribbs, John L., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Cunningham, M., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged June i, 
1862. 

Cowan, Robert, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged ^Novem- 
ber 21, 1862. 

Cook, Francis, private, July 10, 1861, three years; drafted; wounded at 
Spottsylvania Court House May 12, 1864; transferred to One Hundred and 
Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 



1 84 History of Clarion County. 

Clark, Wm, M., private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Curie, James, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; died on steamer Commo- 
dore August, 1862. 

Carson, Geo. O., private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Philadelphia, 
Pa., August 4, 1862, of wounds received at Gaines's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

Carson, Samuel, private, September or August, 1862, three years; killed 
at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864. 

Cowan, John, private, three years; deserted August, 1861. 

Delistatious. Walter, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Jan- 
uary 27, 1863. 

Dougherty, John O., private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1863. 

Devore, Geo. W., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; died at Sharpsburg, 
Md., December 26, 1862. 

Davidson, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Philadel- 
phia, Pa., July 8, 1862. 

Elder, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged February 
10, 1863. 

Erbaugh, Francis M., private, December 27, 1863, three years ; transferred 
to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864; veteran; re-en- 
listed December 2"] , 1863. 

Elder, James E., private, July 25, 1861, three years; missing at Gaines's 
Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

Elliot, William, private, three years ; not on muster-out roll. 

Fox, John B., private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Gaines's 
Mill, Va., June 27, 1862 ; discharged November 17, 1862. 

Flack, Henry, private, three years ; discharged, date unknown. 

Freeman, George W., private. August 30, 1861, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Ford, John P., private, July 10, 1863, three years; drafted ; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Foster, Robert, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died December 26, 
1 861 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Fackender, Hugh R., private, July 25, 1861, three years; killed at Cold 
Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 

Frier, James, private, July 25, 1861 ; three years, killed at Gaines's Mill, 
Va., June 27, 1862. 

Fair, Isaac, private, July 25, 1861, three years; deserted at Chancellors- 
ville, Va. 

Galbraith, John W., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 5, 1 86 1. 



Company E, 620 Regiment. 185 



Graham, Joseph W., private, September 13, 1862, three years; promoted 
to corporal June 28, 1864; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regi- 
ment P. v., July 3, 1864. 

Guntrum, David, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Guntrum, Martin, private, March 29, 1864, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Girts, William H., private, February 24, 1864, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Garvin, George, private, three years ; not on muster-out roll. 

Himes, John A., private, three years; re-enlisted December 27, 1863; 
transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864, 
veteran. 

Hastings, Eli, private, August 20, 1862, three years; wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment 

P.V., July 3, 1864. 

Hull, Isaac A., private, August 20. 1862, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Hours, Samuel, private, September 13, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty- fifth 
Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Harden, Bonaparte, private, September 16, 1863, three years; substitute; 
transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Hoffman, Sylvester H., private, February 24, 1864, three years ; transferred 
to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Harringer, Robert, private, July 25, 1 861, three years; deserted August, 
1861. 

Huey, William, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; not on muster-out roll. 

Irvin, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged March 19, 
1862. 

Jones, Thomas, private, August 30, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Jellison, Robert, private, 1863, three years; deserted August 14, 1864; re- 
turned ; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 
1864. 

Kratzer, Reuben, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Kerr, Samuel L., private, July 25, 1861, three years; deserted September 
12, 1862. 

Lookabaugh, Jacob, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 5, 1 86 1. 

Lobaugh, Samuel W., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; discharged Jan- 
uary 29, 1863, for wounds received at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862. 



1 86 History of Clarion County. 

Lancaster, James H., private, July i6, 1863, three years; drafted; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Mohney, Alexander, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Miller, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 3, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Monigan, Dennis, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; absent, sick, at mus- 
ter out. 

Mohney, Gibson, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged October 
22, 1862. 

Mortimer, David, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Novem- 
ber 17, 1862, for wounds received at Gaines's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

Mortimer, David B., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; discharged Febru- 
ary 9, 1863. 

Mohney, Isaac, private, February 29, 1864, three years ; transferred to One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Mortimer, Samuel L., private, December 28, 1863, three years; wounded 
at Malvern Hill, Va., July i, 1862 ; re-enlisted December 13, 1863 ; wounded 
at Spottsylvania Court House May 12, 1864 ; transferred to One Hundred and 
Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Mossburg, Thomas D., private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted ; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

McGregor, Daniel, private, July 25, 1861, three years ; wounded at Spott- 
sylvania Court House May 12, 1864; mustered out with company July 13, 
1864. 

McKee, John M. E., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

McCoy, William H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged July 
6, 1862 ; burial record — died at Philadephia, Pa., July 19, 1862. 

McFadden, Robert P., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged 
February 28, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 
1862. 

McKee, John A., private, July 25, 1 861, three years; discharged October 
25, 1862, for wounds received at Gaines's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

McLeary, James, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged 
November 18, 1863. 

McKisson, John D., private, August 31, 1863, three years; substitute; 
transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

McCauly, Thomas, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 
to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

McCormick, James, private, August 29, 1863, three years; substitute; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 



Company E, 62D Regiment. 187 

McCool, Thomas, private, March 29, 1864, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V.. July 3, 1864. 

McCoy, James, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Minor's Hill, 
Va., October 21, 1861. 

McCoy, George, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died February 25, 
1864, of wounds received in camp; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. 
C; veteran. 

McElroy, Joseph, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died July i, 1862, 
of wounds received at Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862. 

McCoy, Thomas, private, July 25, 1861, three years; not on muster-out 
roll. 

Nicklow, John, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged 
November 19, 1863. 

Newell, William M., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Janu- 
ary 9, 1864. 

Nail, Levi, private, March 29, 1864, three years; transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Neal, Henry W., private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Minor's Hill, 
Va., November 4, 1861. 

Punkhard, Daniel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Malvern 
Hill, Va., July i, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; mustered out 
with company July 13, 1864. 

Pollock, William M., private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Pinks, Samuel B., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; discharged Septem- 
ber 5, 1861. 

Palmer, Valentine, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged July 11, 
1863. 

Peaden, James F,, private, July 25, 1861, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps ; date unknown. 

Probasco, James, private, December 28, 1863, three years; re-enlisted De- 
cember 27, 1863 ; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., 
July 3, 1864; veteran ; wounded at North Anna River in May, 1864. 

Pastorius, Hugh, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded 
May 25, 1864; transferred to Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Reg- 
iment, July 3, 1864. 

Payne, George, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died May i, 1862; 
buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Pollock, John C, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Philadelphia, 
Pa,. December 2, 1862. 

Rusk, John, private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 



i88 History of Clarion County. 



Robins, George, private, July 25, 1861, three years; captured; date un- 
known; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 30, 1864; grave 7293. 

Reddick, Quincy A., private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Rossenberger, John B., private, July 12, 1863, three years; drafted; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Rankin, James L., private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Steward, James F., private, July 25, 1861, three years ; wounded at North 
Anna, May, 1864; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

Shirk, Daniel, private July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany July 13, 1864. 

Sharp, Evelyn D., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 13, 1864. 

Saggerser, William R., private, July 25, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 13, 1864. 

Sloan, John S., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged November 
27, 1861. 

Stewart, Robert A., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged July 
30, 1862. 

Smathers, Jacob, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged February 
19, 1863. 

Shirk, John M., private, September 13, 1862, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Sharp, Hanford R., private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Stewart, Robert A., private, March 29, 1864, three years ; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Shyrock, John O., private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 
to One Hundred and Ffty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Story, William, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded at 
the Wilderness May 5, 1864; transferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Reg- 
iment P. v., July 3, 1864. 

Thomas, Mathew, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged April 22, 
1862. 

Thompson, Henderson, private, July 25, 1861, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Truby, Andrew J., private, September 13, 1862, three years; transferred 
to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Thomas, James H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; missing at Malvern 
Hill, Va., July i, 1862. 

Varner, Samuel, private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; discharged March 3, 1864. 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 189 

Work, Thomas A., private, July 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 13, 1864. 

White, Robert, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged July 30, 
1862. 

Warner, Sylvester, private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember II, 1862; re-enlisted March 31, 1864; transferred to One Hundred 
and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Watson, James H., private, July 25, 1861, three years; discharged April 
18, 1863. 

Whipkey, WiUiam, private, July 16, 1863, three years; substitute; trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Wilson, John B., private, February 24, 1864, three years; transferred to 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment P. V., July 3, 1864. 

Work, Joseph, private, July 25, 1861, three years; died at Licking Run, 
Va., January i, 1864. 

Winters, John, private, March 31, 1864, three years; not on muster-out 
roll. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

COMPANY F, SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 
When and By Whom Recruited — Officers — Service on the Field — Roll of Company. 

IN July, 1 861, immediately after the battle of Bull Run, Bernard J. Reid, 
esq., acting under written authority from Colonel Alexander Hays,- began 
to recruit a company of volunteers for the war. Captain Reid's head- 
quarters were at Clarion. On the 5th of September, 1861, he left Clarion 
with forty-seven recruits, marched overland to Kittanning, and thence by rail 
to Pittsburgh, where he with his company joined Colonel Hays's regiment in 
Camp Wilkins. Captain Reid was ordered to return immediately to Clarion 
county, accompanied by Sergeant George W. McCullough, to enlist more men. 
On the 17th of September they again marched with forty-six new recruits. 
When they reached Camp Wilkins they learned that the regiment had gone on 
to Washington. They followed by rail via Harrisburg and Baltimore, and 
joined the regiment September 21, at Camp Hays, in the eastern suburbs of 
Washington. At Camp Hays the regiment was armed and equipped for active 
service, and was numbered and designated the Sixty-third Regiment Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers. Captain Reid's company was designated Company F. It 
was given position at the center of the left wing of the regiment. 

15 



190 History of Clarion County. 

The company election was held September 23, 1861, when Bernard J. Reid 
was elected captain, John G. McGonagle, first lieutenant, Lawrence Eagan, 
second lieutenant, and Joshua H. Delo, first sergeant. Curtis C. Zink, George 
W. Fox, John R. Guthrie and ^George W. McCullough, were appointed ser- 
geants ; John Kuhns, Robert S. Elgin, James Waley, David R. Dunmire, Da- 
vid Irwin, Thomas H. Martin, Adam Potter and John Stewart, corporals ; Ami 
Whitehall and Samuel K. Richards, musicians ; Joseph Lichtenberger, bugler, 
and Preston H. Moodie, teamster. 

Other recruits came into camp and the complement of the compan)^ was 
filled. On the 28th of September the regiment crossed the Potomac and 
camped on the Leesburg turnpike near Fairfax Seminary, at which point were 
the headquarters of General Franklin, to whose division the Sixty- third was 
assigned. The camp here was called Camp Shields. President Lincoln and 
his wife visited Camp Shields October 4th, and on this occasion Arnold's Bat- 
tery gave them a salute of fifteen guns. On the 8th of October an election 
was held under State law in every company of the regiment. This was the first 
and only time that the soldiers voted in the army, as the Supreme Court de- 
cided in the spring of 1862 that soldiers could not legally vote away from their 
domicile. 

On the 9th of October, 1861, the ceremony of formally mustering the reg- 
iment into the service of the United States was performed by Lieutenant C. 
W. Tolles, of the Thirteenth U. S. Infantry. The regiment broke camp Octo- 
ber 14th, and moved to a point on the Alexandria and Richmond turnpike, a 
mile south of Fort Lyon, and five miles from Mount Vernon. This camp was 
called Camp Johnson. Here the regiment was placed in Brigadier- General C. 
D. Jamison's Third Brigade of the Second Division, which was commanded 
by Major- General Heintzelman. The brigade included the following regiments: 
The Fifty- seventh Pennsylvania, commanded ^by Colonel Charles Campbell ; 
the Sixty-first Pennsylvania, by Colonel Rippey ; the Sixty- third Pennsyl- 
vania, by Colonel Alex Hayes; the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Lujeane ; and the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania, by Colonel 
McKnight. Soon after this the Sixty-first and the Ninty-ninth were trans- 
ferred to other divisions, and the Eighty-seventh New York and the Twentieth 
Indiana Volunteers were put into the Third Brigade. In each camp the troops 
were daily exercised in company and battalion drill ; also in camp guard and 
police duty. After being brigaded the troops entered upon brigade drill, 
fatigue duty on the earthworks at Fort Lyon, in addition to the exercise and 
duty previously mentioned. They were also given regular terms at picket 
duty out in front about nine miles from camp. They were also engaged in an 
occasional reconnaissance in force to keep in check raiding parties of the enemy. 

Company F's first experience in picket duty was on Hallow Eve in 1861, 
and continued three days. The company picket line was over a mile in ex- 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 191 



tent. By the default of the officer of the day the company was left on duty 
without the countersign or any specific instruction, but the men were cool and 
vigilant and acquitted themselves well for beginners, considering the diffi- 
culties. 

After the company had gone into winter quarters at Camp Johnson Cap- 
tain Reid, with other officers, was ordered to return to Pennsylvania on re- 
cruiting service. They were placed under orders of Major Dodge, superintend- 
ent of recruiting service at Harrisburg. Captian Reid was ordered to Clarion, 
where, during the month of February, 1862, he recruited and turned over to 
Major Dodge about twenty men to be mustered in and forwarded to the regi- 
ment. March 13, Captain Reid was ordered to close his recruiting office and 
report to Major Dodge at Harrisburg, where, after settling his accounts, he was 
ordered to join the regiment. March 17, he reached his company at Alexan- 
dria, Va., and the regiment embarked that same day for Fortress Monroe, 
which place it reached on the i8th. The regiment landed alongside the Mon- 
itor which had vanquished the Merrimac in a terrible conflict nine days before. 
The troops went into camp near the ruins of Hampton, which had been burned 
by the Confederates to prevent the Federal soldiers from occupying it. The 
whole army was to concentrate here for the advance up the Peninsula to Rich- 
mond. It had just been divided into corps. Company F belonged to the 
Third Corps. Heintzelman commanded the corps and General S. C. Hamil- 
ton had succeeded to the command of the division. He was succeeded April 
4 by General Phil Kearney, when the army took up its line of march to York- 
town. In the afternoon of April 5, Company F encamped in an open field in 
plain sight of the fortifications at Yorktown. The whole division had halted and 
was encamped within easy cannon range of the enemy. The infantry rested 
on their arms. Meantime some of our artillery became engaged with the en- 
emy, whose return missiles killed several of our artillery horses and men. A 
detail of Berdan's sharpshooters soon put our troops in comparative safety for 
a few days. They picked off the enemy's gunners and almost silenced his guns. 
Little demonstration was made by the rebels until toward evening on Sunday, 
April 6, when they sent some solid shot down into the clover fields to remind 
the Union troops that the fortifications were still occupied. Being saluted with 
these unwelcome visitors. Colonel Hays, seeming to desire to express his con- 
tempt for the proceedings, ordered the Sixty-third out for dress parade in plain 
sight of the rebels. The ceremony was performed in detail, the band " beat 
off" with the Star Spangled Banner and Yankee Doodle, the salutes were given 
and parade dismissed, then the rebels acknowledged the compliment by send- 
ing a large conical shell over the heads of the regiment into a piece of woods 
half a mile beyond it. That was the regiment's last dress parade. On the 8th 
of April the cannonading continued and some picket firing took place. On 
the 9th General Jamison took the Sixty- third on a reconnaissance along the 



192 History of Clarion County. 

wooded banks of Warwick River, where the enemy was constructing earth- 
works. A brisk skirmish ensued, in which Sergeant David Irwin, of Company 
F, was killed. He was the first soldier in the Clarion county companies to be 
killed in battle, and the first of the Third Brigade to fall in the Peninsular cam- 
paign. On this occasion the company's conduct deserves special mention. It 
was marching parallel with the wooded bank of the stream and probably sev- 
enty-five yards from it. The two rear companies had been left some distance 
back on the main road. Thus company F was the last in the line. As the 
company advanced in this position the rebels on both sides of the stream opened 
fire upon the regiment from their concealment in the timber. By that volley 
Sergeant Irwin was mortally wounded. The regiment was halted and faced to 
the front. By this movement Company F occupied the extreme left of the 
regiment. Captain Reid was at his place in front of the center of the com- 
pany. Suddenly all of the companies to the right of Company F broke ranks 
and took to the nearest trees. This action seemed contagious, and Company 
F also broke ranks and hurried to the shelter of the timber. Captain Reid 
thinking this the effect of a sudden panic, and not approving of that kind of 
conduct in face of the enemy, shouted " Company F stand your ground ! " In- 
stantly every man came back to his place in line as if on parade. Just then 
the colonel came down the line from the extreme right. He complimented 
Company F for its gallantry, and said that he had ordered the regiment to 
break ranks. Captain Reid had not heard the order. After further exchange 
of shots, rebel reinforcements were seen to arrive, and the regiment was marched 
back to camp, Company F bearing its dying sergeant with it. That afternoon 
the Union camps were withdrawn to the swampy woods, out of reach of the 
enemy's lighter guns, but still within range of their heavy ones. 

For four weeks the regiment occupied this new camp. During their stay 
here the soldiers became very familiar with the hideous music of screaming 
shells and crashing tree tops. The company performed picket duty, dug 
trenches, and stood under arms for the protection of others so engaged. It 
was almost constantly under artillery fire and frequently skirmished with the 
enemy's infantry. Many suffered from disease while here, as there was a dearth 
of pure water, and the camp had not adequate drainage. 

On the night of May 3, 1862, General Jamison selected the left wing of the 
Sixty-third for an important and perilous duty. The general desired to place 
a squad of picked sharpshooters in a rifle pit to be dug within five hundred 
yards of the principal rebel fort. This had been twice attempted on a previ- 
ous night. It must be done now. The grand bombardment was to begin May 
4, by the Federal gunboats and the heavy siege guns. General Jamison was 
officer of the trenches for that day. The sharpshooters must be in the pits to 
pick off the gunners and silence their heaviest guns, and it devolved on him to 
see that the pits were dug at the point previously determined upon, and that 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 193 



the sharpshooters were in them ready for duty on the morning of the 4th. 
The left of the Sixty-third was selected for this point, and the right for a sim- 
ilar duty at another point. Company F was a part of the left. The five com- 
panies were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan, and they were led by 
General Jamison in person to a sheltered nook near the place selected for the 
pits. Here they waited till the moon went down, about midnight. The shells 
of the enemy screamed over their heads, and the air was made livid by burn- 
ing fuses. When he deemed it dark enough the general led them silently up 
a gentle slope, on the top of which the work was to be done. Three compan- 
ies halted below the crest of the slope and stood there under arms. Company 
B, commanded by Captain Kirkwood, were armed with picks and spades to 
dig the pit. Company F was given the post of honor. It was ordered to de- 
ploy a little beyond the crest and to hold the ground at all hazards, till the pit 
would be finished. The company numbered about seventy men. When it 
started on what seemed a march to almost certain death General Jamison said 
to Colonel Morgan : " O, God ! it is hard, but it has to be done ! " Company 
F marched forward to its post of duty without flinching. It lay, and waited, 
and watched for two hours with fifty men on the ground designated by General 
Jamison, and twenty picked men led forward by Captain Reid as skirmishers. 
As they lay and watched, the rebels were sweeping the horizon in all directions 
with the fiercest cannonading that had been witnessed thus far in the campaign. 
Company F was so close to the enemy's fort that the men could distinctly hear 
the commands given to the gunners. At length the pit was completed, the 
new made embankment was disguised with pine bushes, and half a dozen sharp- 
shooters entered the pit and were left to their fate, out of reach of help when 
the general bombardment would begin. Company F was called back, and on 
its way to camp General Jamison warmly congratulated the troops for their suc- 
cessful and bloodless work. The men did not retire. When about to do so 
the daylight came, and with it loud and wild cheering. The enemy had evac- 
uated their fortifications. The furious cannonading was done merely to divert 
attention from their departure, which began on the previous day and was com- 
pleted in the early morning. The guns had been manipulated by a small rear 
guard. Our army pursued the enemy on the 4th of May, and that evening 
our cavalry found him entrenched at Williamsburg. On the 5th a portion of 
our troops gave him battle at that place. The Sixty-third was under artillery 
fire in the afternoon for some time. It was deployed to relieve some troops in 
front just about dusk. It was under infantry fire only a short time when dark- 
ness caused the firing to cease. The troops lay on their arms that night ready 
for the fray next morning. During the afternoon the regiment had unslung 
and stacked their knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and blankets, as some fast 
marching had to be done. When Company F halted, its equipments were 
three miles in the rear, and the mud on the road was knee deep, as it had rained 



194 History of Clarion County. 

all the night before. The men had no supper and no means of getting break- 
fast. Captain Reid called for ten volunteers to go with him to get their out- 
fits. These eleven went back and loaded up with all they could carry. They 
got back to the front some time before day, and Company F was enabled to 
satisfy both hunger and thirst, while the other companies had to wait till the 
wagons came up. The morning revealed the fact that the enemy had evacu- 
ated Williamsburg. The One Hundred Fifth and the Sixty-third were the 
first regiments to enter the city. The march into Williamsburg was a sad one. 
The soldiers passed over the dead and dying of both armies. The dead were 
buried and the wounded taken to William and Mary College, where they were 
cared for. The unfortunate blue and gray were mercifully treated side by side. 

Company F was next engaged May 31st at Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, one 
of the bloodiest battles of the war. At two o'clock that day, Saturday, May 
31st, the company was engaged in burying Corporal Dummire, who died the 
night before. When Rev. Captain Danks, acting chaplain, was reciting the fu- 
neral rites at the yet unfilled grave, the wind from the west bore to the ears of 
the men the crack and roar of a furious battle in the direction of Richmond. 
The company was convinced that desperate work had taken the place of the 
light skirmishing of the past few days, so they hastily filled the grave and re- 
turned to camp, where they found Colonel Morgan and seven companies under 
arms and ready for orders to march. Orders soon came. The regiment was 
then near Meadow Station, eleven miles from Richmond and four from Fair 
Oaks, where Casey's division of Keyes's Corps had been assaulted by over- 
whelming numbers, and after a gallant resistance was falling back before the 
enemy. 

The Third Brigade marched on a double quick up the railroad track two 
miles, then along the Williamsburg road through the mud another mile. On 
the last mile the brigade met a stream of wounded men and fugitives, driven 
down the road by the shot and shell of the enemy. Disabled artillery with 
empty caissons was hurried toward the rear, while fresh guns and full caissons 
went rolling forward to take their places. A short distance beyond the forks of 
the road at Seven Pines, General Jamison, amid a perfect storm of shot and 
shell, deployed the eight companies of the Sixty- third on the west of the 
Williamsburg road, and the One Hundred Fifth on their right, extending 
across the road, and gave the order to advance. It should here be observed 
that the other two companies of the Sixty- third were with Colonel Hays on 
fatigue duty when the march up the railroad began, and had not joined the main 
body when this advance was ordered. The troops moved forward through 
a difficult abatis and a belt of standing timber, and soon reached the edge of 
the open ground where Casey's tents still stood, and where his redoubt and its 
battery of artillery had been captured, and its guns added to the rebel artillery, 
which was disputing Jamison's advance. The artillery was supported by heavy 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 195 

masses of infantry posted behind rifle pits, and long ranks of cord wood, from 
the shelter of which they kept up a furious fire of small arms at short range. 
The Union side of the open ground was held by a weak line formed by some 
companies from the Third and Fifth Michigan, of Berry's Brigade of the same 
division, with the Sixty-third. These troops had gone in only a short time be- 
fore the Sixty-third, which reinforced their line and mingled with them in the 
conflict. Company F had only forty-four men in this battle; the others were 
on detached duty or sick in camp and at various hospitals. During the first 
half hour after reaching the front Orderly J. H. Delo, Sergeant R. S. Elgin, 
and George W. Rhees were killed, and Private F. P. McClosky mortally wounded. 
During the afternoon Private James McCammon, Peter O'Neill, and Peter Nu- 
gent were seriously wounded ; James McDonald, Andrew McDonald, and Jon- 
athan McCurdy, all privates, were captured. All the Federal troops on the 
right of the Williamsburg road were forced from their position, and fell back 
along that road, contesting every inch of the ground ; but long before dark 
the enemy had possession of the road as far back as Seven Pines, which was 
nearly a mile in the rear of the point occupied by the Sixty-third. General 
Jamison sent couriers to order the regiment back, to save it from imminent 
capture, but the orders were not received. The Sixty- third, with the Michigan 
soldiers, held its line and kept up a constant fire upon the opposing infantry 
until night came. It had used all of its ammunition, including that of the 
dead and wounded, which was used to replenish the cartridge boxes of the 
living. After seeing Elgin, Rhees, and a Michigan soldier shot at his side, 
Captain Reid took up the rifle and ammunition of the latter and used the 
weapon until the last cartridge was gone. The last sounds of the conflict in- 
dicated to the small body of men here contending that the enemy in force held 
the turnpike behind it, and that it was enveloped on three sides by the rebel 
troops. When darkness came the regiment withdrew from the field through 
the woods diagonally to the left and rear, to avoid encountering the enemy. 
Captain Kirkwood was the senior captain. The regiment had no field officer, 
Colonel Morgan having been wounded and borne from the field early in the 
fight. Captain Kirkwood gave Captain Reid the lead. Aided by a small 
pocket compass, read by the light of friction- matches, these officers led the 
troops safely through the dark woods, and about midnight they rejoined their 
division, which was holding a second line, with the rest of the army, two miles 
in the rear of the place where the little fragments of the two Michigan regi- 
ments and the Sixty-third Pennsylvania had solitary and alone held the left of 
the Union front line till darkness closed that day's scene of carnage. 

On the next day, June ist, fresh troops that had arrived in the night took 
the advance, and the enemy fell back toward Richmond after a short struggle. 
The division to which the Sixty- third belonged was held in reserve, so Com- 
pany F was not engaged the second day. The army was kept under arms 



196 History of Clarion County. 

three or four days, expecting a renewal of the attack, and then the corps took 
position on the extreme left of the advance line which Casey had held before 
the battle, and which was strongly entrenched by the Union troops during the 
first three weeks of June. 

Then came the " Seven Days' Battle," commencing June 25th, and ending 
with the battle of Malvern Hill, July i, 1862, The battle was opened in our 
immediate front on the 25th by Kearney's and Hooker's divisions being thrown 
forward to feel the enemy's position on the right wing in the direction of Rich- 
mond. General John C. Robinson had succeeded to the command of the Third 
Brigade, in the place of the gallant General Jamison, who was fatally stricken 
with fever after the battle of Fair Oaks. The Sixty-third advanced some two 
or three miles, mostly through swampy woods, and had several lively skir- 
mishes with the enemy's infantry. The artillery on both sides of the advanc- 
ing Union troops was also giving them attention. When night came the brig- 
ade was drawn back about half way to its entrenched camp, and held its line 
of battle there all night in the woods, occasionally receiving a volley in the 
•dark from the enemy, who had followed it up closely. When daylight came it 
was ordered back to camp. In that day's skirmishes Company F had Private 
William Greenawalt killed and Privates P. D. Griffin, John Johnson, and An- 
thony Greenawalt wounded, each of the last two losing an arm. 

In this action, and during the remaining battles of the Seven Days' Fight, 
Captain Reid acted as major of the regiment, as there was no field officer pres- 
ent for duty but the colonel. From the 26th to the 29th inclusive, during 
the temporary indisposition of Colonel Hays, Captain Reid was in command 
of the regiment. Company F was commanded by First Lieutenant George W. 
McCullough, who, during the previous winter, had been promoted to second 
lieutenant in place of Lieutenant Eagan, who had resigned, then to first lieu- 
tenant on the death of Lieutenant McGonagle, from typhoid pneumonia, June 
21, 1862. 

On the 26th of June Captain Reid was in command of the Sixty-third. 
The battle of Mechanicsville was raging on the extreme right of the Union 
line across the Chickahominy. The Sixty-third was led on a reconnaissance 
in our front, but did not encounter the enemy. It passed over its battle-ground 
of the previous day. On the 27th the right wing fell back to Beaver Dam, 
and there fought the bloody battle of Gaines's Mill. The Sixty-third was not 
engaged on the 27th. On tiie 28th Captain Reid was ordered to report with 
the Sixty-third to General Fitz John Porter, at Trent House, on the south side 
of the river, to which point he had withdrawn the whole right wing of the 
Union army during the night. The Sixty-third was stationed to guard the 
two bridges over which Porter had crossed the stream, and while Reid, with 
his regiment, held these points, that officer took up his line of march towards 
James River — the first step in the celebrated "change of base" determined 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 197 

upon by the general in command, but which none then yet knew of except the 
corps commanders. The Sixty-third held the bridges and the shores of the 
Chickahominy that day and in the evening returned to its post on the extreme 
left of our entrenched front. While the men were at their coffee and hard tack 
General Kearney visited the camp on foot, and told Captain Reid to have the 
men supplied with three days' cooked rations and 150 rounds of ammunition 
during the night. The captain thinking Kearne)'^ had made a mistake as to 
the number, ventured to ask him where the men could put so many. Kearney 
replied " Anywhere, captain, anywhere ; in their knapsacks, their pockets, or 
their boots ! Anywhere so they have them ! We will have a good deal of 
marching to do and they may need them." He also ordered the captain to see 
that every officer and man of the regiment sewed a red patch on his hat or cap> 
in a conspicuous position, so that the general could recognize his own troops.. 
That was the origin of the famous red diamond or Kearney Badge. That night 
the incessant rumbling of artillery wagons and other vehicles over cordurojr 
roads near our camps told very plainly that some general movement was on 
foot. At daylight of Sunday, June 29, the regiment left the front and fell back 
nearly a mile, when it halted to make coffee. While breakfasting the soldiers 
heard the prolonged cheering of the rebel troops, who had taken possession of 
the earthworks abandoned by McClellan's army. The Third Corps fell back 
slowly to its old second line, and halted there as a rear guard across the Will- 
iamsburg road till the middle of the afternoon, exposed to the shells of the en- 
emy, who was cautiously feeling his way on our track. General Kearney finally 
led his troops by a cross road to the upper crossing of the small stream called 
Whiteoak Creek, which lay between his division and the James River. The 
other and greater part of the army was to cross lower down. Between the dry 
banks of this stream was a flat swamp of one hundred yards in width, exceed- 
ingly miry and almost impassable by man or beast. A single string of logs 
enabled foot soldiers to cross single file, and mounted officers had to take the 
chances of losing their horses in the miry stream. Captain Reid rode one of 
Colonel Hays's horses, called " Shellbark." When he reached the stream two 
horses were already dead, having drowned while struggling to get out of the 
slough. Several others had crossed in safety. " Sliellbark " stuck midway, 
and the captain dismounted in the mire, into which he sank to the waist. He 
held the horse's nose above water while he plunged and floundered. Mean- 
while the division had passed over, and while Reid and " Shellbark " were bat- 
tling with the mire, the head of the column encountered a body of the enemy, 
and the rattle of musketry began. Very soon the division returned to the 
creek in single file and crossed over on the string of logs. General Kearney, 
rather than risk a general engagement before the trains were all safe, had or- 
dered a countermarch. Soon ail the troops had recrossed to take the road to 
a bridge farther down, and rather than see his horse drown. Captain Reid stayed 

16 



198 History or Clarion County. 

with him at the risk of capture, and finally succeeded in getting him safe to 
shore. By this time it was dark, but both found their way to where the corps 
was bivouacking, on the high grounds beyond the swamp, having crossed be- 
low. Monday the corps moved forward at intervals and reached Charles City 
Cross Roads about noon. It halted in a clover field, where a fierce battle was 
soon to rage. During the forenoon another portion of the Union army had a 
contest with Jackson's corps at the lower crossing of the swamp. At Charles 
City Cross Roads, about two o'clock, heavy masses of the enemy, from the di- 
rection of Richmond, deployed in the edge of the woods facing Kearney's 
troops, and kept up till dark a succession of determined onsets of infantry, aided 
by numerous batteries of artillery posted advantageously. Thompson's battery 
of the regular artillery was posted in the clover field occupied by Kearney's 
division, and the Sixty-third was ordered to support it. Colonel Hays had 
that morning resumed command, and gallantly did he perform the task allotted 
to him. Repeated charges of the enemy were repulsed at the point of the 
bayonet, and the battery was saved from the most desperate attempts to cap- ' 
ture it. General Kearney in his official report of this battle says: "I have here 
to call attention to this most heroic action of Colonel Hays and his regiment. 
The Sixty- third has won for Pennsylvania the laurels of fame." General Berry 
wrote concerning the same affair: "Never was task better done or battery bet- 
ter supported." In this action Company F had privates John Thompson, 
Charles Harbst and Jacob I. Delo wounded, the latter mortally. Our troops 
held their ground till night, and before morning moved on to Malvern Hill, 
where the last battle of the memorable seven days' fight took place. The bat- 
tle was fought on the Union side principally by the artillery. The Sixty- 
third was posted in a depression in the ground, ready to support a battery if 
needed, but it was not called into action and suffered no loss. 

This in brief is the history of Company F to the close of the Peninsular 
campaign. From Malvern it went to Harrison's Landing. 

It is here proper to give an account of Captain Reid's resignation. For a 
month before arriving at Harrison's Landing he had been suffering with chronic 
diarrhoea and camp malaria. He was daily growing more feeble. At the 
battle of Glendale or Charles City Cross Roads he stood for two hours beside 
the guns of Thompson's battery, while the Sixty-third was lying low, right in 
front of it, ready to repel charges, and assisted the exhausted gunners in push- 
ing forward their guns after each recoil, so that the flying particles of the shell- 
flanges, when the guns were discharged over the backs of our men, would not 
injure them as some had done. The heat of the day and the over exertion 
imder excitement reacted, and Captain Reid became so weak before night that 
he had to be assisted from the field. However, he remained with the regiment 
next day at Malvern till towards evening, when by order of the brigade sur- 
geon he was taken with other sick to the field hospital. The next day, for 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 199 



want of ambulances, nearly all the sick at Malvern had to drag through rain 
and mud as best they could to Harrison's Landing. By the advice of Colonel 
Hays, and with the approval of General Kearney, Captain Reid tendered his 
resignation, which was accepted, and he was honorably discharged August i, 
1862, and he left for home on one of the James River transports August 4, 
1862. 

Captain Reid informed the writer that his sickness alone would not have 
induced him to resign. Two years before the war he had been appointed 
trustee of the Hetherington lands, and was under $30,000 bonds for the faith- 
ful application of the proceeds of the sale. When he entered the army he left 
all this business with his law collections in the hands of his then law partner, 
who had just been admitted to the bar and who gave no security, as no secur- 
ity was asked by the senior member of the firm. In the spring of 1862 this 
party wrote the captain that his mind was becoming affected, and that he 
thought he would have to abandon the profession. Reid was soon informed 
by clients and others at home that his partner had closed the office and gone, 
no one knew where, leaving collections made by him unaccounted for, and all 
the business going wrong. These matters were laid before his superior officers, 
and the captain was advised that under the circumstances it was his duty to re- 
sign and set matters straight. The absent partner subsequently returned and 
satisfactorily settled his accounts. First Lieutenant George W. McCullough 
succeeded to the command of the company, and Second Lieutenant George W. 
Fox was promoted to first lieutenant, and Corporal David Shields to second 
lieutenant, all on the 4th of August, 1862. 

Company F was next engaged at Bull Run, August 29, 1862. Kearney 
reported the Sixty- third Pennsylvania and the Fortieth New York to have 
suffered the most loss. Company F had John R. Guthrie, John Thompson, 
Henry Shoup, killed ; and Lieutenant George W. Fox, First Sergeant James 
Waley, Corporal Thomas H. Martin, and Privates J. Shugart Elder, Martin 
Castner, E. Highbarger, Daniel O'Neill, Alfred T. Ranee, John G. Richards, 
and James Sample wounded. Fox, Martin, Castner, Highbarger and Rich- 
ards were discharged afterwards on account of wounds here received. 

After the fatal Chantilly, where the heroic Kearney fell, Colonel Hays was 
promoted to brigadier-general on the 29th of September, and Lieutenant- Col- 
onel Morgan became colonel. Hays won his promotion by his gallant conduct 
at Bull Run. The company assisted in the defense of Washington till after 
Antietam. It joined the army near Leesburg, and moved with it to Warren- 
ton. At Fredericksburg it went to the front on the 13th of December, and 
remained there forty-eight hours under fire till the 15th, when it was relieved, 
and late at night fell back with the entire army across the river. Its loss was 
light. William M. Thompson was captured, and Benjamin P. Hilliard, one of 
the musicians, was wounded. In the battle of Chancellorsville the company 



200 History of Clarion County. 

was less fortunate. Captain McCullough, First Lieutenant Fenstermacher, Cor- 
porals Joseph Loll and Stewart Fulton, and Private James McDonald were 
wounded on the 3d of May. McDonald was discharged on account of wounds. 

The company next took part in the battle of Gettysburg. General Sickles 
now commanded the corps. On the 1st of July the men could hear the can- 
non in the contest where the braye Reynolds fell. On receiving the news of 
the death of Reynolds, Sickles hastened his men forward and reached the battle 
field at ten o'clock that night. The corps went into bivouac on the Emmitts- 
burg Pike. Scarcely had the men lain down when an order came for the Sixty- 
third to go on the picket line. On the 2d the brigade was brought into posi- 
tion on the pike to the right of the cross road leading to Round Top. The 
Sixty-third was thrown forward on the skirmish line, and was hotly engaged 
till five o'clock in the afternoon, when it was ordered to the rear to replenish 
its ammunition, which had been expended. It also needed rest, as it had been 
on the extreme front and constantly engaged for seven terrible hours. The 
regiment spent the night of the 2d on picket to the right of Little Round Top. 
The dead of our soldiers lay thick around. On the 3d at ten o'clock the regi- 
ment was double-quicked to support a battery in the immediate front of Meade's 
headquarters, where it remained till the battle closed. The loss was slight when 
we take into consideration its exposed position and the length of time it was 
engaged. Company F had Lieutenant Fenstermacher, Sergeant John A. Grif- 
fin, Corporal Adam Potter, and Private P. D. Griffin wounded. At Kelly's 
Ford and Mine Run the company met with no casualties. 

In the spring of 1864 the regiment became a part of General Hays's Sec- 
ond Brigade, Third Division of the Second Corps. The regiment marched at 
midnight. May 3d, and camped on the 4th at evening on the old battle ground 
of Chancellorsville, where the men saw the unburied skeletons of soldiers who 
fell in that battle one year before. It advanced to the front at 3 P. M., May 5, 
and was at once engaged, and the battle raged with great fury till after dark. 
General Hays was killed. Colonel Danks was wounded. The command of the 
regiment fell upon Major George W. McCullough, late captain of Company F, 
who had been promoted major April 5, 1864. On the 6th of May the battle 
was renewed, and in a counter charge sustained by the Third Division Major 
McCullough was mortally wounded. He died the following day, and added 
another illustrious name to the long list of Clarion county heroes who had been 
slain in battle. During these two days the Sixty-third had lost one hundred 
eighty-six rank and file. It was temporarily consolidated with the One 
Hundred and Fifth, with Captain Weaver, of Company C, in command. This 
new body was led through the exciting experiences of the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 
loth, by this officer. On the iith he was wounded, and Captain Hunter took 
command. He led the regiment during the severe fighting of the 12th, and 
assisted in the final and decisive repulse of the enemy at Spottsylvania Court 
House. 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 201 



On his return from detached service, Captain Isaac Moorhead assumed com- 
mand of the regiment. During the Wilderness campaign Company F sus- 
tained the following losses : On the 5th First Sergeant James Waley and Cor- 
poral James Hamilton were killed. The same day Sergeants Anthony R. 
Refner and William Hall, Corporals Joseph Loll, James McBride, and William 
Blair, and Privates Andrew Basom, John Cyphert, Gregory Lawrence, Anthony 
Torry, and Hugh P. McKee were wounded. Sergeant John A. Griffin was 
wounded on the 6th, Private William Thompson on the 7th, and Private Jonas 
Highbarger on the I2th. After the battle Jonas Highbarger and John Den- 
slinger were missing. Andrew Basom having lost a leg, his wound proved 
fatal on the i8th of May. William Blair's wounds caused his death on 
the 2 1 St. 

The regiment was later engaged at North Anna River, and again after it 
crossed Pole-cat River, but Company F sustained no loss. On the i6th of 
June, before Petersburg, Lieutenant Fenstermacher was wounded. At Peters- 
burg also Anthony Torry was wounded with loss of leg. The regiment suf- 
fered severely. Captain Moorhead was among the slain. Colonel Kiddoo, 
formerly of Company F, commanded a regiment of colored troops, and won 
distinction by capturing a fort from the enemy, in front of Petersburg. After 
this no casualties were sustained by the company, and it was mustered out on 
the 8th of September, 1864. 

During its eventful career, this brave body of Clarion county's sons won 
enduring laurels for themselves, and made for us a page of history of which we 
may well be proud. The company all told numbered one hundred twelve 
men, of whom forty-two were wounded in battle, five of which died from their 
wounds. Eleven were killed in battle. Captain McCuUough was promoted to 
major of the regiment April 5, 1864, and he was killed in action at the Wilder- 
ness, May 6, 1864. That made eleven of the company who were killed in ac- 
tion, but only ten are shown on roster. 

Joseph B. Kiddoo entered the service as a private of Company F. He rose 
to corporal, then to first sergeant of his company. He was next promoted to 
lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers on the 25th of August, 1862. Later he was promoted to 
colonel of the Twenty-second colored regiment, and finally to brigadier- general 
in the regular army, which rank he held at the time of his death, about the year 
1880. Joseph Lichtenberger was promoted to principal musician and trans- 
ferred to the One Hundred and Fifth. William McCaskey, after being dis- 
charged for sickness, re-enlisted in February, 1864, in the Second Pennsylvania 
Heavy Artillery, and died in service September 30, 1864. Michael Kemp re- 
enlisted in December, 1863, and rose to first sergeant in Company H, One 
Hundred and Fifth. Andrew McDonald was promoted to sergeant in the One 
Hundred and Fifth, and he was discharged November 5, 1865. Barney Mc- 



202 History of Clarion County. 

Cann re-enlisted January 19, 1 864, in Company A, Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers. Andrew E. Russell was detailed into the Signal Corps in 1862. 
John Vorhauer was detailed at brigade headquarters in 1862. Lieutenant David 
Shields was assigned as aid to Brigadier- General Hays in 1862, and Lieutenant 
George W. Fox re-enlisted in Veteran Reserve Corps in 1864. 

Since their discharge, the following members of Company F have died. 
This list may not be complete, but it is given in full as far as known now (Jan- 
uary, 1887): Lieutenant Lawrence Egan died in Baltimore in 1862; Joseph 
Lichtenberger, bugler, died in Licking township, Clarion county, May 18, 1875; 
First Lieutenant Isaac Fenstermacher died at Clarion December 27, 1877; 
Sergeant John A. Griffen died at Red Bank Furnace, Clarion county, in April, 
1866; Sergeant William L. Hall died in Piney township, Clarion county, about 
1864. Privates — John Johnston died at Strattanville, Clarion county, February 
14, 1865; Gregory Lawrence died at Jamestown, N. Y., in 1881 ; Daniel 
O'Neill died in the West somewhere about 1875 ; Anthony Torry died at 
Clarion April 22, 1884; Sergeant Andrew McDonald died at North Pine Grove, 
Clarion county, March 9, 1883. General Joseph B. Kiddoo died in New York 
City August 20, 1880. The readers of this sketch will recognize many of the 
survivors of this company among their friends and neighbors. 

Only seven of the company were ever captured. One was left in hospital 
sick and unaccounted for. Two were missing. Only one deserted. Two re- 
signed, both on account of ill health. Only tJiirteen were mustered out with 
the company. 

Recapitulation. — Original enlistment, 94 men ; enlisted recruits, 1 1 men ; 
drafted recruits, 7 men ; total. 112 men. Killed in battle while in company, 
10 ; die I of disease, 20 ; died of wounds, 5 ; discharged for wounds, 9 ; dis- 
charged for other causes, 27 ; resigned, 2 ; missing and unaccounted for, 3 ; 
deserted, i ; promoted out of the company, 3 ; transferred, 19; mustered out 
with company, 13 ; total, 112. 

Captain Reid, who recruited the company and to whom the writer is 
indebted for valuable memoranda concerning this company, lives in Clarion 
town. He is well known throughout Clarion county as one of the most able 
attorneys at the Clarion bar. Many passages in the foregoing pages are 
taken verbatim from Captain Reid's notes, as tlie writer felt that to change 
them would be to render less acceptable this narrative. This sketch of 
Company F has been penned with earnest admiration for the talented gentle- 
men who bore its titles. The deeds of its heroic men, led by heroic officers, 
together with the memory of its battle-slain and oth^r dead warriors, should 
inspire the children of these men, and in turn their children's children, to 
patriotic and earnest lives. 

It is believed that the roster of Company F, Avhich follows, is as free from 
errors as one can be compiled. 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 203 

Corrected Roll of Company F, Sixty-third Regiment.^ 

Bernard J. Reid, captain, August i, 1861, three years; resigned August i, 
1862. 

George W. McCulloch, captain, August i, 1861, three years; promoted 
from sergeant to second lieutenant November 22, 1861 ; to first Heutenant 
June 23, 1862 ; to captain August 4, 1862 ; to major April 5, 1864 ; wounded 
at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863. 

David S. Shields, captain, October 15, 1 861, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral June I, 1862 ; to second lieutenant August 4, 1862 ; to captain April 5, 
1864; wounded at Rapidan, Va., November, 1863; discharged June 9, 1864. 

John G. McGonagle, first lieutenant, August i, 1861, three years; died in 
hospital of pneumonia June 21, 1861. 

George W. Fox, first lieutenant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted 
from sergeant to second Heutenant June 23, 1862 ; to first lieutenant August 
4, 1862 ; discharged March i, 1863, for wounds received at Bull Run, Va., 
August 29, 1862. 

I. N. Fenstermacher, first lieutenant, August i, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to corporal June 30, 1862 ; to first sergeant August, 1862 ; to first lieu- 
tenant May 19, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863 ; Gettys- 
burg July 3, 1863; Petersburg June ii, 1864; discharged July 23, 1864. 

Lawrence Egan, second lieutenant, August i, 1861, three years; resigned 
November i, 1861. 

James Waley, first sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal to sergeant July 15, 1862 ; to first sergeant November, 1863 ; wounded 
at Bull Run August 29, 1862; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; veteran. 

Joseph B. Kiddoo, first sergeant, November i, 1861, three years ; promoted 
to corporal November 2, 1861 ; to first sergeant June i, 1862; to lieutenant- 
colonel One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment P. V., August 25, 1862. 

Joshua H. Delo, first sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; killed at Fair 
Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Curtis C. Zink, first sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to 
first sergeant June i, 1862 ; died at Harrison's Landing, Va., August 10, 1862. 

John R. Guthrie, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years ; killed at Bull Run, 
Va., August 29, 1862. 

Michael Kemp, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to ser- 
geant July 18, 1863 ; transferred to Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regi- 
ment P. v., veteran. 

Anthony P. Refner, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; transferred to Company K, One Hundred and 
Fifth Regiment P. V. ; veteran. 

1 Company F was principally enlisted August I, l86l. All dates after October 9 show the time of 

jecruits entering the company. ,..v,^.i, 



204 History of Clarion County. 

John A. Griffin, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; mustered out with 
company September 8, 1864. 

William L. Hall, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Wil- 
derness, Va., May 5, 1864; discharged October 25, 1864. 

John Kuhns, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted from cor- 
poral June I, 1862; died at Philadelphia, Pa., September 26, 1862. 

Robert S. Elgin, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal April 12, 1862; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

David Irwin, sergeant, August i, 1861, three years; promoted from cor- 
poral November 22, 1861 ; killed at Yorktown, Va., April 9, 1862. 

David R. Dunmire, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; died at Meadow 
Station, Va., May 30, 1862. 

Thomas H. Martin, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal April 12, 1862 ; discharged October 31 for wounds received at Bull 
Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

Adam Potter, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps April i, 1864; 
discharged October 10, 1864. 

John Stewart, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate 1862. 

John B. Denslinger, corporal, August i, 1861, three years ; missing at Wil- 
derness, Va., May 5, 1864; veteran, 

Joseph Loll, corporal, August i, i86r, three years; promoted to corporal 
April, 1863 ; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863 ; Wilderness May 
5, 1864; discharged February 6, 1865; veteran. 

James McBride, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral October 18, 1862; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; trans- 
ferred to Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V.; veteran. 

Stewart W. Fulton, corporal, October 15, 1861, three years; wounded 
at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; promoted to corporal December i, 
1863; transferred to Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V. ; 
veteran. 

William Blair, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to corpo- 
ral 1863 ; died at Fredericksburg, Va., May 21, 1864, of wounds received at 
Wilderness May 5, 1864. 

James Hamilton, corporal, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral 1863 ; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Joseph Lichtenberger, musician, August i, i86r, three years; promoted 
to principal musician, date unknown ; veteran. 

Ami Whitehill, musician, August I, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company September 8, 1864. 



Company F, 63D Regiment. " 205 

Benjamin P. Hilliard, musician, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; mustered out with company Sep- 
tember 8, 1864. 

Barr, James, private, August i, 1 861, three years ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate December 10, 1862. 

Basom, Andrew, private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded, with loss 
of leg, at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; died at Fredericksburg, Va., May 
18, 1864. 

Baumgardner, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; died near Fair 
Oaks, Va., June 30, 1862. 

Beer, Henry, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate October 31, 1862. 

Bolton, Thomas, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate 1862. 

Bouch, Joseph, private, January 28, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B, Ninety-ninth Regiment P. V. 

Cathers, Franklin, private, August i, 1 861, three years; died at Yorktown, 
Va., April 22, 1862. 

Campbell, William, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1862. 

Crooks, John S., private, August i, 1861, three years; died June 3, 1863. 

Cussins, Emanuel, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1863. 

Cyphert, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Wilder- 
ness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out with company September 8, 1864. 

Castner, Martin, private, March 4, 1862, three years; discharged 1863 for 
wounds received at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

Dale, Isaiah K., private, August i, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company September 8, 1864. 

Daum, Philip, private, August i, 1861, three years; died 1863. 

Delp, James O., August i, 1861, three years; wounded in action May 23, 
1864; transferred to Company A, date unknown ; veteran. 

Delo, Jacob I., private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded and cap- 
tured June 30, 1862; died, date unknown. 

Dunlap, William I., private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., with loss of eye, November i, 1864; transferred to Company 
H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V. ; veteran. 

Elder, J. Shugart, private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Bull 
Run, Va., August 29, 1862; discharged November 22, 1862. 

Eshleman, Finady, private, August i, 1861, three years; died April 25, 
1863 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Faroust, Bernard, private, August i, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps 1864. i' 



2o6 History of Clarion County. 

Frazier, Thomas M., private, August i, 1861, three years; died April 15, 
1862. 

Furgeson, Michael, private, March 28, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V. 

Gilford, John, private, August i, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company September 8, 1864. 

Goble, Alexander, private, August i, 1861, three years; re-enlisted as 
veteran December, 1863 ; wounded in leg at Hatcher's Run, Va., October 27, 
1864; transferred to Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V. 

Greenawalt, William, private, August i, 1861, three years; killed near 
Richmond, Va., June 25, 1862. 

Griffin, Philip D., private, August i, 1 861, three years; wounded near 
Richmond, Va., June 25, 1862; Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; discharged May 
20, 1864. 

Greenawalt, Anthony, private, November 25, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 8, 1862, for wounds, with loss of arm, received near Richmond, Va., 
June 25, 1862. 

Gilchrist, John, private, January 28, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V. ; veteran. 

George, Alpheus, private, April 13, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate 1862. 

Harbst, Charles, private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Charles 
City Cross Roads, Va., June 30, 1862; discharged February 18, 1863. 

Highbarger, H. L., private, August i, 1861, three years; died September 
3, 1862. 

Highbarger, Jonas, private, August i, i86r, three years; wounded and 
missing at Wilderness, Va., May 12, 1864; veteran. 

Hichbarger, E., private, October 15, 1861, three years; discharged Feb- 
ruary 7, 1863, for wounds received at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

Johnston, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged August 
8, 1862, for wounds, with loss of arm, received near Richmond, Va., June 25, 
1862. 

Keiser, David S., private, August i, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
June 30 to September i, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate 1863. 

Lawhead, John, private, August i, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate May 28, 1862. 

Lawrence, Gregory, private, August i, 1 861, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness May 5, 1864 ; North Anna, Va., May 23, 1864; mustered out with 
company September 8, 1864. 

Mentzer, Jacob, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate 1862, 

Moodie, Preston H., August i, i86r, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate 1862. 



Company F, 63D Regiment. 207 

Menser, William, private, February 27, 1862, three years; mustered out 
February 27, 1865 — expiration of term. 

McCloskey, Francis P., private, August I, 1861, three years; died July 
24, 1862, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862 ; buried in Mili- 
tary Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

McCammon, James, private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862; discharged September 22, 1862. 

McCaskey, William, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1862. 

McDonald, James, private, August i, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
May 31 to September 13, 1862 ; promoted to corporal May, 1863 ; discharged 
August 28, 1863, for wounds received at Chancellorsville, Va., May 31, 1862. 

McKee, Hugh P., private, August i, 1861, three years; appointed cor- 
poral June I, 1862 ; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out 
with company September 8, 1864. 

McLaughlin, M. J., private, August i, 1861, three years; died at Harri- 
son's Landing, Va., July 3, 1863 ! buried in Glendale National Cemetery, sec- 
tion D, grave 5. 

McMichael, George W., private, August i, 1861, three years; captured 
June 30, 1862; died at Richmond, Va., September 20, 1862. 

McCurdy, Jonathan, private, February 25, 1862, three years; prisoner 
from May 31 to September 13, 1862; transferred to Company H, One Hun- 
dred and Fifth Regiment P. V. 

McMumm, Thomas, private, February 27, 1864, three years; transferred 
to Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V. 

McDonald, John, private, February 25, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V, 

McBride, Robert, private, February 25, 1864, three years; died near Or- 
ange and Alexandria Railroad and fords of the Rapidan April 9, 1864. 

McDonald, Andrew, private, March 14, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
May 31 to September 13, 1862; transferred to Company G, Second U. S. 
Cavalry, November 5, 1862. 

McCann, Barney, private, February 27, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1863. 

Newhouse, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral December 28, 1863; re-enlisted December 30, 1863; veteran; trans- 
ferred to Company G, Second U. S. Cavalry, November 5, 1862. 

Nugent, Peter, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged Septem- 
ber 26, 1862, for wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

O'Neill, Daniel, private, August i, 1861, three years; wounded at Bull 
Run, Va., August 29, 1862; mustered out with company September 8, 1864. 

O'Neill, Peter, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged Novem- 
ber 9, for wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 



2o8 History of Clarion County. 

Paup, William A., private, August i, i86i, three years; died near Meadow 
Station, Va., November 12, 1862. 

Ranee, Alfred T., private, August i, 1861, three years; u^ounded at Bull 
Run, Va., August 29, 1862; discharged August 8, 1864. 

Reed, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; died at Meadow Station^ 
Va., June 24, 1862. 

Remel, George W., private, August i, 1861, three years; deserted 1862. 

Rhees, George W., private, August i, 1861, three years; killed at Fair 
Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Richards, S. K., private, August i, 1861, three years; transferred Septem- 
ber, 1862, to First New Jersey Artillery; returned to regiment April, 1864; 
mustered out with company September i, 1864. 

Richards, John G., private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged 1862 
for wounds received at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

Russell, Andrew E., private, August i, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company September 8, 1864. 

Rynard, Jacob, private, November 25, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1862. 

Sample, James, private, August I, 1 861, three years; wounded at Bull 
Run, Va., August 29, 1862 ; transferred to Company H, One Hundred and 
Fifth Regiment P. V. ; veteran. 

Shoup, Henry, private, August I, 1 861, three years; killed at Bull Run, 
Va., August 29, 1862. 

Slocum, Alden, private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate 1862. 

Smathers, Christian, private, August i, 1861, three years; died at Alex- 
andria March 18, 1862 ; buried at Alexandria, Va., grave 1 302. 

Straub, Sylvester, private, August i, 1 861, three years; died April 28, 
1863 ; buried in Strangers' burial ground, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Stroup, John A., private, August i, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1862. 

Thompson, John, private, August I, 1861, three years ; wounded at Charles 
City Cross Roads June 30, 1862; killed at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

Thompson, William M., private, August I, 1861, three years; captured at 
Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; wounded at Wilderness May 7, 
1864; mustered out with company September 8, 1864. 

Torry, Anthony, private, August i, 1861, three years ; wounded at Wilder- 
ness, Va., May 5, 1864; wounded, with loss of leg, at Petersburg June, 1864 ; 
discharged June i, 1865. 

Tyler, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; left sick at hospital 
May 18, 1862. 

Vorhauer, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
^ompany September 8, 1864. 



Company F, 67TH Regiment. 209 

Wiles, Abraham, private, August i, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate 1862. 

Wilkinson, William, private, August l, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 3, 1863. 

Woodruff, David, private, August I, 1861, three years; died near Meadow 
Station, Va., June 11, 1862. 



CHAPTER XX. 

COMPANY F, SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 
When Recruited — Familiar Names — Roll of Company. 

THIS company was recruited in Jefferson, Clarion, and Indiana counties by 
Samuel C. Arthur, with a recruiting station at Brookville, and Martin Flick, 
with a recruiting station at Rimersburg. The company was mustered in at 
Philadelphia December 19, 1861, by Lieutenant- Colonel Ruff. The first fight 
in which the company engaged was at Winchester, July 15, 1862, when a great 
many of the company were captured. Company F participated in the battle 
of Cedar Creek, made famous by "Sheridan's ride." The only reliable data 
that has been collected is embraced in the roll of this company. It had some 
exciting experiences, and participated in several brilliant exploits. It was mus- 
tered out of service at or near Washington July 14, 1865. 

Among the better known of its members, the reader will recognize the 
names of Martin Flick, once a justice of the peace at Edenburg; E. W. Haines, 
candidate for Legislature in 1882, and Levi Switzer, a fifer of some fame in the 
southern part of the county, who, it will be observed, was promoted to princi- 
pal musician of the regiment. 

General Harry White, ex-congressman of this district, and now president 
judge of Indiana county, was major of the Sixty-seventh. 

Roll of Company F, Sixty-seventh Regiment P. V. ^ 

Samuel C. Arthur, captain, February 27, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
June 15, 1863, to expiration of term ; mustered out March 11, 1865. 

Martin Flick, captain, May 3, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 14, 
1865. 

Martin Flick, first lieutenant, January 27, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
June 15, 1863, to expiration of term ; mustered out February 10, 1865. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



2IO History of Clarion County. 

George W. Sloan, first Lieutenant, April lo, 1863, three years; promoted 
from hospital steward May 16, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 14, 
1865. 

Joseph Ruff, second lieutenant, February 27, 1862, three years; commis- 
sioned first lieutenant Company E May 20, 1863; not mustered; prisoner from 
June 15, 1863, to expiration of term ; mustered out April 13, 1865. 

Jacob B. McCracken, first sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to corporal February 27, 1862 ; to sergeant February 3, 1864; to first 
sergeant March 20, 1865; mustered out with company July 14, 1865; veteran. 

Asaph M. Clark, first sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; commis- 
sioned second lieutenant July 27, 1863 ; not mustered; promoted to first lieu- 
tenant Company K February 5, 1865 ; veteran. 

George VV. Mohney, sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; promoted 
to corporal February 27, 1862 ; to sergeant May 20, 1865; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

William H. Switzer, sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; promoted 
to sergeant February 27, 1862; mustered out with company July 14, 1865; 
veteran. 

David H. James, sergeant, September 2, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal June i, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Justus G. Walton, sergeant, October 22, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Elias W. Haines, sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, 1862. 

Milbre V. Douglas, sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate — date unknown. 

Thomas J. Proctor, sergeant, February 4, 1862, three years ; mustered out 
February 4, 1865, expiration of term. 

H. Slaughenhaupt, sergeant, December 19, 1861, three years; killed at 
Locust Grove, Va., November 27, 1863. 

Fred Hilliard, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral February 3, 1864; mustered out with company July 14, 1865; veteran. 

William Nutall, corporal, September 14, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Thompson McAninch, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Alexander F. Flick, corporal, January 13, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal May 8, 1865 ! mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

David Clepper, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal May 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

John Dougherty, corporal, September 23, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal June 15, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 



Company F, 67TH Regiment. 211 

Michael Cauler, corporal, September 23, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal June 21, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Samuel Irwin, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded in action 
September 19, 1864; absent at muster out. 

David Altman, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
January 7, 1865. 

Daniel Armstrong, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered 
out December 23, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Thomas Black, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
December 31, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Solomon Crumm, corporal, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
December 19, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Robert Adams, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate, date unknown. 

John R. Bryan, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order, June 20, 1865. 

Wilson Ludwick, musician, February 27, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

William H. Morris, musician, February 27, 1862, three years; mustered 
out February 22, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Aylor, Christopher, private,'December 19, 1 861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Austin, John, private, September 2, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Askey, Henry, private, September 3, 1864, three years; substitute; dis- 
charged by general order June 20, 1865. 

Adams, James R., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Alexander, August, private, January 23, 1862, three years; mustered out 
January 25, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Alstead, Charles, private, December 29, 1864, three years ; substitute ; de- 
serted June 15, 1865. 

Burns, Edward, private, October 26, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865; veteran. 

Blair, Robert R., private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865; veteran, 

Bennett, Edward, private, October 5, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Burge, Lafayette, private, January 16, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with coiiipany July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Bates, John, private, October 10, 1861, three years; deserted August 9, 
1864; returned October 6, 1864; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; 
veteran. 



212 History of Clarion County. 

Brown, Thomas, December 24, 1864, one year; substitute; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865. 

Bright, Richard B., December 8, 1864, one year; drafted; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865. 

Baxter, John, December 28, 1864, three years ; substitute; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865. 

Bracelin, Patrick, September 14, 1861, three years; captured ; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Bole, Clarence B., private, January 13, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March 3, 1864. 

Barry, David, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate April 3, 1865. 

Burkepile, Noah, private, September 26, 1864, one year; drafted; dis- 
charged by general order May 26, 1865. 

Bridenstine, Joseph, private, September 29, 1864, one year; drafted; dis- 
charged by general order June 20, 1865. 

Bates, William, private, December 7, 1864, three years; substitute; dis- 
honorably discharged, 1865. 

Brown, Samuel A., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Bennett, Daniel, December 19, 1 86 1, three years ; transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps December 15, 1864. 

Berry, Orman, private, December 19, 1861, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps November 15, 1863. 

Barger, Jeremiah, private, January 13, 1862, three years; died at Brandy 
Station, January 8, 1864; veteran. 

Branson, William W., private, September 28, 1861, three years; captured; 
died, date unknown ; veteran. 

Brown, William H., private, December 19, 186 1, three years ; deserted Jan- 
uary 16, 1862. 

Carson, Michael, private, September 24, 1 861, three years ; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Cenft, Cornelius, private, December 28, 1864, one year; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company July 14, 1865. 

Carlew, David, private, November 21, 1864, one year ; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company July 14, 1865. 

Crick, Johnston, private, December 19, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate August, 1862. 

Cox, John H., private, February 8, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate February i, 1864. 

Crick, Uriah F., private, December 19, 186 1, three years; died at Berry- 
ville, Va., April 14, 1863; buried in National Cemetery, Winchester, Va., lot 
18 — burial record April, 1864. 



Company F, 67TH Regiment. 213 

Dickey, John, private, February 15, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Downes, John, private, December 30, 1864; substitute; absent on detached 
service at muster out. 

Davis, James A., private, December 19, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February i, 1864. 

Douglas, Thomas A., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Daughenbaugh, I., private, January 13, 1862, three years; died July 12, 
1864, of wounds received in action June 17, 1864; buried in National Ceme- 
tery, Arlington, Va.; veteran. 

Dunkelburg, Daniel, private, December 19, 1861, three years ; died, date 
unknown ; veteran. 

Decker, Hiram F., private, December 9, 1864, one year; substitute; de- 
serted June 15, 1865. 

Develing, Edward, private, December 8, 1864, one year ; substitute; de- 
serted June 16, 1865. 

Englart, Joseph, private, December 13, 1864, one year; substitute; dis- 
charged by general order June 17, 1865. 

Fisher, Edward, private, December 29, 1864, three years; substitute; 
mustered out with company July 14, 1865. 

Fox, Robert A., private, January 18, 1862, three years ; wounded in action 
April 6, 1865 ; absent at muster out ; veteran. 

Freedline, George, private, February 4, 1862, three years ; mustered out 
February 5, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Flick, Jesse, private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out De- 
cember 31, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Fairbanks, Edwin J., private, December 8, 1864, one year ; substitute ; dis- 
charged by general order June 15, 1865. 

Fisher, George, private, August 28. 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order June 20, 1865. 

Fisher, Henry A., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Fisher, Jacob, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by gene- 
ral order June 20, 1865. 

Fry, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by general 
order June 20, 1 865. 

Fisher, Benwell, private, December 19, 1861, three years; died December 
21, 1864. 

Grove, Peter, jr., private, January 12, 1862, three years ; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865; veteran. 

Gillen, Thomas, private, September 26, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. is 



214 History of Clarion County. 

Gay, Edward W., private, September 2, i86i, three years; deserted; re- 
turned ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Giroux, Frank, private, December 24, 1864, three years ; substitute ; mus- 
tered out with company July 14, 1865. 

Galloway, John, private, December 13, 1864, one year; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company July 14, 1865. 

Gailey, James R., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; .wounded in ac- 
tion April 6, 1865 ; absent at muster out. 

Glass, Andrew C, private, February 6, 1862, three years ; discharged Feb- 
ruary 7, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Graham, James W., private, September 10, 1862, three years; discharged 
by general order June 20, 1865. 

Greenwalt, John W, private, December 19, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps March 2, 1864. 

Geesey, Henry, private, February 6, 1862, three years; deserted January, 

1863. 

Hendericks, Aaron, private, September 2, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Herron, John, private, September 10, 1861 ; three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Hilliard, Samuel, private, January 31, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865. 

Hay worth, John, private, March 12, 1862, three years; deserted; returned; 
mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Hilliard, George M., private, January 13, 1862, three years; mustered out 
January 16, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Harriger, Michael, private, December 19, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate 1862. 

Hall, Silas E., private, December 30, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1862. 

Hadden, John M., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Hart, William, private, October 26, 1 861, three years; missing in action 
September 19, 1864. 

Hosey, Daniel S., private, December 19, 1861, three years; deserted Au- 
gust, 1862. 

Hutcheson, Perry, private, January 13, 1862, three years; deserted May 5, 
1864 ; veteran. 

Krotzer, Henry J., private, October 9, 1862, three years; mustered iout 
with company July 14, 1865. 

Keys, George W., private, December 19, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
December 19, 1864 — expiation of term. 



Company F, 67TH Regiment. 215 

Kerr, James W., private, February 17, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps April 6, 1864; discharged March i, 1865 — expiration 
of term. 

Lewis, Hiram H., private, January 31, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Lewis, Leander, private, January 31, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Lucus, John B., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order June 20, 1865. 

Livermore, John, private, January 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps April 3, 1864. 

Marra, William, private, September 30, 1861, three years; mustered out wi*^h 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Messner, John, private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Mohney, Elias, private, December 19, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
June 15 to July 19, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Miller, Albert, private, September 2, 1861, three years; wounded in action 
September 19, 1864 ; absent at muster out ; veteran. 

Mohney, Stanford H., private, December 19, 1861, three years; discharged 
for wounds received at Winchester, Va., June 15, 1863. 

Milliron, Henry B., private, January 13, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, February i, 1864. 

Mahon, James, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
ral order June 20, 1865. 

Mimm, John H., private, December 19, 1861, three years; captured; died 
at Annapolis, Md., September 5, 1863 ; burial record, September 21, 1863. 

McCuen, Thomas, private, February 16, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

McDonough, James, private, September 2, 1 861, three years; deserted, 
returned; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

McClure, Thomas, private, September 10, 1862, three years; discharged 
by general order June 20, 1865. 

McAdoo, Daniel, private, January, 13, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps 1862 ; discharged February 28, 1865 — expiration of 
term. 

McArdle, John, private, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to prin- 
cipal musician January 20, 1864; veteran. 

McCutcheon, R. D., private, December 19, 1861, three years; died at Bal- 
timore, Md., November, 9, 1864; veteran. 

O'Kain, Quinton, private, February 4, 1862, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 20, 1864. 



2i6 History of Clarion County. 

O'Keif, Michael, private, February 6, 1862, three years; killed at Peters- 
burg, Va., April 2, 1865. 

Overdorf, Henry, private, Feberuary 6, 1862, three years; died at Ann- 
apolis, Md., September, 1862 ; burial record, October 17, 1862. 

Peak, Thomas R., private, September 28, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Prichard, William, private, March 14, 1862, three years; deserted, re- 
turned ; mustered out May 23, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Patterson, Samuel D., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; prisoner from 
June 20, 1864, to April 28, 1865 ; mustered out June 13, 1865. 

Porter, Theodore, private, December 19, 1861, three years; died at Phila- 
delphia, Pa., October 23, 1863. 

Riley, George, private, December 12, 1864, one year; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company July 14, 1865. 

Ramsey, John A., private, February 17, 1862, three years*; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865; veteran. 

Shadle, John, private, December 19, 1861, three years ; prisoner from June 
15 to July 19, 1863 ; mustered out with company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Snyder, Henry, private, January 13, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company July 14, 1865 ; veteran. 

Sullivan, Patrick, private, August 30, 1861, three years; absent, sick, at 
muster out. 

Shuster, Henry C, private, October 24, 1861, three years; captured; mus- 
tered out with company July 14, 1865, veteran. 

Stitt, Jesse J., private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out De- 
cember 31, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Snyder, Henry C, private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
December 31, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Snyder, John W., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March, 1865. 

Sickenberger, Seb'n, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Stephens, Thos. P., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 20, 1865. 

Switzer, Levi, private, October 9, 1862, three years; promoted to principal 
musician May i, 1865. 

Scott, Benj. R., private, January 13, 1862, three years; killed at Winches- 
ter, Va., June 15, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, lot 10. 

Stewart, Benj. C, private, January 25, 1862, three years; deserted Janu- 
ary, 1863. 

Taylor, David, private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865, veteran. 



Company F, 67TH Regiment. 217 



Tufts, William, private, September 27, 1 861, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865, veteran. 

Thompson, E. B., private, January 23, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865, veteran. 

Taylor, William C, private, September 14, 1 861, three years; mustered 
out with company July 14, 1865, veteran. 

Taylor, Abijah, private, December 31, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate 1862. 

Truman, Henry, private, February 10, 1862, three years; mustered out 
Febuary ii, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Voinchet, John B., private, December 19, i86r, three years ; mustered out 
with company July 14, 1865, veteran. 

Williams, Daniel, private, February 15, 1862, three years; deserted July 
10, 1864; returned May 18, 1865; mustered out with company July 14, 1865, 
veteran. 

Walker, John R., private, February 26, 1864, three years ; absent, sick, at 
muster out. 

Walters, William, private, December 19, 1861, three years; mustered out 
December 19, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Walters, Joseph, private, January 15, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
June 21 to November 24, 1864; discharged April 26, to date January 13, 
1865. 

Werner, John, private, February 4, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate, 1862. 

Williams, Robert D., private, August 18, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order, June 20, 1865. 

Watson, Alexander P., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged 
by general order June 20, 1865. 

Woodington, G. G., private, February 11, 1862, three years; deserted 
May 5, 1864, veteran. 

Young, Edward W., private, January 17, 1862, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, 1862. 

Yoleman, Samuel, private, December 9, 1864, three years; substitute; de- 
serted May 3, 1865. 

Zantz, Jacob, private, December 19, 1861, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, 1863. 



2i8 History of Clarion County. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

COMPANY C, SEVENTY-BiaHTH REQIMENT, P. V. 

Recruiting — Service — Roll of Company. 

THE Seventy-eighth Regiment had the reputation of being one of the best 
regiments in the war, and Captain Drinker's was one of its best companies. 
It was recruited in Clarion county by John M. Brinker, afterwards its cap- 
tain, and mustered into service September i6, 1861. The regiment was in the 
Army of the Cumberland. It did some hard service, and it is with regret that 
the writer finds it impossible to give Company C more than a very brief sketch, 
on account of not being supplied with particular data with regard to the com- 
pany. After sharing the hardships and. triumphs of the regiment in many a 
well-fought field, the company was mustered out on the iith of September. 
1865. 

Some of the best known names on the roll of this company are Captain 
Brinker,"'' David Mohney, George D. Hamm, C. W. Allebach, and David 
Goodman. 

The company deserves a more extended notice than this, and it is hoped 
that some time its achievements may be duly chronicled. 

Roll of Company C, Seventy-eighth Regiment P. V.i 

John M. Brinker, captain, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

David Mohney, first lieutenant, September 16, 1 861, three years; resigned 
January 30, 1863. 

John Girts, first lieutenant, September 16, 1861, three years ; promoted from 
second lieutenant April 16, 1863 '■> resigned June 13, 1863. 

David R. Brinker, first lieutenant, September 16, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant to second lieutenant April 21, 1863 ; to first lieutenant 
July 22, 1863 ; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

A. S. McCulloch, second lieutenant, September 16, 1 861, three years; pro- 
moted from first sergeant July 22, 1863 ; mustered out with company Novem- 
ber 4, 1864. 

Andrew Brown, first sergeant, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

William H. Thomas, sergeant, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

John G. Wiant, sergeant, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

1 Copied from Bates. 





LP 




V ^\ 



jo-ocruy 



Company C, 78TH Regiment. 219 

George D. Hamm, sergeant, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Bernard Keigan, sergeant, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Harrison Stahlman, sergeant, September 16, 1861, three years; killed at 
Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864. 

Reuben Mohney, corporal, September 16, 1 861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Caleb W. Allebach, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Solomon Altman, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate June 27, 1862. 

Henry J. Gray, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 12, 1864. 

William H. Miller, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
May 14, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

Peter Keck, corporal, February 8, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

George J. Reese, corporal, February i, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

David Goodman, corporal, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

F. S. Hoffman, corporal, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

James C. McBride, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

John H. Schick, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

A. G. Workman, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., December 16, 1863. 

Samuel Lankard, corporal, September 16, 1 861, three years; died at Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., January 27, 1864; grave 20. 

B. Slaugenhaupt, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Camp 
Wood, Ky., January 21, 1862. 

Jacob Shaffer, musician, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Phineas F. Hatzell, musician, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Altman, Levi, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 4, 1862. 

Ames, James, private, August 15, 1864, three years; not on muster-out 
roll. 



220 History of Clarion County. 

Brinker, William, private, September i6, i86l, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Baird, William, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Bartley, William, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Burkhouse, Solomon, private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Bell, Leander, private, February 24, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Burket, Peter, private, September 30, 1864, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate August 5, 1865. 

Council, Owen, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Cramer, Martin V., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Copenhaver, John, private, February 2, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Campbell, F. W., private, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Curry, William B., private, September 16, 1861, three years; died in 
Clarion county. Pa., June 22, 1863. 

Dervire, John, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Evans, Thomas, private, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Frasier, John, private, September 16, 1 86 r, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Forney, Abraham, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Frasier, William H., private, September 13, 1862, three years; discharged 
October 26, 1863, for wounds received in action. 

Ferry, Patrick T., private, September 16, 1863, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Friel, Daniel, private, January 27, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

P'ranklin, Adam, private, February 24, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Farr, George W., private, March 21, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Guyer, John, private, September 16, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 



Company C, 78TH Regiment. 221 



Girts, John M., private, September 16, 1 86 1, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Gould, Henry, private, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Girts, James R., private, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., April 14, 1862. 

Girts, John B., private, September 13, 1862, three years; died September 
15, 1863, of wounds received in action. 

Hepler, Samuel, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Hoffer, Samuel A., private, Septem.ber 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Hoffer, William W., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Hepler, Thomas, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 27, 1863. 

Hilliard, Reuben, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate October 2, 1863. 

Himes, Levi, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany B, October 18, 1864. 

Hetrick, Adam, private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B, October 18, 1864. 

Hoffer, John, private, January 15, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B, October 18, 1864. 

Himes, Joseph C, private. May 7, 1863, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B, October 18, 1864. 

Henry, Patrick, private, September 13, 1862, three years; died at Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn., July 15, 1864, of wounds received in action. Grave 140. 

Hoffman, Zeph'h H., private, September 21, 1864, three years ; discharged 
by general order August 5, 1865. 

Horn, John L., private, September 21, 1864, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Jones, Thomas, private, September 1 16, 1861,^ three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Keller, John H., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Kennedy, Robert E., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Keller, Samuel W., private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
•on surgeon's certificate February 12, 1864. 

Kennedy, Philip, private, February 4, 1862, ^three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

19 



222 History of Clarion County. 

Keel, Henry H., private, March 31, 1864, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Keller, Elijah, private, March 24, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Klutz, George, private, September 16, 1 861, three years; deserted Decem- 
ber 9, 1 86 1. 

Kelly, Oliver, private, February 29, 1864, three years; not on muster-out 
roll. 

Latimer, William, private, September 16, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Lowry, Samuel, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Mohney, Joseph, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Mohney, Samuel, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Mohney, Adam, private, September 16, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Mohney, Samuel G., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Mohney, Jacob G., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Miller, Jacob, private, September 16, 186 1, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate June 26, 1862. 

Myers, David R. P., private, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Maitland, Alfred, private, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Miller, Henry, private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Mohney, Lewis, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Markle, Francis, private, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Louis- 
ville, Ky., December 14, 1861 ; buried in National Cemetery, section A, range 
2, grave 19. 

Montgomery, Gil. S., private, March 31, 1864, three years; died at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., July 21, 1864, of wounds received at Dallas, Ga. 

Mallison, Eli, private, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Camp 
Wood, Ky., January 11, 1862. 

McMiller, James M., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

McClelland, Jer. C, private, January 14, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 



Company C, 78TH Regiment. 223 



McCue, Martin, private, October 22, 1862, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

McBride, Ed. H. C, private, September 22, 1863, three years; transferred 
to Company B October 18, 1864. 

McMillan, Harvey M., private, September 16, 1861, three years; died at 
Louisville, Ky., November 12, 1861 ; buried in National Cemetery, section A, 
range i, grave 5. 

McMillan, William, private, September 13, 1862, three years; died Jan- 
uary 15, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn. 

Nolf, David H., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Nichols, Albert G., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Nolf, Isaac, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 17, 1863. 

Nichols, Andrew J., private, March 10, 1863, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Nichols, William A., private, January 12, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Orr, William, private, September 13, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 14, 1863. 

Price, John, private, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Nashville, 
Tenn., October 19, 1864, of wounds received in action. 

Peoples, James, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate June i, 1862. 

Polliard, Daniel, private, September 16, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps October i, 1863. 

Palmeter, Luman, private, September 15, 1863, three years ; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Pence, Benjamin J., private, September 16, 1861, three years ; died at Camp 
Wood, Ky., February 6, 1862. 

Quinn, Michael, private, September 16, 1 861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 4, 1862. 

Rothrock, R. K., private, September 16, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
September 8, 1863, to November 25, 1864; discharged January 18, 1865, to 
date November 25, 1864. 

Reese. Lewis, private, September 16, 1 86 1, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Rader, Isaac, private, September 16, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 4, 1862. 

Reese, Edward M., private, August 21, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 



224 History of Clarion County. 

Reed, George, private, February 4, 1862, three years ; died at Nashville, 
Tenn., January 16, 1864. 

Roper, William B., private, September 16, 1861, three years ; died at Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., March 11, 1864. 

Rader, William H. A., private, July 2, 1863, three years; died at Nashville, 
Tenn., date unknown. 

Richards, George, private, September 21, 1864, three years ; discharged by 
general order May 30, 1865. 

Shellenberger, G. W., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Shlaugenhaupt, G., private, September 16, 1 861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Shultz, Henry J., private, September 16, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Schick, Adam M., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Silvis, William, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Storvers, Simeon, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1 864. 

Shannon, John S., private, September 16, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Schick, Reuben M., private, September 16, l86l, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate June i, 1862 ; re-enlisted March 29, 1864; transferred 
to Company B October 18, 1864. 

Schick, John, private, September 16, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate May i, 1862. 

Shannon, James E., private, September 16, 1 861, three years ; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate April 11, 1862. 

Stokes, Simon, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate May 13, 1863. 

Silvis, Amos, private, September 13, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate February 18, 1864. 

Schick, Adam, private, September 29, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Silvis, Jeremiah, private, September 29, 1 861, three years ; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Shindledecker, A., private, August 21, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Sherman, John, private, August 21, 1862, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 

Schick, John R., private, August 21, 1862, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany B October 18, 1864. 



Company E, 78TH Regiment. 225 

Slocum, A. G. C, private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Shannon, George B., private, March 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Schick, WilHam F., private, March 9, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Smith, George M., private, January 23, 1864, three years ; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Stone, Sylvester C, private, March 21, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Spiker, Christian, private, September 16, 1861, three years; died at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., August 31, 1862. 

Saegers, Lewis, private, September 16, 1861, three years; died January 5, 
1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn. 

Shindledecker, F., private, September 21, 1864, three years ; discharged by 
general order August 5, 1865. 

Thompson, David, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Thomas, Jacob, private, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Turney, George W., private, October 23, 1863, three years; discharged by 
general order October 13, 1864. 

Thompson, McClain, private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 

Woodward, West, private, September, 16, 1 861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate December 17, 1862. 

Wiant, Frederick, private, September 16, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps October i, 1863. 

Wiant, Jacob, private, September 16, 1861, three years; killed at McLam- 
or's Cove, Ga., September 11, 1863. 

Young, John P., private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company B October 18, 1864. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

COMPANY E, SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V. 

Recruited — Mustered — Service — Familiar Names — Roll of Company. 

THIS is another noble company, composed of Clarion county's gallant 
sons, that can be given only a short sketch at the writer's hands. It de- 
serves a volume. It was mustered into service on the 12th of October, 1861,. 



226 History of Clarion County. 

at Kittanning. This company was organized at West Freedom, Clarion 
county, Pa. It left that place August 19, 1861, and proceeded to Pittsburgh, 
arriving there on the 2 1st of the month ; then it came back as far as Kittan- 
ning, and was there mustered into the service as Company E, of Colonel Sir- 
well's Seventy- eighth Regiment. With the Army of the Cumberland it 
shared in the struggles and victories of our troops, and was mustered out of ser- 
vice November 4, 1864, at Kittanning, Pa. 

The following names are familiar to many people of Clarion county: James 
G. Briggs, T. M. Graham, Allen Anchors, William J. Ramsey, David R. 
Elliott, Joseph R. Painter, Chambers Yingling, and many others on the follow- 
ing roll. 

Roll of Company E, Seventy-eighth Regiment.^ 

James N. Hose}-', captain, October 12, 1861, three years; commissioned 
major April 9, 1864; not mustered ; mustered out with company November 
4, 1864. 

Thomas J. Elliott, first lieutenant, October 12, 1861, three years ; resigned 
August 30, 1862. 

James H. Anchors, first heutenant, October 12, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from second lieutenant April 27, 1863, mustered out with company No- 
vember 4, 1864. 

William F. Elliott, second lieutenant, October 12, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from first sergeant September i, 1863 ; mustered out with company 
November 4, 1864. 

James G. Briggs, first sergeant, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted 
from sergeant September i, 1863 ; mustered out with company November 4, 
1864. 

Peter Wender, sergeant, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal May 20, 1863 ; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

T. M. Graham, sergeant, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Henry A. Crick, sergeant, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal March i, 1863 ; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

Jefferson B. Henry, sergeant, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal November i, 1863 ; to sergeant October 31, 1864; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Wm. H. Pritchard, sergeant, October 12, 1 861, three years ; promoted from 
private December 16, 1861 ; died at Nashville, Tenn., October 31, 1862. 

Reuben Latshaw, sergeant, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted from 
corporal November i, 1862; killed at Stone River, Tenn., January 2, 1863; 
buried in National Cemetery, grave 240. 

' Copied from Bates. 



Company E, 78TH Regiment. 227 

Jeremiah Hummel, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

James McNutt, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral September 17, 1863; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

John Grunden, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Allen Anchors, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral November i, 1862, mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

Harrison Adams, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal April 6, 1863; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

John Lusher, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral April 27, 1863 ; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

Wm. J. Ramsey, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal May 21, 1863 ; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

W. M. YingUng, corporal, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal February i, 1864; mustered out with company November 4, 1864. 

Armstrong, Charles, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Armstrong, Jackson, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Brady, John, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
compan}^ November 4, 1864. 

Boyer, Levi, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864, 

Bartley, Daniel W., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Blair, Isaiah, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate October 20, 1862. 

Boyer, Ralph, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate August 13, 1863. 

Baker, Marion, private, October 12, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company I, November 16, 1861. 

Barnaby, A. M., private, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to hos- 
pital steward November i, 1863. 

Barrackman, E. S., private, September 18, 1862, three years; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps May i, 1864- 

Burns, Thomas L., private, October 12, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps November 10, 1864. 

Bierey, Jeremiah, private, January 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Barnett, Daniel, private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany A October 18, 1864. 



228 History of Clarion County. 

Berger, William, private, October 12, 1861, three years; died at Louis- 
ville Ky., December 10, 1861 ; buried in National Cemetery, section D, range 
4, grave 92. 

Boyer, Martin L., private, October 12, 1861, three years ; died at Louis- 
ville, Ky., December 13, 1861 ; buried in National Cemetery, section A, range 
2, grave 4. 

Burford, Samuel, private, October 12, 1861, three years; died at Stone 
River, Tenn., January 8, 1863, of wounds received in action; buried in Na- 
tional Cemetery, grave 211. 

Corbett, William, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Callender, James, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Collar, George, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate June 28, 1862. 

Chamber, James B., private, October 12, 1861, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 14, 1862. 

Daniels, Harrison, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Disler, Joseph M., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Davis, William, private, October 12, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company I November i, 1863. 

Debo, Simon A., private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Daniels, David, private, October 12, 1861, three years; died February 25, 
1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn. 

Edinger, Henry, private, October 12, 1861, three years; captured near 
Chattanooga, Tenn., September 8, 1863. 

Enbody, Davis, private, February 19, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A November 18, 1864. 

Elliott, David R., private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A November 18, 1864. 

Fox, George, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1 864. 

Fox, John L., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Flick, David R., private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate July 2, 1862. 

Ferguson, C. D., private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

George^ Martin W., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 



Company E, 78TH Regiment. 229 

George, Christian, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Graham, OHver, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Grant, Joseph, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

George, Reuben, private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
company A October 18, 1864. 

Hogan, Benjamin F., private, October 12, 1 861, three years ; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Hunter, William M., private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Hummel, Samuel, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Hogan, George W., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Hagan, James, private, October 12, 1861, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps November i, 1862. 

Howe, Horatio S., private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Huffman, John F., private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Hays, William, private, October 12, 1861, three years; died January 24, 
1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn. 

Irvin, Joseph, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Kelly, Samuel, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Knox, James, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate June 30, 1862. 

Karnes, Alexander, private, August 23, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Lytle, David S., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Latshaw, Ebenezer J., private, October 12, 1861, three years; died in 
Clarion county. Pa., August 2, 1862. 

Myers, Charles, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Meeker, Heber B., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Marshal, Henry M., private, October 12, 1861, three years; captured near 

Chattanooga September 8, 1863. 
20 



230 History of Clarion County. 

^_j 

Markle, William, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 14, 1862. 

Moore, Gibson G., private, October 12, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps February 14, 1862. 

Martin, Lewis, private, October 12, 1861, three years; promoted to quar- 
termaster-sergeant March i, 1862. 

Marsh, George, private, October 12, 1861, three years; died March i, 
1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn. ; burial record, P. Marsh, 
National Cemetery, Stone River, grave 217. 

Mortimer, William S., private, October 12, 1861, three years; died March 
5, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn. 

McCool, Jasper, private, October 12; 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

McCoy, Andrew, private, October 12, 1 861, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Mcllwaine, James A., private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

McPherson, James A., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Mcllwaine, Josiah, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March 5, 1862. 

McElroy, James, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

McCall, Eli, private, January 3, 1862, three years; transferred to Company 
A October 18, 1864. 

McCain, Alexander, private, October 12, 1861, three years; died at Free- 
port, Pa., April 24, 1864. 

Nichols, James G., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Nichols, George W., private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
company A October 18, 1864. 

Over, Christian, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; missed in action at 
Stone River, Tenn., January i, 1863. 

Phinici, Samuel, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; prisoner from Sep- 
tember 23, 1863, to November 20, 1864; discharged January 17, 1865, to date 
November 20, 1864. 

Painter, Joseph R., private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Reese, Thomas, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Ramsey, John W., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 



Company E, 78TH Regiment. 231 

Reichert, Thomas L., private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Reardon, Andrew J., private, February 17, 1864, three years; transferred 
to company A October 18, 1864; veteran. 

Rupert, S. M., private, October 12, 1861, three years; died February 17, 
1862. 

Slaugenhaupt, J. A., private, October, 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Say, Thomas, private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Snyder, John, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Seip, James H., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Shaner, Samuel R., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Smith, Henry C, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out with com- 
pany November 4, 1864. 

Shafer, Henry S., October 12, 1861, three years; transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps September i, 1863. 

Sewart, Allen, private, January 3, 1862, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany A October 18, 1864. 

Slaugenhaupt, J. D., private, October 12, 1861, three years; killed at Dal- 
las, Ga., May 21, 1864. 

Snyder, Christian, private, October 12, 1861, three years; missing in ac- 
tion at Stone River, Tenn., January i, 1863. 

Sternts, Peter, (or Peter Stauts), private, March 21, 1864, three years; 
died at Nashville, Tenn., July 9, 1864. 

Slater, Evan W., private, October 12, 1861, three years ; paroled prisoner; 
deserted 1863. 

Turner, John H., private, October 12, 1 861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Teitsworth, James R, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Turner, John M., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 

Thorn, Samuel, private, October 12, 1861, three years; killed on picket 
November 13, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Louisville, Ky., sec. D, 
range 4, grave 93. 

Williams, Jonathan N., private, October 12, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company November 4, 1864. 

Whitling, Edward, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1864. 



232 History of Clarion County. 

Wormer, Jacob, private, October 12, 1 861, three years; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Wenner, WilHam, private, October 12, 1 861, three years; died December 
7, 1 86 1, buried in National Cemetery, Louisville, Ky., sec. D, range 4, grave 
98. 

Whitehill, Henry H., private, October 12, 1 861, three years ; died January 
9, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River, Tenn.; burial record H. H. White- 
hill, National Cemetery, grave 128. 

Yingling, John, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company November 4, 1864. 

Yingling, Chambers, private, October 12, 1 861, three years; mustered out 
with company November 4, 1 864. 

Yingling, Joseph R., private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company A October 18, 1864. 

Yohe, John, private, October 12, 1861, three years ; killed on picket at 
Camp Rutherford, Tenn., April 16, 1862. 

Yingling, David M., private, March 21, 1864, three years; died at Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., July 21, 1864. 

Yingling, Emory, private, March 31, 1864, three years; captured; died at 
Andersonville, Ga., August 18, 1864, grave 6,103. 



CHAPTER XXni. 

COMPANY A, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. 
Enlistment — Route to the Field — Services — Roll. 

IN August, 1 86 1, Captain R. Laughlin, assisted by A. H. Alexander, W. C. 
Mobley, and James R. Haun, recruited a company of volunteers at Callens- 
burg. Clarion county. Pa. It went into camp at Camp Orr, Kittanning, Pa., 
with fifteen men, who were left there, and the recruiting continued till the num- 
ber reached about one hundred and fifty men, which was reduced by assign- 
ment to other companies, so that at the time of muster into the United States 
service, September 7, 1 861, it numbered one hundred and eleven men. It was 
mustered in by Captain Henry B. Hays, of the United States Army, and de- 
signated Company A, of the One Hundred and Third Regiment, P. V. The 
company then elected R. Laughlin, captain ; A. H. Alexander, first lieutenant ; 
George D. Schott, second lieutenant. The enrollment papers had, however, pre- 
viously designated R. Laughlin, captain. 



Company A, 103D Regiment. 233 

In February, 1862, the company, with the regiment, left Camp Orr, and 
proceeded by rail to Harrisburg, where the regiment received clothing, and 
went at once to Washington, under command of Colonel T. F. Lehman. It 
went into camp north of the Capitol, but soon left there and moved to Meridian 
Hill, where it arrived about the first of April, 1862. At this place the One 
Hundred and Third was placed in General Keim's Provisional Brigade of Casey's 
Division of Keyes's Corps, and ordered to the Peninsula. The troops went to 
Fortress Monroe, and into camp near Hampton. After staying in camp a 
short time the corps moved forward, and the company of which this sketch is 
written, participated in the siege of Yorktown. When the enemy evacuated 
Yorktown the One Hundred and Third led Keim's Brigade in its approach to 
tha battle-field at Williamsburg. In the battle of Williamsburg Company A 
sustained no serious loss. It next took part in the terrible battle of Fair Oaks 
or Seven Pines. Before entering upon this campaign, however, the number of 
the company had been somewhat reduced. . It was over-full at time of muster, 
and some of the men were transferred to other organizations, as noted in roll. 

In the battle of Fair Oaks the company had two men killed, nine wounded 
and one prisoner. In this battle Captain R. Laughlin was officer of the day for 
the regiment. Major Gazzam was in command of the regiment. Lack of 
space compels us to omit Captain Laughlin's well-written description of the 
battle. 

After the battle of Fair Oaks the company, with the brigade, was posted 
at White Oak Swamp, where the men built fortifications. Exposed to the 
heat and to the malaria of the swamp, many were taken sick, and at times it 
was difficult to get enough well men to relieve the pickets. On the 28th of 
June the troops began their march, and what was fit for duty of the company 
arrived at Malvern Hill July i, 1862, and took part in that battle, supporting a 
battery on the left. The brigade, now commanded by General Wessels, covered 
the retreat of the army to Harrison's Landing on the James. On the march 
the enemy made frequent attacks, but were repelled by Wessels. At Harrison's 
Landing the company went into camp, but soon went down the Peninsula to 
Fortress Monroe. It was ordered to Antietam, and embarked on transports 
for that point, when it was ordered to Norfolk, thence to Suffi^lk. The com- 
pany remained at Suffolk till December 5, 1862, when it marched to the Chowan 
River, and proceeded by transports to Newbern, N, C, where the troops made 
a raid into the interior as far as Goldsboro, N. C. On this raid they had three 
hard fights, one at Kingston, N. C, one at White Hall, and one at Goldsboro. 
The battle of Kingston was fought on the 14th of December, 1862. 

In this struggle Captain Laughlin distinguished himself by his bravery. He 
commanded the left wing of the regiment, and led it with other troops across 
a swamp to the attack of the enemy after the swamp had been declared impas- 
sable. Laughlin plunged into the water to the waist and was followed close by 



234 History of Clarion County. 

his fearless men. It was a brilliant dash, and his followers attested their ap- 
proval by patriotic cheers. Here Laughlin earned a promotion, but never re- 
ceived one. The credit was given to Colonel Hunt, who supported Colonel 
Maxwell, who commanded the right of the One Hundred and Third. Colonel 
Howell, with the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, supported Laughlin, 
and justice to a brave man would have given him a new title ; but while the 
soldiers all knew to whom the credit was due, the service was never recognized. 

The company fought at White Hall December i6, and at Goldsboro the 
17th. After the battle of Goldsboro the troops returned to Newbern, N. C. 

Captain Laughlin sent in his resignation on the 20th of January, 1863. 

The following is a copy: 

" Headquarters One Hundred and Third P. V., ) 
Newbern, N. C, January 20, 1863. 5 

''To Colonel Southard Huffman, A. A. General Eighteenth Army Corps : 

" Having served as a line officer in the 103d Penna. Vol. for over eighteen 
months, and having been exposed to all the vicissitudes of the campaign on 
the peninsula, and being in my fifty-sixth year, my decHning health admon- 
ishes me that to attempt to do the duties of a line officer any longer would be 
injustice to myself, as well as injurious to the service to which I have been so 
long attached ; I therefore, for the above and many other reasons, do hereby 
tender to you my resignation of the office of captain Co. A, 103d Reg't. Penna. 
Vol. R. Laughlin." 

IfVas accepted and Captain Laughlin discharged January 24, 1863. 

Lieutenant A. H. Alexander was promoted to captain January 25, 1863. 
The company was sent to Plymouth, N. C, soon after. This was the Union 
army's farthest outpost. Company A was assigned to Fort Williams, the main 
fort in the center of the line of works. It mounted six guns — four thirty-two 
pounders and two six pounders. While in Fort Williams, Company A and the 
remainder of the One Hundred and Third re-enlisted as veterans January i, 
1864. 

On the afternoon of April 17, 1864, the enemy in force attacked the fort. 
The garrison fought day and night till about 1 1 A. M. April 20, when, being 
overpowered, the troops were compelled to surrender, having used all their 
ammunition. The rebels numbered 15,000. The garrison had 1,922 men fit for 
duty. One hundred officers and 2,198 enlisted men were taken prisoners. Our 
loss in the conflict was about 200 killed and wounded. The enemy acknowl- 
edged a loss of 1,800 men. The roll of the company gives the names of the 
prisoners. 

Fort Williams had been mainly constructed by Company A, and at the 
time of the capture the fort was occupied by it and a company of the Second 
Massachusetts. 

The prisoners camped outside the works till noon, April 21, when they took 



Company A, 103D Regiment. 235 

up their line of march for Tarboro, N. C, about sixty miles distant, under 
guard, where they arrived about noon April 25. 

The next day they were shipped in box cars for Andersonville, Ga., where 
they arrived April 30, 1864. The enlisted men were sent into the stockade ; 
the officers were kept in a church over night, and the next morning sent back 
to Macon, Ga., where they remained till August ii, when 600 of them, includ- 
ing the officers of Company A, were sent to Charleston, S. C, and put under 
fire of the Union guns, the rebels thinking that would stop the firing upon the 
city. On the 5th of October these officers were put aboard cars for Columbia, 
S. C. When about ten miles from Columbia, Captain Bascom, of the Fifth 
Iowa, and Lieutenant William H. Keister, of Company I, One Hundred and 
Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, with Captain Alexander, of Company A, 
jumped from the cars and attempted to escape, but were recaptured. 

The surviving members of Company A were released from Andersonville 
February 28, 1865, and from Florence, S. C, February 24, 1865, but quite a 
number were discharged soon after, and never rejoined the company. Fifteen 
of the prisoners belonging to Company A died in prison or on the way out. 
The company and regiment were mustered out at Newbern, N. C, June 25, 
1865, by the general order disbanding the army. The troops proceeded to 
Harrisburg, where they were paid off and finally discharged July 12, 1865. The 
company participated in twenty-four engagements.^ 

Captains Laughlin and Alexander corrected this roll and furnished valu- 
able data, for which they have our thanks. 

Corrected Roll of Company A, One Hundred and Third Regiment. 

Reynolds Laughlin, captain, September 7, 1861, three years; resigned 
January 24, 1863. 

A. H. Alexander, captain, September 7, 1861, three years ; promoted from 
first lieutenant January 25, 1863; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 
21, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 25, 1865. 

1 Bates has James H. Lobaugh, of Company A, One Hundred and Third P. V., marked "Deserted 
date unknown." This to the writer seems an unjust record. He received a discharge January 20, 
1863. Having been examined three times to go to his regiment and each time sent back to his quarters, 
Lobaugh was finally examined for a discharge by a Dr. Thompson, who said he ought to be sent home. 
Lobaugh went, as ordered, to the detail tent on the 20th, and received his discharge from Charles 
Holden, the confidential clerk of Charles A. McCall, M.D., the surgeon in charge of Mt. Pleasant 
Hospital. On this discharge he was paid in full some ninety odd dollars, and also received a special 
rate card for transportation home. In 1884 the adjutant- general wrote Lobaugh that the paper purport- 
ing to be his discharge, which he had.presented to that office, was a forgery, perpetrated by an employee 
of Mt. Pleasant Hospital, that it had been stamped and retained in that office. Forgery or not, it is 
the settled conviction of the writer that it was received by the soldier in good faith, and if a forgery, 
that he was not a party to it. The case implies bribery and that offense could not have been committed 
without money. Lobaugh always had been, was then, and is now, a poor man. If he be the victim 
of a forgery, this record refuses to hold him as a deserter. It accepts the paper in question to be, as 
far as James H. Lobaugh is concerned, an honorable discharge. 



236 History of Clarion County. 

John M. Laughlin, first lieutenant, May i, 1862, three years ; promoted to 
second lieutenant June 12, 1862, to first lieutenant January 25, 1863; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to March i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 25, 
1865. 

George D. Schott, second lieutenant, September 7, 1861, three years; killed 
at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Oliver McCall, second lieutenant, September 7, 1 861, three years ; pro- 
moted from first sergeant January 25, 1863 ; wounded at Kingston December 
14, 1862 ; discharged by special order March 30, 1865. 

Samuel F. Shields, first sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to sergeant January I, 1864, to first sergeant May i, 1865 ; captured 
April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

Watson C. Mobley, first sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to first sergeant January i, 1864, to sergeant-major April 19, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Washington Gathers, sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years; promoted 
from corporal January i, 1864 ; captured April 20, 1864 ; absent, sick, at mus- 
ter out ; veteran. 

Jos. M. Whitehill, sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years; promoted 
from private January i, 1864; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 
1865 ; discharged by general order June 17, 1865 ; veteran. 

Albert Meeker, sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 25, 1865 ; discharged by general order April 12, 
to date March 2, 1865. 

David I. Wallace, sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 5, 1862. 

Joseph B. Pollock, sergeant, September 7, 1861, three years ; promoted to 
quartermaster-sergeant January i, 1864; captured April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Joseph Kremp, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 25, 1865 ; wounded April 20, 1864; discharged 
by general order April 12, to date March i, 1865. 

John F. Rupert, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal January i, 1864; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; 
discharged by general order June 16, 1865 ; veteran. 

Joseph Moyer, corporal, September 7, 186 1, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral January I, 1864; captured April 20, 1864; mustered out with company 
June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

James Cooper, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral January 25, 1864; captured April 20, 1864; mustered out with com- 
pany June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

C. G. W. Stover, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal February 26, 1863 I captured April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at 
muster out ; veteran. 



Company A, 103D Regiment. 237 

Smith Judson, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral January i, 1864; captured April 20, 1864; mustered out with company 
June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

Alvin C. Grandy, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; killed at Fair 
Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Joseph B. Stewart, corporal, December 25, 1 861, three years ; promoted to 
corporal January I, 1864; captured, died at Andersonville, Ga., June 28, 
1864. Grave 2650; veteran. 

John B. Wallace, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
June 20, 1862. 

Enoch Luther, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged April 
7, 1863. 

Elias Myers, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown, for wounds received at Kingston, N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Robert C. McCall, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
February 26, 1863. 

Jacob Weaver, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G, January 3, 1862. 

Thomas Moore, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G, January 3, 1862. 

Thomas G. Pollock, corporal, September 7, 1861, three years ; died at York- 
town, June 9, 1862 ; buried in National Cemetery, section C, grave 113. 

Alt, Calvin B., private, September 7, 1 861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out, veteran. 

Anderson, David, private, September 7, 1 861, three years ; transferred to 
Company F, December 7, 1861. 

Barnacle, Daniel, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out, veteran. 

Beggs, Reed G., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Barr, Jacob, 1st, private, September 7, 186 1, three years; died of wounds 
received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Barr, Stephen, private, December 25, 1861, three years; died, date un- 
known. 

Bowman, Martin, private, September 7, 1 861, three years; died at Suffolk, 
Va., October 20, 1862. 

Bowman, John R., private, September 7, 1861, three years; died at Mill 
Creek, W. Va., July 27, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Barr, Jacob, 2d, private, September 7, 1861, three years; deserted Febru- 
ary I, 1862. 

Barlett, Lewis, private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 

Company C, December 7, 1861. 
21 



238 History of Clarion County. 

Caldwell, Oliver W., private, December 25, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Callen Thomas J., private, March 3, 1864, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Campbell, William, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to One 
Hundred and Twelfth Regiment P. V., May i, 1862. 

Cunningham W. B., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; died at Callensburg, Clarion county. Pa., December 28, 1865, 
veteran. 

Carroll, James, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate February 17, 1863. 

Cooper, J. F., private, September 7, 1861, three years ; discharged, date un- 
known. 

Col well, William E., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate January 30, 1863. 

Dunkle Peter M., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Dunkle, Watson, private, September 7, 1861, three years; died, date un- 
known. 

Davis, William G., private, September 7, 1861, three years ; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 20, 1864; grave 6316, veteran. 

Dunkle, Mathew H., private, December 17, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Dunkle, Preston, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 24, 1862. 

Dehart, David, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged June 
16, 1862. 

Dunkle, Thomas, private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Everett, Philander, September 7, 1 861, three years ; captured at Plymouth, 
N. C, April 20, 1864, veteran. 

Elder, Reed C, private, February 27, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company June 25, 1865. 

Echelbarger, George, private, August 18, 1862, three years ; captured April 
20, 1864, and died at Charleston, S. C, September 27, 1864. 

Frampton, David R., private, three years; captured April 20, 1864; ab- 
sent on furlough at muster out ; veteran ; wounded day of his capture. 

George, Justus, private, September 7, 1861, three years; wounded at Fair 
Oaks, May 31, 1862; discharged, expiration of term. 

George, Thomas M., private, August 18, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died September 13, 1864. 

Guiher, Clark, private, September 7, 1 861, three years; captured April 20^ 
1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 



Company A, 103D Regiment. 239 



Guiher, John C, private, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1 864 to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order June 28, 
1865, veteran. 

Guiher, Andrew, private, September 7, 1861, three years; wounded in the 
face, and captured at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Guiher, Jacob B., private, February 27, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company June 25, 1865. 

Gilgher, David P., private, February 29, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company June 25, 1865. 

Guiher, Isaac, private, September 7, 1861, three years; died, date unknown. 

Goe, Reed, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged July 14, 
1862. 

Goe, James, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged June 20, 
1862. 

Goe, Norval D., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C., April 20, 1864; promoted to hospital steward May 31, 1865, 
veteran. 

Haun, James R., private, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864 to February 28, 1865 ! discharged by general order June 30, 
1865, veteran. 

Hahn, George, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md., December 26, 1864, veteran. 

Hughes, Israel, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Florence, S. C., October 21, 1864, veteran. 

Highbarger, Amos, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 24, 1862. 

Keifer, Andrew S., private, September 7, 1861, three years ; captured April 
20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out, veteran. 

Kiester, Simeon H., private, September 7, 1861, three years; absent on 
detached service at expiration of term. 

Kiester, John N., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 13, 1864; burial record, August 
15, 1864; grave 5718, veteran. 

Kremp, Edward, private, February 2, 1862, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 16, 1864; grave 3471, veteran. 

Logue, Clarion J., private, March 9, 1864, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Logue, Oliver R., private, March 9, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Logue, John H., March 3, 1864, three years ; never joined company ; died 
at Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1864. 



240 History op^ Clarion County. 

Luther, George W., private, March 3, 1864, three years ; died at Roanoke 
Island, N. C, October 15, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Newbern; plot 
7, grave 85. 

Loughner, Edward W., private, September 7, 1861, three years; died De- 
cember 18 of wounds received at Kingston, N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Loughner, John, private, September 7, 1861, three years ; died at Annap- 
olis, Md., May 8, 1865, veteran. 

Lobaugh, James H., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
January 20, 1863. 

Laughlin, Thos. J., private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G December 7, 1861. 

Lecky, Jacob, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate November 16, 1861. 

Myers, Adam, private, September 7, 1 861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out. 

Miller, William R., private, March 3, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Myers, Conrad R., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

Miller, George W., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate December 7, 1861. 

Myers, John, private, September 7, 1861, three years ; transferred to com- 
pany E December 7, 1861. 

Mooney, Sam'l A., private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company F December 7, 1861. 

McCall, Sylvester, private, September 7, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Fair Oaks May 31, 1862 ; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

McCoy, John L., private, March 8, 1864, three years; died June 8, 1865 ; 
buried in National Cemetery, Newbern, N. C; plot 7, grave 12. 

Neely, John M., private, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ! discharged by general order June i, 
1865. 

Power, George R., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

Paup, George W., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
October 8, 1862. 

Reese, Isaiah, private, March 3, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Richardson, Jas. W., private, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to February 28, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 
6, 1865, veteran. 

Rosansteel, Sylve's G., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; died at Florence, S. C, November i, 1864, veteran. 



Company A, 103D Regiment. 241 

Reedy, George W., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate November i, 1861. 

Reese, Andrew, private, December 25, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; discharged by general order May 27, 1865, 
veteran. 

Rider, John, private, September 7, 1861, three years; deserted November 
I, 1861. 

Reedy, Samuel, private, September 7, 1861, three years; deserted Novem- 
ber 13, 1861. 

Russell, Albert M., private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company G December 7, 1861. 

Small, Walter R., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out, veteran. 

Smith, James, private, March 3, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Smith, John M., private, March 3, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Smith, Patrick, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; discharged by general order August 3, 1865, 
veteran. 

Stewart, Gazzam, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Saxton, Amaziah, private, September 7, i86r, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Florence, S. C, October 24, 1864, veteran. 

Schorman, Henry, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; died at Florence, S. C, December 8, 1864, veteran. 

Sheffler, Joseph, private, September 7, 1 861, three years; died, at Ply- 
mouth, N. C; date unknown. 

Sweetwood, Daniel, private, September 7, 1861, three years; died at Phil- 
adelphia, Pa., July 31, 1862. 

Stants, Isaac, private, September 7, 1861, three years; died date un- 
known. 

Smith, Hiram, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged Feb- 
ruary 27, 1862. 

Saxton, Uriah, private, September 7, 1 861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 7, 1861. 

Saxton, Hezekiah, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March 28, 1863. 

Say, William H., private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged 
June 16, 1862. 

Stanford, James, private, September 7, 1 861, three years ; discharged on 
on surgeon's certificate February 18,1862. 



242 History of Clarion County. 

Shakley, George, private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G December 7, 1861. 

Timms, Absalom S., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Thomas, Wm. H. H., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; absent, sick, at muster out, veteran. 

Thom, Robert C, private, September 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, to December 14, 1864 ; discharged by general order April 12, 1865, 
to date December 21, 1864. 

Titus, William, private, September 7, 1861, three years ; died at Camp Orr, 
Pa., February 5, 1862. 

Titus, Daniel, private, September 7, 1861, three years; died at Beaufort, 
N. C, December 17, 1863 — buried in National Cemetery, Newbern, plot 7, 
grave 59. 

Texter, John, private, September 7, 1861, three years ; discharged Septem- 
ber 26, 1862. 

Thompson, Milton, private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company F December 7, 1861. 

Taylor, William, private, September 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Vaughn, Joseph K., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Vandyke, David L., private, August 18, 1862, three years; captured April 
20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., October i, 1864, grave 10158. 

Watson, Thomas J., private, September 7, 1861, three years ; died April 
14, 1862. 

Wyon, William, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured; died 
at Florence, S. C, November 25, 1864; veteran. 

Wilson, Newton, private, December 25, 1861, three years ; died, date un- 
known. 

Wishard, Alexander, private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; died at Richmond, Va., December 20, 1864; veteran. 

Wilhelm, Henry B., private, September 17," 1861, three years; discharged 
July 19, 1862. 

Williams, John, private, September 7, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate, date unknown. 

Whitman, William, private, September 7, i86r, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, November i, 1861. 

Wilson, Jeremiah P., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured 
April 20, 1864; wounded same day; mustered out with company June 25, 
1865 ; veteran. 

Wilson, William A., private, March 3, 1864, three years ; mustered out 
with company, June 25, 1865. 



Company B, 103D Regiment. 243 

Williams, George R., private, March 3, 1864, three years ; mustered out 
with company June 25, 1865. 

Wilhelm, James S., private, September 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. 

Enlistment — Route to the Field — Services— Death of Captain Gillespie — Roll. 

THIS company was recruited during the months of August and September, 
in the counties of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, and Venango. It will be 
remembered that the Seventy- eighth regiment had been recruited in the same 
territory principally. The vigorous campaign for enlistment carried on by 
Captain Hosey, Captain Brinker, and Captain Laughlin, of whom we have writ- 
ten, had gathered in those most eager to enlist, before Captain Gillespie began 
to recruit his company. In fact Company C and Company E of the Seventy- 
eighth, had really gathered up the eager ones before any of the companies of 
the One Hundred and Third were begun — but the recruiting officers of that 
regiment worked away earnestly and patiently, and when Company B was 
mustered into the United State's service at Camp Orr on the 24th of Septem- 
ber, its ranks were overfull. It shared the vicissitudes of the regiment, being 
engaged in numerous battles, and suffering much from exposure and disease, 
and finally gave up the lives of many of its bravest and best men in filthy 
prison pens. 

Captain Gillespie was killed at Fair Oaks. He expressed the belief when 
entering the fight that he would not come out, but would be killed. The com- 
pany suffered little in battle after Fair Oaks. At Plymouth, N. C, about fifty 
men of the company were on duty, and all were captured April 20, 1864. 
Most of these were confined at Andersonville, and during their imprisonment 
and immediately after their release, more than twenty of this number died. 
The company was mustered out of service June 25, 1865, when not more than 
fifteen were present. 

Roll of Company B, One Hundred and Third Regiment. 1 
George W. Gillespie, captain, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at 
Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862 ; buried in National Cemetery, Seven Pines. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



244 History of Clarion County. 

Joseph Rodgers, captain, September lo, i86i, three years; promoted from 
first Heutenant June 5, 1862 ; resigned January 24, 1863. 

Daniel L. Coe, captain, September 12, 1861, three years; promoted from 
second to first Heutenant January 5, 1862 ; to captain January 25, 1863 ; re- 
signed November 9, 1863. 

Solomon Barnhart, first lieutenant, September 24, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant to second lieutenant January 25, 1863; to first lieutenant 
July I, 1863 ; resigned November 3, 1863. 

George W. Stoke, second lieutenant, November 13, 1861, three years; 
transferred from Company D October 31, 1863 ; mustered out with company 
June 25, 1865. 

G. W. Swartzlander, first sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from corporal February 7, 1862 ; commissioned second lieutenant July 
16, 1863; not mustered; captured at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864. 

James Adams, first sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted 
to captain Company K February 22, 1862. 

William T. Bair, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to 
sergeant January 2, 1864 ; prisoner from May 6, 1864, to February 20, 1865 ; 
discharged by general order June 8, 1865 ; veteran. 

Thomas Hart, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to 
sergeant January 2, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out ; veteran. 

C. M. Rumbaugh, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted 
to corporal January 2, 1864; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 20, 
1865 ; discharged by general order June 8, 1865 ; veteran. 

Daniel L. Rankin, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years ; promoted to 
corporal January 2, 1864; to sergeant May i, 1865; absent on furlough at 
muster out ; veteran. 

Sher'n M. Criswell, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years ; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Florence, S. C, November 10, 
1864; veteran. 

Cyrus K. McKee, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864 ; died at Charleston, S. C, December 7, 1864; 
veteran. 

Robert M. Crawford, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown ; veteran. 

George Waterson, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years ; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; promoted to corporal May i, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out with company June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

Isaac Shakely, corporal, August 15, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; promoted to corporal May i, 1865 ; mustered 
out with company June 25, 1865. 

James M. Carson, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date 
unknown. 



Company B, 103D Regiment. 245 

John S. McElhany, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order April 
24 to date March i, 1865. 

Samuel J. Gibson, corporal, November i, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20 to December 16, 1864; discharged by general order March 14, 1865, 
to date December 22, 1864. 

Isaac Swartzlander, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died; buried in National Cemetery, Wil- 
mington, grave 984. 

James H. Crawford, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., September 7^ 
1864 ; grave 81 17. 

William Harrison, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Thomas Hayes, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Fourth Regiment U. S. Artillery, date unknown. 

Andrew Rodgers, musician, August 13, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865. 

Harrison W. Coe, musician, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran. 

Adams, Abram, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order March 28, 
to date March i, 1865. 

Abel, Augustus, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 23, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Barr, Robert, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20 to December 11, 1864; discharged by general order March 2, 1865, 
to date December 17, 1864. 

Benninger, Henry L., private, September, 24, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Bish, John B., private, September 24, 1861, three years; missing in action 
at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Burford, Reuben, private, September 24, 1 861, three years; captured; died 
at Andersonville, Ga., June 4, 1864; grave 1601 ; veteran. 

Beamer, Matthias C, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate December 4, 1861. 

Boyle, Owen, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 4, 1861. 

Brenneman, L. A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate December 4, 1861. 

Barnhart, Isaac, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; discharged — ex- 
piration of term. 
22 



246 History of Clarion County. 

Brenneman, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20 to December 11, 1864; discharged by general order March 28, 
1865, to date December 17, 1864. 

Burford, William, private, September 24, 1861, three years; deserted, date 
unknown. 

Campbell, Alfred, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date 
unknown. 

Crawford, John A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died September 8, 1864, at Andersonville, 
Ga. ; grave 8 11 7. 

Coe, Benjamin F., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Craig, Alexander, private, October 12, 1 861, three years ; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Cumberland, James, private, December 10, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Campbell, Joshua A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; deserted, 
date unknown. 

Day, James, private, March 30, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

Dovenspeck, David, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; vet- 
eran. 

Devenny, Thomas J., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured; 
died December 17, 1864; veteran. 

Dunlap, Alexander, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at 
Philadelphia, Pa., October 24, 1862. 

Deany, Barney, private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair 
Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

ErVv'in, John P., private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to March 13, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 29, 
1865 ; veteran. 

Eminger, Michael C, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Frantz, Lorenzo W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at 
Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Foster, John, private, August 25, 1862, three years; captured at Plymouth, 
N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 28, 1864; grave 
7097. 

Gibson, Gideon W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out. 

Granville, Samuel, private, November 13, 1863, three years; missing in 
action at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864. 



Company B, 103D Regiment. 247 

Gibson, John A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Gilchrist, Stewart, private, August 25, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Hayes, Hezekiah, private, September 24, 1 861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order April 5, 
to date March i, 1865. 

Hilliard, Peter, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out. 

Hilliard, Jackson, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date 
unknown. 

Haper, Robert, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., September 30, 
1864, grave 10109; veteran. 

Hankey, Ephraim, private, September 24, 1 861, three years; died March 
9, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Hankey, John B., September 24, 1861, three years; captured; died at 
Sahsbury, N. C, July 9, 1862. 

Hayes, Robert, private, August 25, 1862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Hile, Simon, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Hayes, John M., private, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Fourth Regiment U. S. Artillery, date unknown. 

Hile, John L., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Jordan, David W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 5, 1864; 
grave 2914; veteran. 

Jackson, Alexander C, private, September 24, 1 861, three years ; died, 
date unknown. 

Jones, John M., private, September 24, 1861, three years ; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died, date unknown. 

Judson, Andrew, private, November i, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Fourth Regiment U. S. Artillery, date unknown. 

Kennedy, William, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date 
unknown. 

Kelley, Richard, private, September 24, 1 861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Keefer, William D., private, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company F December 31, 1863 ; veteran." 

Lang, Aaron, private, August 25, 1862, three years; prisoner from April 
20, 1862, to February 26, 1865 ; discharged by general order July 5, 1865. 



248 History of Clarion County. 

Montgomery, H., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

McCay, Matthew J., private, September 24, 1 861, three years ; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died June 24, 1864; veteran. 

McCay, Joseph, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died January 
3, or June 30, 1862, buried in National Cemetery, Yorktown, Va., section D, 
grave 257. 

McClure, Harvey B., private, September 24, 1861, three years ; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died March 15, 1865 ; buried in Camp Pa- 
role Hospital Cemetery, Annapolis, Md.; veteran. 

McClure, Thos. L., private, September 24, 1861, three years ; died at An- 
napolis, Md., December 5, 1864; buried in U. S. General Hospital Cemetery; 
veteran. 

McCleary, Robert, private, December i, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

McCool, Wesley, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Newton, Joseph, private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair 
Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Petzinger, Conrad, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; prisoner from 
April 20, to December 10, 1864; discharged by general order June 12, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Penburthy, Wm., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran. 

Payne, Orrin, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Pierce, William G., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Pool, Samuel, private, December i, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Rumbaugh, Jos., private, August 25, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865. 

Rankin, James, private, February 25, 1864, three years ; mustered out with 
company July 25, 1865. 

Reeser, Nehemiah, private, March 16, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company July 25, 1865. 

Rankin, Benjamin, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date 
unknown. 

Reese, William, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at Phila- 
delphia, Pa., August 25, 1862. 

Reese, Jacob, private, September 24, i86(, three years; captured, died at 
Andersonville, Ga., August 17, 1864. Grave 5389. 



Company B, 103D Regiment. 249 

Regus, Alexander, private, September 24, i86r, three years; died, date 
unknown. 

Regus, Henry, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date un- 
known. 

Robb, Hamilton, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date un- 
known. 

Ritchey, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, died 
at Andersonville, Ga., August 6, 1864. Grave 4844; veteran, 

Ross, David, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, died at 
Andersonville, Ga., August 12, 1864. Grave 5389; veteran. 

Rosansteel, Sylv. G., private, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company K February i, 1863. 

Sweet, John, private, March 16, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Sowers, John, private, April 14, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Sowers, Joseph, private, April 14, 1864, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Sloan, Uriah, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order March 28, 
to date March i, 1865. 

Snyder, Abram, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, to December 10, 1864; discharged by general order March 15, 1865, 
to date December 16, 1864. 

Smith, Albert W., private, September 24, 1861, three years ; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to April 22, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 12, 1865. 

Smith, Abram W., private, September 24, 1 861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order April 28, 
to date March i, 1865 ; veteran. 

Shakely, Geo. W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 1910 
date March i, 1865 ! veteran. 

Sweet, James, private, September 24, 1 861, three years; absent on fur- 
lough at muster out ; veteran. 

Shakely, Henry C, private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at 
Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Snow, Nicholas, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at Annap- 
olis, Md., March 11, 1865 I buried in U. S. General Hospital Cemetery; vet- 
eran. 

Sanderson, Sam'l S., private, September 24, 1861. three years; died, date 
unknown. 

Shakely, Daniel K., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 



250 History of Clarion County. 

Sherlock, Matthew, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, 
died December 29, 1864; buried in Camp Parole Hospital Cemetery, Annap- 
olis, Md. 

Schields, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; discharged — ex- 
piration of term 

Sloan, Presley, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Sowers, Wiliam, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Scharem, John, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Truby, Charles M., private, September 24, 1864, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 19, 
1865 ; veteran. 

White, Michael, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to March 18, 1865 ; discharged by general order May 8, to 
date March 18, 1865. 

Woodruff, William D., private, September 24, 1861, three years ; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864, died at Andersonville, Ga., July 16, 1864, 
grave 3384. 

Walley, David, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Wolf, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 4, 1861. 

Williams, Peters, private, August 25, 1862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 



CHAPTER XXV. 
COMPANY F, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REG-IMENT, P. V. 

Enlistment — ■ To the Field — Services — Roll. 

CAPTAIN McDowell, who recruited this company in the fall and early 
winter of 1861, from the counties of Allegheny and Clarion, found the 
same difificulty that the other recruiting officers of the One Hundred and 
Third did. However, on the 7th of December, 1861, the company was mus- 
tered into the United States service with an enrollment of 107 men, many of 
whom were transferred from Company A. The company's history is almost 
identical with that of the regiment. At the battle of Fair Oaks Sergeant 



Company F, 103D Regiment. 251 



Henry H. Neely, with about fifteen men, was with Company A, the remainder 
of the company was on fatigue duty, slashing timber, till Casey's troops were 
driven back. These then discarded their axes and took to their guns. During 
the fight no casualties occurred to this company. 

At Plymouth, N. C, the company was commanded by Captain John Don- 
aghy. It numbered about fifty men all told, and all were captured. Of these, 
about twenty-five died in prison, or after release. The information relative to 
this company is limited, therefore this sketch is necessarily brief 

Second Lieutenant Henry H. Neely of this company is well known through- 
out Clarion county, having been once elected sheriff. In 1886 he renounced 
his faith in the Democratic party, with which he had always acted, and united 
with the Prohibition party, being its candidate for member of the House of 
Representatives in the Legislature of Pennsylvania. 

Roll of Company F, One Hundred and Third Regiment.^ 

Math. B. McDowell, captain, December 7, 1861, three years; resigned 
June 21, 1862. 

Josiah Zink, captain, December 7, 1861, three years; promoted from first 
lieutenant June 22, 1862; resigned February 13, 1863. 

John Donaghy, captain, December 7, 1 861, three years; promoted from 
second to first lieutenant June 22, 1862; to captain May i, 1863 ; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out December 9, 1864. 

James H. Chambers, first lieutenant, September 16, 1 861, three years; 
promoted from sergeant-major to second lieutenant May i, 1863 ; to first lieu- 
tenant July 4, 1863 ; captured at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered 
out March 15, 1865. 

Henry H. Neely, second lieutenant, December 7, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from first sergeant June 22, 1862 ; resigned March 12, 1863. 

Allen B. Cross, first sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20 to November 27, 1864; promoted to first sergeant May i, 1865; 
mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

David Rimer, first sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Eli Armagost, first sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; commissioned 
second lieutenant July 4, 1863; not mustered; captured at Plymouth, N. C.^ 
April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 6, 1864; grave 2956, veteran. 

Wm. R. Graham, first sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 14, 
1864; graye 5737, veteran. 

John H. White, sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to April 22, 1865 ; discharged June 7, to date May 24, 1865, 
veteran. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



252 History of Clarion County. 



Henry G.Reese, sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Jacob S. Delp, sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864, veteran. 

Michael Hawk, sergeant, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864, veteran. 

Wm. McElhany, sergeant, December 7, 1 861, three years; killed at Kings- 
ton, N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Samuel H. Stewart, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to April, 1865; absent, with leave, at muster out, veteran. 

Jacob Brock, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864, veteran. 

Robert W. McGarrah, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., March 21, 
1865 ; grave 12806, veteran. 

Benjamin Mortimer, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864, veteran. 

John Smuthers, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864, veteran. 

Benjamin Edwards, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md., March 9, 1865, 
veteran. 

Collins Boyd, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; missing, date un- 
known. 

George E. Frill, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; died at York- 
town, Va., July I, 1862; section C, grave 150. 

Charles Stewart, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Annap- 
olis, Md., March 19, 1865, veteran. 

William Bowstaff, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Robert G. Dill, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged for 
promotion in U. S. C. T. April 4, 1864. 

Weldon S. Zilefro, corporal, December 7, 1861, three years; not on mus- 
ter-out roll. 

William D. Keefer, musician, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to February 26, 1865 ; discharged June 12, to date May 
16, 1865, veteran. 

Samuel A. Mooney, musician, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

David Anderson, musician, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., June 27, 1864; 
grave 2547, veteran. 



Company F, 103D Regiment. 253 

Anderson, Sam'l W., private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to April 21, 1865 ; discharged May 31, to date May 15, 1865. 

Anderson, Samuel, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Atkins, William, private, October 5, 1863, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864. 

Borts, William, private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 
20, 1864, to March, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 25, 1865, veteran. 

Boyle, Wilder M., private, August 25, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to March, 1865; mustered out with company June 25, 1865. 

Boyle, Hardin W., private, December 7, 1 861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Beabout, Barney, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Barr, David M., private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Bruner, John F., private, December 7, 1 861, three years; transferred to 
Company G January i, 1862. 

Boyle, J. Rankin, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at George- 
town, D. C, August 17, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. 

Burns, James, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 16, 1864; grave 
3294 ; veteran. 

Borts, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years ; died at Washington, 
X). C, date unknown. 

Bish, Jacob, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, 
N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 5, 1864; grave 2913; 
veteran. 

Borts, George, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Baltimore, 
Md., date unknown. 

Carson, James, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Copic, James W., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Harri- 
son's Landing, Va., date unknown. 

Dearmont, Jesse, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Dahle, Evans, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Newport 
News, Va., date unknown. 

Dahle, Sylvester, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Annap- 
olis, Md., December 20, 1864; veteran. 

Duncle, Harman, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864. 

23 



254 History of Clarion County. 

Emehizer, Absalom, private, December 7, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company G January i, 1862. 

Emehizer, Samuel, private, December 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G January i, 1862. 

Friel, John H., private, December 7, 1861, three years ; prisoner from April 
20 to December 11, 1864; discharged May 7, 1868, to date June 25, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Fulton, John M., private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Fulton, William A., private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; discharged by general order August 15, 
1865 ; veteran. 

Fritz, Joseph, private, December 8, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Graham, Benjamin, private, March 31, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company June 25, 1865. 

Grant, Artemus G., private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Hartman, David, private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20 to November, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; 

veteran. 

Herr, Adam, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date un- 
known. 

Hunter, Robert, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 

unknown. 

Hengus, Robert, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 

unknown. 

Hough, Joseph, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 

unknown. 

Jones, Daniel, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Johnston, David, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 

unknown. 

Keith, Alexander, private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20 to December, 1864; discharged by general order June 19, 1865; 

veteran. 

Kness, Harvey, private, December 7, 1861, three years; absent, sick, at 

muster out 

Kerns, Anthony, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Annap- 
olis, Md., March 12, 1865 ; veteran. 

Karns, Henry, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 



Company F, 103D Regiment. 255 



Keth, George W., private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Kissinger, Michael, private, December 7, 1861, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Lowers, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Mohney, Franklin, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died, date unknown; buried in National 
Cemetery, Millen, Ga., section A, grave 107. 

Mohney, Henderson, private, December 7, 1861, three years ; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 10, 1864; 
grave 5266. 

Mayhood, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Charleston, S. C, December 14, 1864; 
veteran. 

Miller, James P., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Annap- 
olis, Md., November 30, 1864; veteran. 

Mortimer, Thomas, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Roan- 
oke Island, N. C, September 21, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery, New- 
bern, plot 7, grave 84. 

Myers, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years ; died at Washington, 
D. C, May 22, 1862 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. 

Marsh, Adam H., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., date unknown. 

Mohney, George B., private, December 7, 1861, three years ; died at Phil- 
adelphia, Pa., date unknown. 

McNanny, Michael, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, 
date unknown, 

McGregor, Joseph, private, December 7, 1 861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

McCoy, James, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

McPherson, David, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 17, 
1864, grave 6014; veteran. 

Oler, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date un- 
known. 

Pence, George, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 17, 1864; 
grave 5910; veteran. 

Piatt, Robert C, private, December 7, 1861, three years ; died at Yorktown, 

Va., December 15, 1862 ; buried at Point Lookout, Md. [unknown. 

Piatt, Robert, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 



256 History of Clarion County. 

Reed, William L., private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20 to December 11, 1864; discharged March 24, 1865, to date Decem- 
ber 17, 1864. 

Rankin, David, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date ♦ 
unknown. 

Reed, Thomas, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Randolph, James, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, date unknown. 

Reed, Thomas B., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, May 31, 1862 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. 

Ruff, Jacob, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 29, 1864; 
grave 7202. 

Ramsey, James, private, August 28, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., June 9, 1864. 

Saliards, Andrew J., private, December 7, 1861, three years; absent, sick^ 
at muster out. 

Slagle, Lemuel C, private, December 7, 1861, three years ; wounded in 
action January 27, 1864; transferred to Company A, Eighteenth Regiment 
Veteran Reserve Corps ; discharged on surgeon's certificate March 27, 1865, 
veteran. 

Sloan, Theodore G., private, December 7, 1861, three years ; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to March 24, 1865; discharged by general order June 7, 1865, 
veteran. 

Snyder, George, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Sweeny, Patrick, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Sanford, Wm. W., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at New- 
bern, N. C, December 28, of wounds received at Kingston December 14, 
1862. 

Sloan, Houston J., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at White 
House, Va., date unknown. 

Springer, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 28, 1864,' 
grave 7 141. 

Saxton, James W., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Phila- 
delphia, Pa., date unknown. 

Sampson, Joseph, private, December 7, 1861, three years ; died at Roanoke 
Island, N. C, September 6, 1863; buried in National Cemetery, Newbern, 
plot 7, grave 89. 



Company H, 103D Regiment. 257 



Smith, William B., private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Fortress 
Monroe, Va., date unknown. 

Thompson, Milton, private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to April 21, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 2, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Taylor, Robert, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Washing- 
ton, D. C, date unknown. 

Thompson, Reese, private, December 7, 1 861, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 7, 1864; 
grave 3003 ; veteran. 

Vaughn, Joshua, private, December 7, 1861, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Watterson, William B., private, December 7, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to April 21, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 2, 
1865 ; veteran. 

Wenner, Michael, private, August 25, 1862, three years; killed at King- 
ston, N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Yockey, John, private, December 7, 1861, three years; died at Annapolis, 
Md., January 9, 1865 ; veteran. 

Young, Loy B., private, December 7, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G January i, 1862. 

Zirl, Sebastian, private, December 7, 1861, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 25, 1864; 
grave 6818. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 
COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT P. V. 

Recruiting — To the Field — Services — Roll. 

THIS company was recruited principally in the western part of Clarion 
county, by Captain James F. Mackey. It was mustered into the United 
States service at Kittanning February 22, 1862. Captain Mackey rose to be 
major, but was never mustered, and First Lieutenant George W. King was com- 
missioned captain, but not mustered. Bearing an active and honorable part in 
the various engagements in which the regiment participated, Company H suf- 
fered various losses. 

Not being able to present a completely correct roll of the company, it is 
copied just as Bates gives it. 



258 History of Clarion County. 

At the time of its capture at Plymouth the company mustered about fifty 
men, of whom twelve or fourteen died in prison, or immediately after being 
released. The company was mustered out June 25, 1865. 

Roll of Company H, One Hundred and Third Regiment P. V.^ 

James F. Mackey, captain, February 22, 1862, three years ; commissioned 
major November i, 1863, not mustered; captured at Plymouth, N. C, April 
20, 1864; discharged May 12, 1865 — expiration of term. 

George W. Kelly, first lieutenant, February 22, 1862, three years ; com- 
missioned captain November i, 1863, not mustered ; discharged February 21, 
1865 — expiration of term. 

J. M. Alexander, second lieutenant, February 22, 1862, three years ; re- 
signed February 13, 1863. 

Stephen D. Burns, second lieutenalnt, Febrary 22, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted to first sergeant August i, 1862 ; to second lieutenant May i, 1863 ; 
captured at Plymouth N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company, 
June 25, 1865. 

Sebastian Cook, first sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years; promoted 
to sergeant August i, 1862; to first sergeant May i, 1863; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Samuel Rupert, sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal September, 1862 ; to sergeant. May i, 1863 ; captured at Plymouth, 
N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865; veteran. 

Jacob Rupert, sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral February, 1862 ; to sergeant May i, 1865 ; captured at Plymonth, N. 
C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

John Walters, sergeant, March 23, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; discharged by general order June 8, 1865; 
veteran. 

William Johnson, sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years ; killed at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Samuel P. Gilger, sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Da- 
vid's Island, N. Y., October 12, 1862; buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, L. I. 

Edwin Terwilliger, sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 5, 1864, 
grave 2899. 

Thomas B. Potter, sergeant, February 22, 1862, three years ; died at White 
Oak Swamp, Va., June 23, 1862 ; buried in National Cemetery, Seven Pines, 
sec. D, lot II. 

Samuel D. Rumbine (or Grumbine), sergeant, February 22, 1862, three 
years ; discharged, date unknown. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



Company H, 103D Regiment. 259 



Andrew J. Maze, corporal, February 22, 1862, three years ; died at Ander- 
sonville, September 5, 1864; grave 7925. 

William A. Jameson, corporal, February 22, 1862, three years; captured 
at Plymouth, N. C, April 20 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 2, 
1864; grave 4590 ; veteran. 

George Shafer, corporal, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C., April 20, 1864 ; absent with leave at muster out; veteran. 

Robert R. Reardon, corporal, February 22, 1862, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 
16, 1865 ; veteran. 

William E. Gray, corporal, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; discharged March 3, 1865, to date January 
22, 1865. 

Alexander Piatt, corporal, February 22, 1862, three years; died at White 
Oak Swamp, Va., date unknown. 

John Wion, corporal, March 23, 1862, three years; captured at Plymouth, 
N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md., December 29, 1864. 

Samuel McCoy, corporal, March 23, 1862, three years; prisoner from April 
20, 1864, to February 24, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 5, 1865 '> 
veteran. 

Isaac Terwilleger, corporal, March 23, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps October 29, 1863; discharged March 23, 1865 — expi- 
ration of term. 

John J. Ashbaugh, musician, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent, on furlough at muster out; veteran. 

Daniel Grim, musician, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Alexan- 
dria, Va., date unknown. 

Eden H. Graham, musician, February 22, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to March 2, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 5, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Boyd, Jackson, private, February 22, 1862, three years; killed at Kingston, 
N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Burkholder, S. C, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate May 13, 
1865. 

Cochermire, Peter, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, date unknown. 

Carll, John L., private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Chase, George A., private, December 10, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company G, Ninety-ninth Regiment P. V., date unknown. 

Clauser, William, private, February 22, 1862, three years; not accounted 
for. 



26o History of Clarion County. 

Davis, Thomas, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865; 
veteran. 

Dunn, Richard, private, February 22, 1862, three years; deserted, date 
unknown. 

Deitty, Alexander A., private, February 22, 1862, three years ; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Eshleman, Adam, private, February 22, 1862, three years; deserted Feb- 
ruary 22, 1862. 

Faust, Philip, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged February 
28, to date February 22, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Fulton, Thomas D., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., June 17, 1864; 
veteran. 

Furree, Ephraim, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Girts, David W., private, March 23, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864. 

Girts, Hermin, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 7, 1864; grave 
2996. 

Groce, Joseph C. K., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md., December 8, 1864; 
veteran. 

Glasser, Joseph, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Glasser, William, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Ginkle, William, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Green wait, David, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged, 
date unknown. 

Groce, Henry, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Haney, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died, date un- 
known. 

Henderson, Daniel, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md., January 14, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Hull, George, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Annapolis, 
Md., date unknown. 

Hallman, William, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate May 13, 1864; veteran. 



Company H, 103D Regiment. 261 

Henry, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years; deserted February 
22, 1862. • 

Irwin, Hiram, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; prisoner from April 
20, 1864, to February 23, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 19, 1865. 

Irwin, Benjamin, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Beaufort, 
N. C, date unknown. 

Irwin, Hezekiah, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died of wounds 
received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Irwin, Perry, private, March 23, 1862, three years; deserted September 
17,1863. 

Johnson, Joseph, private, April 17, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 25, 1865. 

Jackson, Andrew, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged date 
unknown. 

Judy, Francis, private, February 22, 1862, three years; missing in action 
at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

King, WilHam, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Kiskaden, Horace, private, February 22, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864 to February 28, 1865 ; discharged April 28, to date March 5, 
1865. 

Kleck, WilHam, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864 ; absent on furlough at muster out ; veteran. 

Klingler, Peter, private, March 23, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 
20, 1864 to March 2, 1865; discharged by general order June 20, 1865; 
veteran. 

Kizer, Harrison, private, February 22, 1862, three years, died at Camp 
Casey, Va., date unknown. 

KHne, James, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Kendy, Henry, private, February 22, 1862, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

ji^ Lower, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; prisoner from April 
20 to December 10, 1864; discharged by general order June 6, 1865 ; veteran. 

Loll, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Washington, 
D. C, July 10, 1862 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. 

Landis, Joseph R., private, February, 1862, three years ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Lawrence, Ethelbert, private, February 22, 1862, three years; transferred 
to Fourth Regiment U. S. Artillery, date unknown. 

Martin, James, private, February 22, 1862, three years; deserted February 
22, 1862. 24 



262 History of Clarion County. 

Martin, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years; deserted February 
22, 1862. 

Mull, Samuel, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; deserted February 
22, 1862. 

Maze, John H., private, February 22, 1862, three years ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps September 16, 1863; discharged February 23, 1865 — ex- 
piration of term. 

Mannon, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years; not on muster out 

roll. 

McPherson, Theo're, private, April 30, 1862, three years ; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

McElhatten, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged, 
(date unknown. 

Nidderriter, Sebas'n, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864 ; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran. 

Plilor, Eli, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; transferred, date and 
regiment unknown. 

Rodgers, Samuel F., private, February 22, 1862, three years; prisoner 
from April 20, 1864, to March i, 1865 ; discharged April 12, to date March 17, 

1865. 

Redick, John A., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Reed Robert, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864 ; died at Andersonville, Ga., September 24, 1864, 
grave 9656 ; veteran. 

Reed, Hiram, private, February 22, 1862, three years; killed at Kingston, 
N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Reed, Alexander, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Beau- 
fort, N. C, date unknown. 

Raffarty, James, private, February 22, 1862, three years; deserted Febru- 
ary 22, 1862. 

Slocum, Emory, private, February 22, 1862, three years; prisoner from 
April 20, 1864, to February 27, 1865 ; discharged May 9, to date March 5, 

1865. 

Stroup, William L., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 

Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Sheets, William W., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864 ; died at Florence, S. C, November 23, 1864; 
veteran. 

Swatsfager, George, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; discharged, 

date unknown. 



Company H, 103D Regiment. 263 



Shill, Joseph, private, February 22, 1862, three years; discharged Febru- 
ary 21, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Smith, John, private, February 22, 1862, three years ; transferred, date and 
regiment unknown. 

Thompson, James, private, December 9, 1863, three years; never joined 
company. 

Thomas, David, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864. 

Travis, James L., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at Ply- 
mouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; veteran. 

Thompson, James, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, date unknown. 

Turney, Adam, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at Philadel- 
phia, July 18, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

Widel, Eugene E., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864 ; mustered out with company June 25, 1865 ; 
veteran. 

Wilson, Samuel P., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; mustered out by general order March 3, to 
date January 22, 1865. 

Warner, Lester R., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran. 
Wetzel, George H., private, February 22, 1862, three years; killed at 
Kingston, N. C, December 14, 1862. 

Walters, George W., private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Charleston, S. C, October 24, 1864. 
Wardenorth, Samuel, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md., April 14, 1865. 

Willman, Frank, private, February 22,fi862, three years; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Waterson, Peter D., private, February 22, 1862, three years ; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Williams, Jacob, private, February 22, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Fourth Regiment U. S. Artillery, date unknown. 

Young, Horace, private, February 22, 1862, three years; died at White 
House, Va., date unknown. 

Zimmerman, Daniel, private, February 22, 1862, three years; captured at 
Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; died at Florence, S. C, October 7, 1864; 
veteran. 



264 History of Clarion County. 

CHAPTER XXVn. 

COMPANY C, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. 
Recruiting — To the Front — Services — Severe Losses — Distinguished Names — Roll. 

CAPTAIN Calvin A. Craig recruited a company at Greenville, Clarion 
county, Pa., in July and August, 1861. The company enrolled, during its 
term of service, two hundred and nineteen men, principally of Clarion county. 
A few of the men were from Clearfield county. Several others were from the 
vicinity of Oil City. 

The regiment was organized at Pittsburgh September 9, 186 1, and im- 
mediately proceeded to Washington City, and encamped at Kalorama Heights, 
where the troops were provided with blankets, tents, etc. Here the regiment 
received its full complement of companies, and, by order of General McClellan, 
it crossed the Potomac and encamped on the farm of one Hon. George Mason, 
their camp being named Camp Jameson, in honor of their brigade commander, 
General Charles D. Jameson. At Camp Jameson the regiment went into winter 
quarters, being supplied with Sibley tents and sheet iron stoves. Here it was 
drilled constantly. 

On the 1 8th of December, 1861, the regiment was hastily marched to 
Pohick Church, expecting to engage the enemy, who had raised his flag over 
the church. When the Union troops reached the church they found that the 
enemy had retired across Ocquoquon Creek, and the church was left alone with 
its memories of the Washingtons, the Lees, and the Fairfaxes, who had erected 
it, and who had worshiped there. The soldiers who made that march, and 
those who watched there on picket, will remember that spot with feelings of 
veneration. 

On the 1 8th of February, 1862, the regiment was ordered out on picket. 
Prior to this date, on the 5th of January, 1862, the regiment received, by the 
hand of Colonel J. K. Moorhead, on behalf of the State, a beautiful stand of 
colors, which was accepted by Colonel McKnight, on behalf of the regiment. 

The troops moved on the 17th of March, 1862, and proceeded by steamer 
to Fortress Monroe. Here the regiment entered upon its first field duty. The 
regiment lay before Yorktown until it was evacuated. It advanced on the 
afternoon of May 4, and encamped on the other side of Yorktown. The reg- 
iment took part in the battle near Williamsburg. 

The One Hundred and Fifth was the first to move on the 6th. Company 
C and two other companies were deployed as skirmishers to enter Williams- 
burg. Company C occupied the center of the advance. General Jameson and 
Colonel McKnight accompanied these three companies. Company C was the 





^r^6^lI^S^ 



Company C, 105TH Regiment. 265 

first to enter the town, and the regimental flag was hoisted over the court- 
house by Sergeant WiUiam McNutt. Sergeant Joseph Craig, of Company C, 
captured a rebel cavalryman himself, taking man, horse, carbine, and revolver. 
Other prisoners were taken. 

The company was constantly on the move now, and on the 31st of May, 
when the regiment went into the battle of Fair Oaks, it was on fatigue duty 
with Company I. 

Coming up to the scene of battle as soon as possible, they were formed by 
order of General Heintzelman on the right of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania. 
In the severe fighting that followed, Company C had four men wounded. The 
company joined the survivors of the other companies during the night. The 
regiment won its first laurels at a fearful price at Fair Oaks, having lost 
two officers and forty-one men killed, one hundred and seventeen wounded, 
and seventeen missing. It was engaged on the 25th of June, losing two 
men killed and six wounded. On the 30th of June it was engaged at 
Charles City Cross Roads, with a loss of fifty-six killed and wounded. That 
night it retired to Malvern Hill and was hotly engaged there July i, 1862. The 
regiment went in with two hundred men, and lost one hundred and three in 
killed, wounded, and missing. This severe loss was caused by the regiment 
being under a constant fire of musketry and artillery for four hours, with no 
protection but a rail fence. 

Colonel McKnight resigned July 25, and in the absence of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Corbet, Captain Craig, of Company C, assumed command of the reg- 
iment. From Harrison's Landing the regiment went to Alexandria, arriving 
there August 22. 

On the night of the 28th of August the little force under Captain Craig 
was attacked by a superior force of confederates under General Gordon, and 
after a brave struggle Captain Craig and about one-half his men were captured, 
the others escaped in the darkness. Captain Craig was found in the hospital 
at Manassas the following _ Friday. The captured men were returned to our 
lines the next day, August 29. The One Hundred and Fifth at the Second 
Bull Run was commanded by Captain Craig, who was wounded in the ankle. 

Colonel McKnight returned to the regiment on the 20th of September and 
was recommissioned Colonel. 

On the 13th of December the regiment crossed the river at Fredericksburg 
and remained under fire forty-two hours, losing two officers and eleven men. 

At Chancellorsville, May 3, the regiment played an honorable part. In 
that terrible battle Colonel McKnight was shot through the head and killed. 
Colonel Craig then took command. The regiment went into the Chancellors- 
ville fight with twenty-seven officers and three hundred and twenty men. It 
came out with sixteen officers and two hundred and twenty men. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Craig was commissioned Colonel on the 21st of May. On the 27th 



266 History op^ Clarion County. 

of May General Sickles presented the " Kearney Badge of Honor" to those of 
the regiment who by bravery and good conduct had merited it. The mem- 
bers of Company C who received the " Cross of Honor " were Corporal An- 
drew A. Harley, and privates Charles C. Weaver, and Samuel H. Mays. 

In the battle of Gettysburg the regiment lost one officer and fourteen killed, 
thirteen officers and one hundred and eleven men wounded, and nine missing, 
a total of one hundred and sixty-eight out of two hundred and forty-seven 
who went in. Colonel Craig was here again wounded. 

The regiment was engaged at Auburn, at Kelly's Ford, at Locust Grove, 
at Mine Run, and in the Wilderness campaign, in which Colonel Craig was 
again seriously wounded and was only saved from death by his devoted men 
holding the artery so that it could not bleed. At Spottsylvania Sergeant Har- 
ley of Company C, color bearer, was wounded and the colors passed to Com- 
pany F. 

On the 1 6th of August, at Deep Bottom, Colonel Craig was mortally 
wounded and died on the 17th. 

At the battle of Boydton Plank Road Captain Patton, of Company C, was 
killed while fighting against superior numbers. Lieutenant Joseph B. Brown 
then took command of Company C and was mustered out with the company 
July II, 1865. The company participated in the campaign which terminated 
at Appomattox. 

The regiment of which this company was a part — the One Hundred and 
Fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers — is one of which Pennsylvania is justly 
proud. Space would not permit as full an account of their trials and triumphs 
as they deserve. 

Roll of Company C, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment P. V.^ 

Calvin A. Craig, captain, August 28, 1861, three years; wounded at Bull 
Run, Va., August 29, 1862; promoted to lieutenant-colonel April 20, 1863. 

Charles E. Patton, captain, August 28, 1861, three years; promoted from 
first lieutenant April 20, 1863; killed at Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 
27, 1864. 

Joseph B. Brown, captain, October 21, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1861 ; to sergeant January i, 1862; to first sergeant 
October 3, 1863 ; to first lieutenant March i, 1864; to captain November 7, 
1864; mustered out with company July ii, 1865. 

Joseph Craig, first lieutenant, September 15, 1861, three years; promoted 
from first sergeant to first lieutenant July 29, 1862; to adjutant March 28, 
1863. 

William H. Hewitt, first lieutenant, August 31, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to first lieutenant May 14, 1863 ; discharged by general order May 19, 
1865. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



Company C, 105TH Regiment. 267 

Richard G. Warden, first lieutenant, August 26, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant to first sergeant November i, 1864; to first lieutenant 
June 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 11, 1865 ; veteran. 

Isaac A. Dunston, second lieutenant, October 25, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from first sergeant July 29, 1862 ; to second lieutenant May i, 1863 ; 
died August 2d of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Henry H. Micheals, second lieutenant, October 25, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to corporal April i, 1864; to sergeant November i, 1864; to second 
lieutenant June 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

John R. Osborn, first sergeant, January 4, 1864, three years; promoted to 
corporal January i, 1865 ; to first sergeant June 8, 1865 ; mustered out with 
company July li, 1865; veteran. 

Addison Law, first sergeant, September 12, 1861, three years; died June 
17th of wounds received at North Anna River, Va., May 23, 1864; veteran. 

George Laing, first sergeant, December 24, 1863, three years; promoted 
from sergeant September 15, 1864; commissioned second lieutenant October 
22, 1864; not mustered; discharged by general order May 17, 1865 ; veteran. 

David H. McCauley, first sergeant, December 24, 1863, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant March i, 1864; discharged February 22, 1865; veteran. 

Charles C. Weaver, sergeant, October 25, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal April i, 1864; to sergeant August 28, 1864; mustered out with 
company July li, 1865 ; veteran. 

Samuel H. Mays, sergeant, October 25, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal August 28, 1864; to sergeant May 17, 1865; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

James E. Lafferty, sergeant, October 25, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal August 28, 1864; to sergeant May 29, 1865; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865; veteran. 

Charles Rodgers, sergeant, September 9, 1863, three years; drafted; pro- 
moted to corporal January i, 1865 ; to sergeant June 8, 1865 ! mustered out 
with company July 11, 1865. 

Samuel Lattimore, sergeant, December 24, 1863, three years; wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., June 21, 1864; discharged February 22, 1865; veteran. 

Horace H. Ferman, sergeant, December 24, 1863, three years; promoted 
from corporal June i, 1864; discharged February, 22, 1865 ; veteran. 

John H. Peirsall, sergeant, December 24, 1863, three years; promoted 
from private June i, 1864; discharged February 22, 1865 ; veteran. 

William D. Lytle, sergeant, December 24, 1863, three years; promoted 
from private January 24, 1864; discharged February 22, 1865 5 veteran. 

Stewart Orr, sergeant, October 25, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral April I, 1864; to sergeant August 28, 1864; discharged by general 
order May 29, 1865 ; veteran. 



268 History of Clarion County. 

William McNutt, sergeant, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 4, 1863. 

John Clary, sergeant, August 28, 186 1, three years; promoted from cor- 
poral April I, 1863 ; discharged August 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Andrew A. Harley, sergeant, August 28, 1861, three years ; promoted to 
corporal April i, 1863; to sergeant May i, 1863; discharged August 28, 
1864 — expiration of term. 

James H. Craig, sergeant, October 24, 1861, three years; promoted to 
principal musician August 28, 1864; veteran. 

William P. Lowry, sergeant, October 24, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps December i, 1864; veteran. 

Isaac G. Miller, corporal, October 21, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral June, 1864; mustered out with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

John Ashbaugh, corporal, July 17, 1863, three years; drafted; promoted 
to corporal January i, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 11, 1865. 

Eli H. Chilson, corporal, October 21, 1861, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral June I, 1864; mustered out with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

Isaac Lyle, corporal, October 16, 1861, three years ; promoted to corporal 
May 29, 1865 ; mustered out with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

Aaron Young, corporal, February 12, 1864, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral June 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 1 1, 1865. 

Tames W. Watkins, corporal, February 18, 1864, three years; promoted to 
corporal June 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company July ii, 1865. 

John Hager, corporal, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; promoted to 
corporal June 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company July ii, 1865. 

James B. Allison, corporal, October 24, 1861, three years; died at White 
Oak Swamp, Va., June 28, 1862. 

Richard M. Rockey, corporal, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate June 16, 1862. 

Samuel James, corporal, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate August 7, 1862. 

Edward Keefer, corporal, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate September 26, 1862. 

James W. Spears, corporal, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate September i, 1862. 

Andrew G. Eager, corporal, October 24, 1861, three years; promoted to 
corporal August 28, 1864; discharged by general order June 6, 1865; veteran, 

George Warden, corporal, January 4, 1864, three years ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps December 28, 1864; veteran. 

William Nipple, corporal, August 28, 1861, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Andrew Stedham, musician, December 25, 1863, three years; mustered 
out with company July 1 1, 1865 ; veteran. 



Company C, 105TH Regiment. 269 

Charles F. Cross, musician, December 25, 1863, three years; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

Allen, Robert, private, April 22, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865. 

Armagost, T. T., private, October 24, 1861, three years; died at Savage 
Station, Va., July i, 1862. 

Ardery, James A., private, October 24, 1861, three years; deserted De- 
cember 15, 1862. 

Allshouse, William, private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 27, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Allison, David, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate August 13, 1862. 

Allshouse, Levi, private, July 17, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate May 24, 1865. 

Alexander, Robert E., private, February 29, 1864, three years; absent, 
sick, at muster out. 

Bookwalter, T. M., private, February 15, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company July 11, 1865. 

Brown, George A., private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered 
out with company July ii, 1865. 

Bush, Levi, private, September 7, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865. 

Biggins, James, private, March 31, 1864, three years; wounded in action 
June 16, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Bennett, George W., private, December 31, 1861, three years; died at 
Chester, Pa., August 5, of wounds received at Charles City Cross Roads, Va., 
June 30, 1862. 

Burton, John, private, July 30, 1864, three years; drafted; missing in 
action near Hatcher's Run, Va,, March 29, 1865. 

Bookwalter, Wm. H., private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 20, 1862. 

Bookwalter, Frs. O., private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 6, 1863. 

Bunnell, William, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March 28, 1863. 

Brooks, Charles L., private, September 9, 1863, three years; drafted ; dis- 
charged January 21, 1865, for wounds received in action September 4, 1864. 

Bowser, Hezekiah, private, February 11, 1864, three years; discharged 
by general order June 5, 1865. 

Bannister, Benn, private, September 5, 1 861, 'three years; deserted, re- 
turned ; discharged by general order May 17, 1865. 

Crick, WiUiam J., private, October 25, 1861, three years; deserted, re- 
turned; mustered out with company July li, 1865. 25 



270 History of Clarion County. 

Crandall, Simon, private, March 29, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865. 

Cochran, E. P., private, February 22, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
with company July il, 1865. 

Carnery, Craig, private, July 13, 1863, three years; drafted ; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865. 

Church, John C, private, July il, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered 
out with company July li, 1865. 

Coursin, Benj. F., private, July 18, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged 
by general order July 27, 1865. 

Cyphert, A. J., private, April 12, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate November 25, 1862. 

Craig, Jesse R., private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 29, 1863. 

dinger, George, private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate March 28, 1863. 

Cyphert, David K., private, April 8, 1862, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate August 17, 1863. 

Cyphert, George G., October 24, 1861, three years; discharged May 27, 

1864, for wounds received at Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863. 

Cyphert, James K., private, April 12, 1862, three years; discharged April 
18, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Camp, George, private, July lO, 1864, three years; drafted; discharged by 
general order June 13, 1865. 

De Vallance, M. G., private, April 9, 1864, three years; wounded in action 
June 16, 1864; mustered out with company July il, 1865. 

Dugan, George, private, October 25, 1861, three years ; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865; veteran. 

Divinne, John, private, July 14, 1864, three years; drafted; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865. 

Davis, George W., private, October 24, 1861, three years; died at Camp 
Franklin, Va., December 5, 1861. 

Day, James,Tprivate, September 8, 1863, three years; drafted; deserted 
May 3, 1864. 

Divine, John, private, April 14, 1864, three years; discharged by general 
order May 29, 1865. 

Dugan, David, private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged May I,. 

1865, for wounds received at Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864; veteran. 
Devanny, James, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 

to company D, February 26, 1864. 

Dougan, Andrew, private, February 29, 1864, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 



Company C, 105TH Regiment. 271 

Easton, William O., private, March i, 1864; mustered out with company 
July II, 1865. 

Eicher, Andrew, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 
to company D February 26, 1864. 

Floyd, Edward, private, April 13, 1864, three years ; wounded at Opequan, 
Va., September 19, 1864; mustered out with company July ii, 1865. 

Felt, Alanson R., private, April 9, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

Funkhouser, George D., private, January 4, 1864, three years ; mustered 
out with company July ii, 1865; veteran. 

Fetter, William H., private, February 27, 1864, three years ; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865. 

Fry, Jacob, private, October 24, 186 1, three years; killed at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 3, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery, sec. C, grave 90. 

Fry, John M., private, October 24, 1861, three years ; died at Alexandria, 
Va., December 18, 1861 ; burial record, died at Alexandria, Va., December ii, 
1863 ; grave 1 164. 

Fleck, David, private, October 24, 1861, three years ; died at Camp Jame- 
son, Va., January 18, 1862; burial record, Alexander, Va., December 9, 1863; 
grave 1139. 

Fox, Perry C, private, April 9, 1861, three years; missing in action near 
Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Girt, David, private, February 4, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July 1 1, 1865 ; veteran. 

George, William, private, July 18, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered 
out with company July ii, 1865. 

George, Archibald, private, October 25, 1861, three years; absent on fur- 
lough at muster out ; veteran. 

Gooderham, E. A., private, October 24, 1861, three years; killed at Mal- 
vern Hill, Va., July i, 1862. 

Goodman, John, private, October 24, 1861, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate February II, 1863. 

Gould, John, private, June 17, 1864, three years; drafted; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate May 18, 1865. 

Gordon, Albert, private, July 28, 1864, three years; discharged by general 
order May 22, 1865. 

Holland, Richard, private, July 29, 1864, three years; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company July 11, 1865. 

Hileman, Lee, private, September 16, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company July ii, 1865. 

Harrison, Samuel, sr., private, July 10, 1863, three years; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865. 



272 History of Clarion County. 

Haden, Miles, private, February 24, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865. 

Hetrick, Lebanah H., private, July 18, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company July ii, 1865. 

Harley, James A., private, October 25, 1861, three years; deserted; re- 
turned; mustered out with company July 11, 1865. 

Hammond, Charles, private, June 10, 1864, three years; substitute; absent, 
sick, at muster out. 

Hilbert, George, private, October 25, 1861, three years; wounded at Wil- 
derness, Va., May 5, 1864; absent at muster out; veteran. 

Hamma, Henry, private, January 4, 1864,' three years ; wounded at Boyd- 
ton Plank Road, Va., October 27, 1864 ; absent at muster out ; veteran. 

Harrison, Edward, private, October 24, 1861, three years; died at Phila- 
delphia, Pa., December 12, 1862. 

Harley, Joseph L., private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged Au- 
gust 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

HoUopiter, J. W. T., private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Hetrick, David, private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged April 8, 
1864 — expiration of term. 

Hager, Ami, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged by 
general order May 28, 1865. 

Hamma, William, private, October 9, 1861, three years; transferred to 
Company D February 26, 1864; veteran. 

Hunter, Robert, private, August i, 1861, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany D February 26, 1864; veteran. 

Isaman, John, private, July 18, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered out 
with company July 11, 1865. 

Ingham, John, private. May 10, 1864, three years; wounded at Wilderness, 
Va., May 5, 1864 ! absent at muster out. 

Johnson, John C, private, April 9, 1864, three years; wounded at Wilder- 
ness, Va., May 6, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Kearnighan, Jesse, private. May 29, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865. 

Kiddie, David, private, July ii, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered out 
with company July 11, 1865. 

Keifer, Samuel, private, October 25, 1861, three years; absent on furlough 
at muster out ; veteran. 

Kirkpatrick, M. S., private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate February 11, 1863. 

Long, Patrick, private, March 9, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July 11, 1865. 



Company C, 105TH Regiment. 275 

Linas, Thomas B., private, March 16, 1864, three years ; missing in action 
at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 

Mott, John, private, October 16, 1861, three years ; mustered out with com- 
pany July II, 1865; veteran. 

Moore, Robert, private, March 24, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July ii, 1865. 

Mattis, William, private, March 20, 1865, one year; substitute; mustered 
out with company July 1 1, 1865. 

Mays, John, private, October 24, 1861, three years; died September 8 of 
wounds received at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

Michael, David, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate August 10, 1862. 

Mills, John, private, February 26, 1864, three years; discharged by general 
order May 29, 1865. 

Miles, Obediah, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 19, 1862. 

Mitchell, Thomas M., private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Mitchell, David, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate April 11, 1863. 

Marquis, Edwin, private, July 24, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 
to Company D February 26, 1864. 

Morrison, Allen, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 11, 1863. 

Maloy, James, private, October 24, 1861, three years ; discharged October 
24 for wounds received at Charles City Cross Roads, Va., June 30, 1862. 

McCormick, John W., private, October 24, 1861, three years; killed at 
Spottsylvania, C. H., Va., May 12, 1864. 

McCormick, Henry, private, October 24, 186 1, three years; died of wounds 
received at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. 

McGlaughlin, George, private, October 24, 1861, three years ; died July 
II of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 

McGlaughlin, Abraham, private, October 24, 1861, three years; died at 
Philadelphia, Pa., June 25, 1862 ; burial record, September 28, 1862. 

McFadden, Robert, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate October 4, 1862. 

McKown, David, private, July 17, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged 
by general order May 29, 1865. 

McCoy, Ross, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate November 8, 1862. 

McKown, Hillis, private, October 24, 186 1, three years; promoted to ser- 
geant-major February 10, 1863. 



2/4 History of Clarion County. 



McCullough, Isaac, private, September 9, 1861, three years; not on mus- 
ter-out roll. 

Nail, David P., private, October 24, 186 1, three years; killed at Auburn, 
Va., October 13, 1863. 

Nulf, Adam, private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate October 22, 1862. 

Neugant, William J., private, September 9, 1861, three years; not on mus- 
ter-out roll. 

Oburn, Jacob S., private, July 29, 1864, three years; substitute; mustered 
out with company July 11, 1865. 

Ogden, Joseph R., private, February 26, 1864, three years; absent, sick, 
at muster out. 

Owens, Robert, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 20, 1865 \ veteran. 

Potter, David, private, October 23, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 11, 1865 ; veteran. 

Peck, George W., private, March 29, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July 11, 1865. 

Phillips, Michael, private, March 29, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July 11, 1865. 

Parris, Coleman E., private, April 9, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July 11, 1865. 

Pike, William, private, April 29, 1864, three years; wounded at Petersburg, 
Va., June 15, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Peters, Frederick, private, December 24, 1863, three years; killed at 
Hatcher's Run, Va., May 25, 1865. 

Pierce, Jonathan, private, October 24, 1861, three years; died June 23 of 
wounds received at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; veteran. 

Powell, Oliver N., private, October 24, 186 1, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate August 6, 1862. 

Phillips, Jacob F., private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 20, 1863. 

Palmer, John, private, September 9, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 
to Company D February 26, 1864. 

Phelps, Lewis M., private, July 29, 1864, three years; substitute; dis- 
charged by general order May 29, 1865. 

Rumbarger, F., private. December 24, 1863, three years; deserted; re- 
turned; mustered out with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

Riggles, Abraham J., private, July 27, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company July 11, 1865. 

Riddell, Edgar E., private, September 30, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; absent at muster out; veteran. 



Company C, 105TH Regiment. 275 

Richards, David, private, March 10, 1864, three years; wounded at Spott- 
sylvania C. H., Va., May 10, 1864 ; absent at muster out. 

Reich, George, private, April 18, 1862, three years; wounded at Mine 
Run, Va., November 27, 1863 ; discharged April 10, 1865. 

Rhodes, Jeremiah, private, October 24, 1861, three years ; died July 16 of 
wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863 ; buried in National Ceme- 
tery, sec. A, grave 6']. 

Rocky, William, private, August 28, 1861, three years ; discharged August 
27, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Rainey, Isaac N., private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 24, 1863. 

Rockey, John S., private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate August 20, 1863. 

Reich. David P., private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate November 3, 1862. 

Reinsel, Joseph, private, March 23, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany D February 26, 1865. 

Scott, John, private, October 25, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company July 11, 1865. 

Stitt, Emery E., private, July 17, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered 
out with company July li, 1865. 

Smith, William C, private, July 17, 1863, three years; drafted; mustered 
out with company July li, 1865. 

Saunders, Geo. W., private, September 30, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July ii, 1865 ; veteran. 

Shartraw, Michael, private, September 30, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company July il, 1865 ; veteran. 

Shannon, David R., private, February 13, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Shagel, David, private, July 18, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; discharged by general order July 19, 1865. 

Sibly, Ami, private, April 7, 1864, three years; wounded at Wilderness, 
Va., May 5, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Smith, Barnard, private, March 10, 1864, three years; wounded at Wil- 
derness, Va., May 5, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Smith, Philip, private, October 24, 1861, three years; killed at Wilder- 
ness, Va., May 5, 1864; veteran. 

Sayers, Templeton, private, October 24, 1861, three years; died at Camp 
Jameson, Va., November 30, 1861. 

SoUinger, James, private, October 24, 1 861, three years; died at Harri- 
son's Landing, Va., July 8, 1862. 

Schofield, James E., private, October 24, 1861, three years ; died near Al- 
exandria, Va., October 7, 1862. 



2^6 History of Clarion County. 

Sealor, Jacob, private, October 24, 1861, three years; died at Point Look- 
out, Md., August 16, 1862. 

Shields, John, private, April 27, 1864, three years; missing in action near 
Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Stephenson, James, private, July 2, 1863, three years; drafted; deserted 
January 10, 1865. 

Speady, William, private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged Au- 
gust 27, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Sarver, Daniel, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order May 29, 1865. 

Snyder, F"rancis, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged 
January 2, 1865, for wounds received at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 

Smith, Francis, private, April 8, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate August 7, 1862. 

Settlemoyer, George, private, December 31, 1861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate August 7, 1862. 

Sollinger, John, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 18, 1862. 

Stephens, Palmer J., private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 15, 1863. 

Spears, Jackson, private, October 24, 1 861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate May 29, 1863. 

Shreckengost, H., private, October 24, 1861, three years ; discharged De- 
cember 22 for wounds received at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. 

Stokes, George, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D February 26, 1864; veteran. 

Smith, John, private, July II, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred to 
Company D February 26, 1864. 

Stedham, John, private, August i, 1861, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany D P'ebruary 26, 1864. 

Smith, Peter L., private, September 9, 1861, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Tantlinger, Thomas M., private, August 2, 1864, three years; substitute; 
died at Washington, D. C, April 4, 1865; burial record March 27, 1865; 
buried in National Cemetery, Arlington Va. 

Twining, John H., private, March 26, 1864, three years; missing in action 
at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 

Turner, Isaac, private, June 7, 1864, three years; substitute, transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps September 25, 1864. 

Vaneps, Wm. W., private, March 11, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company July II, 1865. 

Welch, Philip W., private, June 22, 1864, three years; substitute; mustered 
out with company July ii, 1865. 



Company L, io8th Regiment. 277 

Walker, Alexander, private, September 9, 1863, three years; drafted; 
mustered out with company July ii, 1865. 

Williams, Samuel F., private, September 30, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company July ii, 1865. 

Wilson, William C, private, June 30, 1864, three years ; substitute; killed 
at Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864; burial record, died at Philadelphia, 
Pa., September 16, 1864. 

Wilson, John A, L., private, March 25, 1864, three years; died at City 
Point, Va., January 24, 1865. 

Woods, James, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate September 26, 1863. 

Walker, Samuel, private, October 24, 1861, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 4, 1862. 

Westover, William, private, October 24, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 17, 1863. 

Witherow, John, private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged August 
27, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Wilson, Thomas F., private, February 29, 1864, three years ; transferred to 
Company D, February 26, 1865. 

Young, Abraham, private, August 28, 1861, three years; discharged Au- 
gust 27, 1864 — expiration of term. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

COMPANY L, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V.— ELEVENTH 

CAVALRY. 

Enlistment — To the Field — Services — Captain Loomis's Death — Roll. 

COMPANY L was recruited at various points throughout Clarion county in 
August and September, 1861, by Captain John B. Loomis. A part of the 
company was mustered into service at Philadelphia, Pa., September 13, 1861, 
by Captain Starr, of the U. S. Army. On the i6th of September, at the same 
place, fourteen other members were mustered in by Captain Dye, of the U. S. 
Army. 

Company L went into camp near Hestonville, West Philadelphia. They 
broke camp October 7, 1 861, and started to Washington, where they arrived at 
7 o'clock October 9th. They went into camp and remained there till October 
14, when they crossed into Virginia, going into camp at Ball's Cross Roads near 

26 



278 History of Clarion County. 

Fairfax Court House, Va. On the i8th of November they broke camp and 
recrossed the Long Bridge, passed on through Washington to Annapoh's, Md,, 
where they boarded the steamer George Washington, on the 22d of Novem- 
ber, and arrived at Old Point Comfort, Va., on the 25th of November, 1861. 
They went into camp at Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe, Va. The company 
remained at Camp Hamilton, drilling and scouting on the Peninsula to York- 
town, till May 15, 1862, when it crossed over to Norfolk, Va., on the steamer 
South America, and occupied Portsmouth, Va. 

Before Company L crossed to Norfolk, the vanguard of McClellan's army 
landed at Fortress Monroe. Company L crossed to Norfolk on the 15th of 
May, and on the 5th of June it went into camp at Suffolk, Va., twenty-eight 
miles from Norfolk, with companies A, E, G, and H, which companies had also 
been stationed at Portsmouth with Company L. It remained at Suffolk till 
June 22d, scouting on the Blackwater, and in North Carolina. On the 23d of 
June, 1863, these troops took transports at Portsmouth, Va., and started for 
White House, on the Pamunkey River, in Virginia, where they arrived June 
25, 1863. Companies B, L, and M had been detached from the regiment, 
being at South Mills, a little below Suffolk. These three companies at South 
Mills rejoined the regiment on the 4th of June, 1863. Before embarking for 
White House the regiment, on the 30th of January, 1863, took a prominent 
part in the battle of Deserted House or Kelly's store. On the i6th of May, 
1863, Company L was attacked at Woodville, N. C, by two hundred gueril- 
las, and Lieutenant Miller Beatty was wounded and left in the rebel lines. 
Private Amos W. Delp was wounded and died June loth from the effects of 
his wounds. Private Thomas McDowell was also wounded. 

The regiment reached White House on the 25th of June, and on the 26th 
it captured General William F. H. Lee and eighty-four men, five hundred 
mules and horses, also a wagon train and ammunition. 

On the 4th of July, 1863 the company was engaged at Hanover Junction, 
and on the 28th of July it was hotly engaged at Jackson, N. C. The com- 
pany was with the regiment in the fight at Bottom's Bridge on the Chickahom- 
iny, Sunday, February 7, 1 864. The company marched from Portsmouth May 
5, 1864, and on Sunday, the 8th of May, it skirmished with the enemy for 
three miles along the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. At Jarrett's Depot 
the Eleventh, assisted by the First District of Columbia Cavalry, defeated the 
enemy, and captured two hundred and fifty-nine prisoners. 

On Monday, the 23d of May, 1864^ the company went to the front with 
General Butler, between the James and Appomattox Rivers. On Thursday, 
the 26th of May, 1864, the company was dismounted and placed in the forti- 
fications in Butler's front. It skirmished with the enemy daily till June 8, 1864. 
On the 9th of June the company participated in the action in which the rebel 
pickets were driven in, and the Eleventh was in the streets of Petersburg. 



Company L, io8th Regiment. 279 



Company L, with its regiment, joined Wilson's Cavalry Division June 21st on 
a raid down the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, and struck the Petersburg 
and Lynchburg Railroad at Reams's Station. On the 25th they fought the 
enemy for three hours at Roanoke River. On the 28th they crossed the Not- 
away River, met the enemy at Stony Creek, and fought nearly all night. 

On the 29th of June, 1864 Company L passed through its most terrible 
ordeal of the war. The Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was in advance when 
the charge was made upon the rebels. The battle lasted from early in the 
morning till two o'clock in the afternoon. In the charge made by the Eleventh 
many gallant officers and brave men fell. The regiment lost one hundred and 
thirty in killed, wounded, and missing. Company L had Captain John B. 
Loomis, Sergeants Amos Weaver, and Henry O. Gilger, and Privates John 
Randolph, and Jesse Evans killed in the charge. Sergeants Aaron Fulmer 
and David Zillafro were wounded, and forty of the company were missing. 
The regiment had to bear the brunt of the fight, and it also covered the re- 
treat of General Wilson's cavalry. 

On the nth of July Company L was ordered to the eastern shore of Vir- 
ginia. It relieved Company G of provost duty. It remained on duty on the 
eastern shore at Accomac Court House until discharged by reason of expira- 
tion of term of service, at Fortress Monroe, Va., September 28, 1864. The 
veterans of the regiment and the recruits served till the close of July, 1865. 
The remnant of Company L shared the vicissitudes of the regiment during the 
closing scenes of the war. The Eleventh Regiment had the honor of opening 
the battle which terminated with Lee's surrender. Major John S. Nimmon, of 
Lancaster county, and Samuel R. Strattan, of Clarion county, led the first 
squadron of cavalry, which were the first troops in sight at Appomattox Court 
House on the day of the surrender of the Confederate army under General 
R. E. Lee, April 9, 1865. And it is worthy of note, that at Appomattox, a 
Clarion county boy, Lieutenant James H. Clover, in charge of the commissary 
department was the first man on the field with his wagons, and distributed 
twenty-five thousand rations to the hungry and defeated Confederates. "Jim," 
as he was familiarly called by his comrades, received great praise for this act. 

The regiment, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, attained considerable 
distinction during tlie war, mainly through the reckless dash and dare-devil 
charges so frequently made by it, under the leadership of the inimitable 
Colonel Sam Spear, known familiarly amongst the boys as "Old Spud." 
When Spear was struck by a rebel bullet at the battle of White Oak Road he 
held on to the pommel of the saddle and shouted : " Go on, boys ; go on just 
the same as if old Sam were with you." And it is but just to say here that 
Colonel Spear was a gallant soldier, well trained, having spent twenty-three 
years in the regular service before the war, and had he been able to remain in the 
service he would, no doubt, have ranked high as a cavalry officer. Company 



28o History of Clarion County. 

L probably had fewer men on the sick Hst than any other company of the same 
number of men in the service. It was the company's boast — a pardonable 
one it is beheved — that there was not a coward in the company. 

Captain Loomis's memory is revered by having the G. A. R. Post at 
Clarion named for him. 

The dates herein differ somewhat from those on the Company Memorial in 
possession of various members of the company. In view of this fact it is well 
to note my reasons for the dates given. In reply to an inquiry, William C. 
Pritner, a well-informed and careful member of the company, says that when 
the memorial was prepared, " the motto, ' Our country, may she ever be right, 
but right or wrong, our country,' and the date of enlistment and muster and 
place of muster was given by Captain Loomis, in which he says : ' And mus- 
tered into service at Clarion, Pa., September 12, 1861,' while I positively know 
that the company was mustered into service at Philadelphia, Pa., by Captains 
Starr and Dye, U. S. Army. My records say September 13, i86i,as to part, 
and my discharge says: 'Enrolled September 16, 1 861, and discharged at 
Fortress Monroe, Va., September 28, 1864,' as do also the discharges of Darr, 
Craig, Bole, Ritz, Hosey, etc., in all fourteen men in that squad, as I made out 
the discharges myself while the company was on duty, stationed at Accomac 
Court House, Va., (Eastern Shore.) I may be wrong as to the 13th of Sep- 
tember, 1861, being the date of muster of some of part of the company, but as 
to the men enrolled on the i6th of September, 1861, I am positive ; I have yet 
passes from the provost at Fortress Monroe, which say : * Guards, pass Pritner 
and thirteen men to Fort and Return.' " So for this reason the dates given in 
the following roll are adopted. Bates says, "Discharged September 13, 1864," 
and " Discharged September 25, 1864." Mr. Pritner has given conclusive data 
that the men mu-stered in September 13, 1861, were discharged September 18, 
1864, and those mustered September 16, 1861, were discharged September 28, 
1864. 

The thanks of the writer is due to Milton Strattan, of Strattanville, for 
books and papers, and to Hon. John T. Strattan, of Washington, D. C, for 
valuable information concerning the company. He is also under many obliga- 
tions to William C. Pritner, esq., of Curllsville, for the very careful correction 
of the roll of the company and for a sketch of the same. Some dates in the 
accompanying roll may still be wrong, but it is believed that most of them are 
correct. 

In connection with our sketch of the company we give the following ac- 
count of Captain Loomis's death, by Adjutant Samuel R. Strattan, of the 
Eleventh Cavalry. His letter is also here given : 

" No. 131 Third street, N. E., 

" Washington, D. C, 

" February 7th, 1887. 

" W. A. Beer, Esq. — My Dear Sir : While in Harrisburg last week Mr. 



Company L, io8th Regiment. 281 



A. J. Davis requested me to write out a brief sketch of the details connected 
with the death of Captain J. B. Loomis. The sketch aforesaid, hastily written, 
is forwarded you herewith, in order that it may reach Mr. Davis safely. Trust- 
ing you are getting along well with your history. I am, Sir, 

"Yours sincerely, Sam'l. R. Strattan." 

Death of Captain Loomis — By S. R. Strattan. 

" Among the many brave and gallant soldiers from Clarion county who lost 
their lives in the War of the Rebellion, there is no name, perhaps, deserving of 
more conspicious mention than that of John B. Loomis, captain of Company 
L, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry Vols. The details connected with his death 
being somewhat of a tragic nature, and having been an eye-witness, I give 
them herewith as briefly as possible. 

"From the 2ist to the 30th of June, 1864, the regiment was engaged in the 
celebrated raid of Kautz's and Wilson's divisions, having for its object the de- 
struction of the Danville Railroad, Va. This object had been successfully ac- 
complished. On the return march, however, a strong force of the enemy's in- 
fantry and cavalry was encountered at Stony Creek, Va., on the night of the 
28th, and at Reams's Station, Va., on the 29th. Heavy engagements took 
place in which both divisions suffered severely. Prior to the opening of the en- 
gagement on the 29th, I noticed that Captain Loomis had lost his hat and was 
wearing a white handkerchief around his head. I remarked to him that I was 
a little superstitious, and looked upon this head covering as a bad omen, aside 
from its affording a very conspicious target. He replied in his quiet way, 'Oh, 
I guess there is not much significance in your theory.' Yet in one short hour 
after that I saw him borne to the rear in the arms of the stalwart Second Lieu- 
tenant Shannon McFadden, of Richardsville, Pa., his body being pierced with 
several bullets, and quite dead. All being in confusion at that moment, and 
the retreat to Stony Creek Bridge already begun, I have often wondered how 
McFadden, in the short time allowed him, could possibly dig even a shallow 
grave, and deposit the remains of the captain, and then get away. Yet by a 
superhuman effort he did it, and made his escape, while hundreds of the com- 
mand were being captured around him. 

"In the fall of 1865, shortly after our return home, Mrs. Loomis asked me 
concerning what I knew of the details connected with the death of the cap- 
tain. I informed'her of the circumstances above related, and she, in company 
with Lieutenant McFadden, repaired to the battle-field, exhumed the remains, 
which were found in such a state of preservation as to be easily recognized, 
brought them to Clarion, where after appropriate funeral ceremonies at the 
Loomis House, they were escorted to the cemetery by Guth's Brass Band, to 
the sound of mournful dirges, and followed by a large concourse of citizens and 
•comrades, and finally deposited in their last resting place, with Masonic and 
military honors. " 



282 History of Clarion County. 

Corrected Roll of Company L, One Hundred and Eighth Regi- 
ment P. V. — Eleventh Cavalry. 

John B. Loomis, captain, September 28, 1861, three years; killed at Reams's 
Station, Va., June 29, 1864. 

James D. Mahon, captain, September 25, 1 861, three years ; promoted from 
first lieutenant January 29, 1864; resigned January 28, 1865. 

John C. Sample, captain, August 5, 1861, three years; promoted to adju- 
tant from Company D December i, 1864; to captain of Company L, from ad- 
jutant February 9, 1865 ; mustered out with company August 13, 1865. 

Robert I. Robinson, first lieutenant, September 12, 1861, three years ; pro- 
moted from first sergeant to second lieutenant April 30, 1864 ; to first lieuten- 
ant November 11, 1864, to date June 29, 1864; mustered out with company 
August 13, 1865; veteran. 

Miller Beatty, second lieutrnant, September 12, 1861, three years; promoted 
from first sergeant March 24, 1862 ; wounded in action at Woodville, N. C, 
May 16, 1863; resigned May 31, 1864. 

John L. Roper, second lieutenant, September 25, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted from commissary-sergeant in 1862 ; to first sergeant and regimental 
commissary in 1863 ; to captain and brigade C. S. in 1864. 

William F. Stewart, second lieutenant, September 12, 1861, three years; 
resigned January, 1862. 

Shannon McFaddden, second lieutenant, September 9, 1861, three years; 
promoted from commissary- sergeant November 11, 1864; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Thos. C. Wilson, second lieutenant, September 13, 1861, three years; pro- 
moted to Reg. C. S. September 25, 1863; mustered out with regiment August 
13, 1865. 

William K. Shafer, first sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; mus- 
tered out with company August 13, 1864. 

Edwin R. Meeker, quartermaster-sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; 
mustered out with company August 13, 1864. 

Thos. McDowell, commissary- sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years ; 
wounded in hip at Woodville, N. C, May 16, 1863 ; mustered out with com- 
pany August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Enos G. Nolph, sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Christian C. Fleck, sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865. 

William N. George, sergeant, September 16, 1861, three years; absent, 
sick, at muster out. 

Charles Sipler, quartermaster-sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years ;, 
discharged September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 



Company L, io8th Regiment. 283 



Aaron Fulmer, sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; promoted to 
first sergeant ; wounded at Reams's Station June 29, 1864; discharged Sep- 
tember 28, 1864. 

James Baldwin, sergeant, September 16, 1 861, three years; promoted from 
corporal; discharged September 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Charles Kline, sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Samuel R. Strattan, sergeant, January i, 1864, three years; promoted to 
sergeant-major February 3, 1865. 

Henry O. Gilger, commissary-sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; 
wounded and captured at Reams's Station, Va., June 29, 1864 ; died at Peters- 
burg, Va., July 10, 1864; veteran. 

Amos Weaver, sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years ; killed at Reams's 
Station, Va., June 28, 1864; veteran. 

John Sampson, corporal, December 12, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Samuel B. Corbett, corporal, August, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

John H. Shaw, corporal, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Jacob Rossee, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 28, 1864. 

James M. Mathews, corporal, September 13, 1861, three years ; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

David B. Zilafro, corporal, September 13, 1861, three years; wounded at 
Reams's Station June 29, 1864; discharged September 18, 1864 — expirajtion of 
term. 

Samuel Bole, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Theodore F. Corbett, corporal, August, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Paul Hetrick, corporal, September 13, 1861, three years; died at Drum- 
mondtown, Va., November 25, 1864; veteran. 

Solomon Stover, blacksmith, October 2, 1862, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Matthias CoUings, blacksmith, September 13, 1 861, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate June 30, 1862. 

Samuel S. Moorhead, farrier, September 16, 1861, three years; mustered 
•out with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Charles Fulmer, saddler, September 13, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Charles B. Evans, trumpeter, February 28, 1864, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865. 



284 History of Clarion County. 

John Booker, trumpeter, June 15, 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order May 31, 1865. 

Peter White, trumpeter, June 15, 1862, three years; discharged by general 
order May 31, 1865. 

Jeremiah Hoover, sergeant, September 13, 1861, three years; promoted 
from corporal ; absent, sick, at muster out ; veteran. 

Thomas Beale, sergeant, September 13, 1 861, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Benjamin Divler, corporal, September 13, 1 861, three years ; prisoner June 
24, 1864, to April 29, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 5, 1865 ; vet- 
eran. 

Robert N. Craig, corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 28, 1864. 

Josiah Clark, corporal, December 16, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865. 

Charles Barnard, corporal, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Armstrong, Robert, private, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865. 

Armstrong, George R., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mus- 
tered out with company August 13, 1865. 

Alberson, James McM., private, September 16, 1861, three years; mus- 
tered out with company August 13, 1865. 

Arentrue, William, private, February 26, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Anderson, Samuel, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
February 14, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Anderson, Charles E., private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Andrews, David, private, September 13, 1861, three years; died at Camp 
Hamilton, Va., December, 1861. 

Allen, Henry, private, September 13, 1861, three years ; killed at the siege 
of Suffolk, Va., April 15, 1863. 

Bice, William T., private, March 2, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865. 

Bennett, Charles B., private, February 29, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Baumister, Frederick, private, March 16, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Burtnet, John R., private, February 24, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Ball, Ebenezer, private, March 10, 1863, three years; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865. 



Company L, io8th Regiment. 285 

Borchert, Henry J., private, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Borchert, Christian, private, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Bennyhoof, Daniel, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Beers, WilHam F., private, February 27, 1864, three years; died at Point 
of Rocks, Va.; burial record, died at Hampton July 18, 1864. 

Barr, Samuel C, private, September 16, 1861, three years; not on muster- 
out roll ; veteran. 

Christie, James, private, September 13, 1 861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Confer, William P., private, September 13, 1861, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Corbett, James M., private, August 27, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Corbett, James, private, August 27, 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order May 31, 1865. 

Cannon, James T., private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 25, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Clover, James H., private, August 27, 1862, three years ; promoted to reg- 
imental commissary-sergeant May i, 1864. 

Campbell, John F., private, September 13, 1861, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, October 24, 1861. 

Corbett, Frank C, private, September 13, 1861, three years ; wounded and 
missing at South Anna Bridge, Va. ; captured ; died at Andersonville, Ga., 
August 27, 1864; grave 7045. 

Corbett, John W., private, August 27, 1862, three years ; killed at Roanoke 
River, Va., June 25, 1864. 

Douglass, James L., wagoner, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Dillman, James R., private, September 13, 1861, three years; taken prisoner 
at Hanover Court-house, Va., July 4, 1863 ; mustered out with company 
August 13, 1865. 

Doan, Charles M., private, February 29, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Delp, Amos W., private, September 16, 1861, three years ; died at Suftblk, 
Va., June 10, 1863, of wounds received at Woodville, N. C, May 16, 1863. 

Darr, George W., farrier, September 16, 1861, three years ; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Evans, Jesse, private, September 16, 1861, three years; killed at Reams's 
Station, Va., June 29, 1864; veteran. 

27 



286 History of Clarion County. 

Fulton, Aldridge S., private, August 27, 1862, three years; discharged by- 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Felmlee, John D., private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Fulmer, Friend, private, August 27, 1862, three years; prisoner from June 
29, 1864, to February 26, 1865; discharged by general order June 13, 1865. 

Fitzgerald, Peter J., private, August 27, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Frazier, George W., private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Flattery, James P., private, January 21, 1864, three years; promoted to 
sergeant-major March 13, 1865. 

Forker, Hugh, private, February 17, 1864, three years ; not on muster-out 

roll. 

Good, Jacob, private, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865; veteran. 

Gilger, John W., private, February 29, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Glenn, Jesse, private, three years; deserted at Suffolk, Va., August 9, 1862; 
returned January 20, 1865 ; mustered out with company August 13, 1865. 

Gates, Joseph, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Hoover, Jacob, private, December 17, 1863, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Horton, Joseph W., private, March 2, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Hosey, John A., corporal, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Hetrick, Darius, private, September 3, 1864, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Hetrick, John C, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate September 30, 1862. 

Heckathorn, J. S. H., private, September 13, 1861, three years ; deserted 
at Suffolk, Va., July 28, 1862. 

Klingelsmith, Joseph, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Lavery, John J., private, August 27, 1862, three years; captured at Reams's 
Station, Va., June 29, 1864; discharged by general order June 16, 1865. 

Lucas, Calvin, private, September 13, 1 861, three years ; killed at Roanoke 
River, Va., June 27, 1864; veteran. 

Myers, George S., private, March 2, 1864, three years ; deserted ; returned ; 
mustered out with company August 13, 1865. 



Company L, io8th Regiment. 287 

Minahan, Owen, private, August 30, 1861, three years; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Moore, Warren C, private, March 2, 1864; three years; wounded at 
Reams's Station, Va., June 29, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Mackey, James E., private, March 9, 1863, three years; mustered out with 
company August 13, 1865. 

Mathews, George J., private, August 25, 1862, three years ; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Mathews, Moses W., private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Myers, Alfred J., private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Meagher, Thomas B., private, September 16, 186 1, three years ; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate March i, 1862. 

Mackey, Charles W., private, September 13, 1861, three years ; transferred 
to Company D, date unknown ; veteran. 

Milford, George W,, private, September 13, 1861, three years; died at 
City Point July nth of wounds received at Reams's Station, Va., June 29, 
1864. 

McAuley, Robert T., private, September 13, 1861, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

McDowell, George, private, February 25, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

McFadden, John R., private, December 16, 1863, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865. 

McAmmon, William, private, March 2, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

McAmmon, Alexander, private, February 29, 1864, three years; mustered 
out with company August 13, 1865. 

McMasters, Samuel D., private, September 16, 1861, three years; dis- 
charged September 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

McCullough, D. R., private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 13, 1864 — expiration of term. 

McDonald, John, private, September 13, 1861, three years; died at An- 
napolis, Md., January 15, 1862. 

McElroy, David A., private, February 25, 1864, three years; died at 
Eastville, Va., June 3, 1865. 

McCann, James, private, September 16, 1861, three years; captured; died 
at Andersonville, Ga,, October 31, 1864; grave 11684. 

Noble, Daniel R., private, September 16, 1 861, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865; veteran. 

Nolph, Thomas C, private, January i, 1864, three years ; killed at Reams's 
Station, Va., June 29, 1864, 



288 History of Clarion County. 

Orcutt, David S., private, September i6, 1861, three years; captured at 
Reams's Station, June 29, 1864; re-enlisted; transferred to First Battalion, 
Veteran Reserve Corps, 1865 ; discharged August 24, to date August 13, 
1865 ; veteran. 

Piatt, John C, private, September 16, 1 861, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 

Pretorious, Daniel, private, February 16, 1864, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Pritner, William C, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Pritner, John T., private, September 25, 1861, three years; discharged pn 
surgeon's certificate March 29, 1862. 

Potter, George W., private, February 22, 1864, three years; not on mus- 
ter out roll. 

Ritz, David, private, September 16, 1 861, three years ; discharged SejDtem- 
ber 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Randolph, John, private, September 13, 1861, three years; killed at 
Reams's Station, Va., June 29, 1864; veteran. 

Rosse, Charles, private, September 16, 1861, three years; killed in action 
December 12, 1862. 

Stone, Edward, private, February 29, 1864, three years ; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Squires, Thomas G., private, September 27, 1861, three years; missing at 
Reams's Station June 29, 1864 ; mustered out with company August 13, 1865. 

Sarvey, Henry, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Shoup, Jacob, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Slick, Alfred J. L., private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
September 18, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Sahms, John, private, September 16, 1 861, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Strattan, Milton, private, September 13, 1861, three years; discharged 
January 31, 1864; re-enlisted; discharged on surgeon's certificate June 24, 
1865. 

Smith, Wesley B., private, September 13, 1861, three years ; died at Camp 
Hamilton, Va., February 15, 1862. 

Smith, James, private, February 23, 1864, three years; died at Thomas- 
ville, Ga., date unknown. 

Smith, Samuel, private, February 4, 1864, three years; not on muster-out 
roll. 

Taylor, Jacob, private, September 13, 1861,'^three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865 ; veteran. 



Company K, 148TH Regiment. 289 



Tipton, Richard, private, September 16, 1861. three years; discharged 
September 28, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Thomas, A. W., private, April i, 1863, three years; died at Suffolk, Va., 
May 13, 1863. 

Tracy, Frances N., private, September 13, 1861, three years; transferred 
to Company G, date unknown ; veteran. 

Vandervoort, Albert A., private, February 24, 1864, three years; mus- 
tered out with company August 13, 1865. 

Vanweigh, Samuel, private, March 2, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Vandervoort, James R., private, September 16, 1861, three years; prisoner 
from June 29, 1864, to April 28, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 21, 
1865. 

Wilbrough, Chas., private, February 16, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company August 13, 1865. 

Wallace, John, private, September 16, 1861, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Williams, David, private, August 25, 1862, three years; prisoner from June 
29, 1864, to April 28, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 21, 1865. 

White, Austin, private, September 16, 1861, three years; captured; died 
at Andersonville, Ga., date unknown. 

Wise, Isaac, private, February 29, 1864, three years; captured; died at 
Andersonville, Ga., September 21, 1864; grave 9424. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

COMPANY K, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. Y. 

Enlistment — To the Field— Services — Roll. 

IN August, 1862, Thompson Core recruited a company at Curllsville. Au- 
gust 26 was the day appointed to start for the army, and on that day forty- 
two men left Curllsville in wagons for Kittanning, which place they reached at 
six o'clock, P. M. On the 27th the company went on the cars, A. V. R. R., 
to Pittsburgh, reaching that city about noon. August 29 the men were mus- 
tered into the United States service. Captain Core, A. C. Coursin, and J. Z. 
Brown then returned to Clarion county to recruit ; the company having been 
given quarters at Camp Howe. On the 4th of September the men were uni- 
formed, and taking the train that evening, they reached Harrisburg next 



290 History of Clarion County. 

morning, September 5, about five o'clock, and proceeded at once to Camp 
Curtin. On the 7th of September Captain Core, J. Z. Brown, and A. C. 
Coursin arrived at Camp Curtin with sixteen men for the company, and by 
reason of Lieutenant Ferguson not having a receipt to show that the other 
men had been sworn in at Pittsburgh, they were all re- sworn at the time the 
new men were mustered. On the 9th the company was armed with Vin- 
cennes rifled m.uskets, and assigned to the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Reg- 
iment, as Company K. That evening the regiment, under command of Col- 
onel James A. Beaver, started to the field. Captain Core started back to 
Clarion county to recruit. He returned to the regiment on the 27th of Sep- 
tember with twenty-two recruits for Company K, nineteen of whom were from 
Montgomery county, the captain having recruited them at Harrisburg with the 
condition that Henry H. Dotts, one of their number, should be second lieu- 
tenant of the company. At this time the regiment's headquarters were 
at Cockeysville, and Company K was at Glencove, five miles above, all in 
Maryland. On the 17th of October the company received the advance 
bounty, twenty-five dollars to each man and two dollars premium. They were 
paid in bonds. On the i8th the bonds were sent to Baltimore and cashed by 
the Maryland bank. Rev. Elder, of Clarion, preached to the boys in Camp 
Beaver on the 3d of November, 1862. November 14 Assistant Secretary of 
State, Mr. Thomas, presented a flag to the regiment. 

On the 9th of December the regiment broke camp and went to Baltimore, 
thence to Washington, thence to a point opposite Alexandria, ten miles from 
Washington. After marching, and camping, and enduring wet and cold, the 
troops reached the army headquarters near Fredericksburg, and were placed in 
the First Brigade, First Division of Second Corps, and went into winter quarters. 
The horse racing and other amusements of St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1863, 
was brought to a sudden close by the rebels opening up a sharp cannonade on 
our right. The company broke camp, with the regiment, on the 28th of April, 
and marched to Chancellorsville, where it took part in that terrific struggle. 

After this Company K attested its valor on many a well-fought field. The 
casualties to the company are carefully noted in the roll, having been corrected 
by Corporal Dennis Conner, to whom the writer is indebted for valuable data. 
Lieutenant J. Z. Brown was promoted captain July 7, 1864, and on the 27th 
of October, 1864 Captain Brown with a detachment of one hundred men from 
the regiment, performed one of the bravest and most successful exploits of the 
war. They were ordered by General Miles to assault a position of the enemy's 
line in front. Bates says : " Having formed his men for the desperate work, 
just at dusk he dashed forward, thrust aside the dense abattis, drove in the 
pickets, and scaled the ramparts, carrying a strong work, capturing four com- 
missioned officers and more men than he had led to the encounter. The enemy 
rallying and turning his artillery upon it from the other forts, finally compelled 



Company K, 148TH Regiment. 291 

him to retire, occasioning him considerable loss. For his gallant conduct Cap- 
Brown was highly commended, and breveted major." The company was mus- 
tered out June I, 1865. 

Corrected Roll of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-eighth 

Regiment P. V. 

Thompson Core, captain, August 27, 1862, three years ; died June i, 1864, 
of wounds received at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864. 

Jeremiah Z. Brown, captain, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted 
from first sergeant to first lieutenant September 8, 1863; to captain July 7, 
1864; breveted major October 27, 1864; mustered out with company June 
I, 1865. 

J. B. Ferguson, first lieutenant, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged 
by order of the president for incompetency, September 8, 1863. 

Alexander C. Sloan, first lieutenant, September 7, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant to first sergeant November 15, 1863 ; to second lieuten- 
ant July 7, 1864; to first lieutenant September 14, 1864; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 

Henry H. Dotts, second lieutenant, September 26, 1862, three years; dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate September 7, 1863. 

William S. Mortimer, second lieutenant, September 7, 1862, three years; 
wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; promoted from sergeant September 8, 
1863 ; wounded at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864; commissioned first lieutenant 
July 7, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate September 13, 1864. 

John Ward, second lieutenant, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted 
from sergeant September 14, 1864; wounded at Auburn Mills October 14, 
1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Henry H. Henry, first sergeant, September 7, 1862, three years ; promoted 
from corporal to sergeant December 9, 1862; to first sergeant October 31, 
1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Abram S. Coursin, sergeant, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted 
from corporal August i, 1864 ; wounded at Po River May 10, 1864; mustered 
out with company June I, 1865. 

James F. McNoldy, sergeant, September 26, 1862, three years; promoted 
to corporal October 27, 1863; to sergeant August 31, 1864; taken prisoner 
at Reams's Station August 29, 1864; absent, sick, at muster out. 

James F. George, sergeant, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal November 15, 1863; to sergeant Jannary 31, 1865 ; wounded at Po 
River May 10, 1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

David R. Crick, sergeant, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal November 15, 1863; to sergeant May 19, 1865 ; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 



292 History of Clarion County. 

James F. Weidner, sergeant, September 26, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal November 15, 1863 ; to sergeant October 31, 1864; transferred to V. 
R. C, Jan. 30, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 29, 1865. 

Isaac N. Sloan, sergeant, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted cor- 
poral December 9, 1862 ; to sergeant September 15, 1864; to sergeant-major 
May 18, 1865 ; wounded and taken prisoner at Spottsylvania Court House 
May 12, 1864. 

Jacob F, Mast, sergeant, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted from 
corporal November 15, 1863 ; killed at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864. 

William C. Sloan, sergeant, October 2, 1862, three years; promoted from 
corporal November 15, 1863; killed at Spottsylvania Court House May 12, 
1864; buried in Wilderness Burial Ground. 

John Fackender, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years ; promoted to 
corporal August i, 1864; taken prisoner near Fort Morton, Va., October 27, 
1864; absent at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md., at muster out. 

Daniel M. Hersh, corporal, September 26, 1862, three years ; promoted to 
corporal August l, 1864; discharged by general order May 15, 1865. 

George G. Walters, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal August 15, 1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

William Barlett, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal October 31, 1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Samuel H. Sloan, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal October 31, 1864; wounded at Po River May 10, 1864; mustered 
out with company June i, 1865. 

Henry Swartsfager, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal January 31, 1865; wounded at Po River May 10, 1864; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Dennis Conner, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal April 20, 1865 ; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Anthony Divins, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal May 19, 1865 ; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Ross C. Kirkpatrick, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863 ; transferred to Company D, Fourteenth 
Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864; discharged by general 
order June 27, 1865. 

John E. Carson, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal March 15, 1863; died at Point Lookout, Md., June 18, 1863. 

Levi W, Gibson, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal August 13, 1863 ; killed at Deep Bottom, Va., August 15, 1864. 

Isaac F. Swartsfager, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted 
to corporal November 15, 1863; wounded at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864; died 
at Washington, D. C, April 15, 1865, of wounds received in action. 



Company K, 148TH Regiment. 293 

Hugh S. Neal, corporal, September 7, 1862, three years; killed at Chan- 
cellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. 

Abraham R. Coursin, musician, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered 
out with company June i, 1865. 

John A. Lee, musician, September 7, 1862, three years; died at Falmouth, 
Va., March 15, 1863. 

Henry B. Fox, wagoner, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Armagost, Christ, private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V. June i, 1865. 

Baird, John F., private, September 7, 1862, three years; absent, sick, at 
muster out. 

Bartley, John, private, September 7, 1862, three years; transferred ta 
Veteran Reserve Corps February 15, 1864. 

Berkey, Jacob J., private, September i, 1863, three years; drafted; died 
at Stevensburg, Va., December 30, 1863. 

Boarts, Philip, private, September 7, 1862, three years; died at Washing- 
ton, D. C, February 15, 1864; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. 

Botorf, John, private, October 20, 1863, three years; killed at Po River 
May 10, 1864. 

Cullens, Owen, private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company. 

Clover, John C, private, October 16, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps March 3, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate 
June I, 1864. 

Carle, Hiram, private, October 29, 1863, three years; substitute; wounded 
at Petersburg, Va., October 27, 1864; transferred to Company K, Fifty- third 
Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Carle, Bennival, private, October 22, 1863, three years; killed at Po River 
May 10, 1864. 

Corbett, Walter L., private, September 7, 1862, three years; killed at 
Deep Bottom, Va., August 14, 1864. 

Corbett, Munson, private, September 7, 1862, three years; died at Fal- 
mouth, Va., December 28, 1862. 

Carnathan, Hugh, private, September 7, 1862, three years; taken prisoner 
at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; deserted from Parole Camp, Md., Octo- 
ber 2, 1863. 

Donahue, John, private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 

Derr, Jacob, private, September 16, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded 
and taken prisoner at Po River May 10, 1864; transferred to Company K, 
Fifty- third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

28 



294 History of Clarion County. 

Deihl, Josiah, private, October 19, 1863, three years; drafted; taken pris- 
oner at Spottsylvania Court House May 12, 1864; held till April 28, 1865 ; 
transferred to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Divins, William H., private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Divins, Thomas M., private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Divins, James P., private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Divins, David, private, March 30, 1864, three years; died at New York 
August 8, 1864; buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island. 

Dorworth, John C, private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Dorworth, William H., private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred 
to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Doney, George, private, October 22, 1862, three years; drafted; captured 
at Spottsylvania Court-house, Va., May 12, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., 
December i, 1864, grave No. 6568. 

Evalin, John, private, August 26, 1862, three years; transferred to Company 
G, Nineteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps ; discharged by general order 
July 24, 1865. 

Fox, Jacob, private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 

Faul, Edward, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at Po 
River May 10, 1864; discharged by general order June 9, 1865. 

Flick, John, private, September 7, 1862, three years; died at Windmill 
Point, Va., January 30, 1863. 

Fox, John N., private, September 26, 1862, three years; killed at Deep 
Bottom, Va., August 15, 1864. 

Gries, Joseph, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at Spott- 
sylvania Court-house, Va., May 12, 1864; absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Green, James, private, March 26, 1864, three years; deserted May 3, 1864; 
transferred to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V.; returned to that com- 
pany and mustered out with it June 30, 1865. 

Huey, Robert, private, September 7, 1862, three years; taken prisoner at 
Chancellorsville May 3, 1863 ; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Harriger, John, private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 5, 1865. 

Hillegass, Henry, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Po River, Va., May 10, 1864; discharged by general order June 5, 1865. 

Hamm, Joseph, private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 12, 1863. 



Company K, 148TH Regiment. 295 



Herrington, Silas H., private, October 30, 1863, three years; substitute; 
wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864; transferred to Company K, 
Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Hoffman, Thomas J., private, October 27, 1863, three years; substitute; 
transferred to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June I, 1865. 

Hessert, George, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Po River May 10, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps January i, 
1865. 

Jacobs, Josiah H., private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Po River May 10, 1864; died at Washington, D. C, June 16, 1864, of wound 
received in action at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864. 

Keys, Evans, private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 

Krauss, Enos, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; absent in hospital at muster out. 

Kluck, Peter, private, October 22, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred 
to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Krotzer, David A., private, February 26, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Po River May 10, 1864; transferred to Thirty- sixth Company, Second Bat- 
talion Veteran Reserve Corps ; discharged by general order September 4, 
1865. 

Kifer, Andrew J., private, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Chancellorsville May 2, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February 
IS, 1864. 

Long, Harrison, private, October 28, 1863, three years ; substitute ; trans- 
ferred to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Lintaman, Josiah, private, October 29, 1863, three years; substitute; taken 
prisoner at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864; transferred to Company K, Fifty- 
third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Latimore, John W., private, September 7, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February 15, 1864; discharged 
by general order July 25, 1865. 

Myers, John, private, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at Spottsyl- 
vania, Va., May 12, 1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Magee, Preston M., private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Miller, Andrew J., private, September 7, 1862, three years; captured at 
Reams's Station, Va., August 25, 1864 ; discharged by general order July 20, 
1865. 

Miller, George W., private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate February 2, 1863. 

Mahle, Solomon, private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 24, 1863. 



296 History of Clarion County. 

Milligan, William, private, February 26, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania, C. H., May 12, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate March 
18, 1865. 

MilHgan, Joseph private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Merley, Samuel, private, September i, 1863, three years; drafted; taken 
prisoner at Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27, 1864; transferred to Com- 
pany K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

^ Myers, Leander, private, September 7, 1862, three years; killed at Peters- 
burg, Va., June 16, 1864; buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, division 
A, sec. D, grave 75. 

McKinney, Anthony, private, March 31, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

McCormick, Jones, private, September 24, 1863, three years; prisoner at 
Reams's Station August 25, 1864; discharged by general order May 24, 1865. 

McBride, William, private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company I, Twelfth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, January i, 1865 ; dis- 
charged by general order July 21, 1865. 

McClure, David, private, March 3, 1864, three years; not on muster-out 
roll. 

Neil, John, D., private, September 7, 1862, three years ; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 

Nulph, Abraham W., private, February 26, 1864, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate February 23, 1865. 

Polliard, David, private, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; absent in hospital at muster out. 

Pettet, Oliver W., private, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30, 1864; absent in hospital at muster out. 

Pysher, William E., private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged 
by general order May 30, 1865. 

Phillips, Michael, private, March 31, 1864, three years; missing in action 
at Reams's Station, Va., August 25, 1864; transferred to Company K, Fifty- 
third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Pritner, George W., private, October 20, 1863, three years ; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty- third Regiment, P. V., June i, 1865. 

Price, George, private, September 7, 1862, three years; died May 21, 
1863, of wounds received in action May 3, 1863. 

Ouillman, Reuben, private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Quillman, Daniel, private, September 26, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Rathfon, John N., private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 



Company K, 148TH Regiment. 297 



Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; 
discharged by general order June 27, 1865. 

Reynolds, Stern, private, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, and at Reams's Station August 25, 
1864; discharged by general order July 8, 1865. 

Randolph, James, private, September 7, 1862, three years; taken prisoner 
at Reams's Station August 25, 1864; mustered out with company June i, 1865. 

Reedy, George W., private, September 7, 1862, three years ; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Reichart, John W., private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Reese, Daniel, private, October 28, 1863, three years; substitute; cap- 
tured; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 25, 1864; grave 6838. 

Rothermel, Am'b, private, October 21, 1863, three years ; substitute; cap- 
tured at Reams's Station August 25, 1864; died at Salisbury, N. C, Novem- 
ber 7, 1864. 

Shaffer, Lavinus W., private, September 26, 1862, three years; taken 
prisoner at Tolopotomy Creek May 30, 1864; mustered out with company 
June I, 1865. 

Stewart, John, private, September 26, 1862, three years; sent to insane 
asylum November i, 1862; absent at muster out. 

Slagle, W. L., private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 16, 1863. 

Smith, Martin, private, September 7, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company E, Nineteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, November i, 1863 ; 
discharged by general order July 13, 1865. 

Switzer, James H., private, September 7, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company E, Nineteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1864. 

Stout, John M., private, September 26, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Company D, Nineteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, March 14, 1864; 
discharged by general order July 13, 1865. 

Sloan, William J. M., private, September 7, 1862, three years ; died at 
Morrisville, Va., September 9, 1863. 

Switzer, John, private, October 29, 1863, three years; died at Stevens- 
burg, Va., February 26, 1864. 

Salyards, Napoleon B., private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded 
at Tolopotomy Creek May 30, 1864; died at City Point, Va., April 2, 1865, 
of wounds received in action. 

Tschopp, Bennival, private, October 20, 1863, three years; substitute; 
transferred to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Thompson, Denton L., private, September 7, 1862, three years; killed at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 



298 History of Clarion County. 

Thomas, Christian, private, September i, 1863, three years; drafted; died 
at Stevensburg, Va., January 7, 1864. 

Thompson, Benjamin, private, September 7, 1862, three years; killed at 
Po River, Va., May 10, 1864. 

Varner, James, private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 18, 1863. 

Vanhouter, John, private, February 26, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company H, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Vanhouter, M'Comb, private, February 26, 1864, three years; died at 
Washington, D. C, October 30, 1864, of wounds received in action at Reams's 
Station ; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 

Woods, Lebbeus B., private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded 
and captured at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, 1864; discharged by 
general order June 21, 1865. 

Wilson, Robert H., private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June i, 1865. 

Wilson, Uriah, private, September 7, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June i, 1865. 

Woods, David D., private, September 7, 1862, three years; absent, sick, 
at muster out. 

Wiant, Henry C, private, September 7, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 2, 1864. 

Wentzel, Henry W., private, February 26, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Cold Harbor, Va., June 15, 1864; transferred to Company K, Fifty-third 
Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Wiant, George F., private, February 26, 1864, three years ; wounded at 
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; transferred to Company K, Fifty- third 
Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Weckerley, William E., private, February 26, 1864, three years; trans- 
ferred to Company K, Fifty-third Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Wasser, Melcher, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded and 
captured at Gettysburg; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February 15, 
1864; discharged by general order July 14, 1865. 

Wiant, William, private, September 7, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Chancellorsville May 3, 1864 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February 
15, 1864. 

Wiant, Abraham C, private, February 26, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Po River May 10, 1864, and at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps January 15, 1865. 

Woods, John, private, September 7, 1862, three years; died at Stevens- 
burg, Va., March 8, 1864; buried in Culpepper National Cemetery, block i,. 
section A, row 4, grave 119. 



Company H, 149TH Regiment. 299 

Wonsetler, Adam, private, September 26, 1862, three years; killed at Po 
River, Va., May 10, 1864. 

Zeigenfuss, William, private, September 26, 1862, three years; wounded 
at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; absent, in hospital, at muster' out. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT P. V. 

Enrollment — Route to the Field — Services — Roll. 

SOME time in July, 1862, Dr. Charles B. Strattan, of Strattanville, received 
a letter from Colonel Roy Stone, of Warren, Pa., asking him to enlist a 
company for his Bucktail Brigade, then being formed at Camp Curtin. Dr. 
Strattan consented, and soon received the proper authority. He secured the 
services of James E. Johnston and William S. Hamler, of Strattanville, and 
began recruiting, making Strattanville headquarters. When fifty-four men had 
been enlisted the company was unexpectedly called to Harrisburg, without the 
requisite number of men. They proceeded in wagons to Kittanning and on 
the cars to Pittsburgh. From there they went to Harrisburg, and were there 
consolidated with thirty- four men from Lewistown, Mifflin county, under 
George W. Soult, and designated Company H of the One Hundred and Forty- 
ninth Regiment, with Dr. Strattan as captain, and George W. Soult as first lieu- 
tenant, being mustered into the United States service August 30, 1862. 

The regiment was at once forwarded to the field via Washington, where it 
remained till after the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Company H 
was detached and sent to Georgetown, D. C, and put on guard at Union Hotel 
Hospital, and also at Catholic College Hospital, where it served all winter. 
When the company was at Georgetown it was commanded by Lieutenant 
Soult, Captain Strattan being on detached duty. On a trip to Harper's Ferry 
with some prisoners, Captain Strattan contracted a severe cold, which termi- 
nated in a violent typhoid fever. He recovered, but being in an emaciated 
condition, he resigned and was discharged December 18, 1862, and Lieutenant 
Soult was promoted to captain January i, 1863. 

The company boarded a steamer and started for the front on the 15th of 
February, and landed at the mouth of Potomac Creek on the Potomac River. 
From there the troops marched to Belle Plain. The day they arrived there it 
snowed six inches. The soldiers had no tents or covering of any kind. They 
suffered severely, but not a murmur was heard from Company H. At the sec- 



300 History of Clarion County. 

ond battle of Fredericksburg, April 28th, the regiment moved to a position 
near Pollock's Mills and halted. Next morning it moved down to the banks 
of the Rappahannock, and was subjected to a rapid fire of shot and shell from 
the batteries of the enemy on the opposite side of the river. This was the com- 
pany's first interview with the enemy. To steady the nerves and give courage 
to the men, each one was given a small quantity of whisky mixed with gun- 
powder. Some relished it and others cast the drug away. This was the open- 
ing of the Chancellorsville campaign, through which the company passed with- 
out loss, and then came the Gettysburg campaign, in which the company 
fought three days on the extreme right of the Union line. Captain Soult led 
the company in and fought valiantly until disabled by a bullet from the enemy, 
July I ; but his gallant soldiers fought on, and during the struggle captured 
two field pieces and took them off the field. The company were almost anni- 
hilated, only nine men being fit for duty after the third day's fight, James E. 
Johnston, second lieutenant, and Jno. D. Smith being two of the nine. 

By the time the army entered upon the Wilderness campaign Company H 
again presented a respectable force. It lost heavily in the Wilderness. It 
took part in the battles of Spottsylvania, North Anna, Weldon Railroad, also 
Hatcher's Run and Petersburg. On the i8th of February, 1865, the One 
Hundred and Forty-ninth was detached from the Army of the Potomac, and 
ordered north on duty. It proceeded to Elmira, N. Y., where Company H did 
guard duty over Confederate prisoners. It filled out its term there, and was 
mustered out of service June 24, 1865. 

The writer is under obligations to Captain Stratton, John D. Smith, and J. 
C. Young, for information concerning this company. 

Roll of Company H, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment.^ 

Charles B. Stratton, captain, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, November 18, 1862. 

George W. Soult, captain, August 30, 1862, three years ; promoted from 
first lieutenant January i, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863; 
discharged June 24, 1865. 

Sylvanus D. Hamler, first lieutenant, August 30, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted from second lieutenant January i, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., 
July I, 1863; killed at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 10, 1864. 

Matthias R. Moser, first lieutenant, August 26, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant to first sergeant ; to second lieutenant, April 26, 1864 ; to 
first lieutenant June 26, 1864; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

James E. Johnston, second lieutenant, August 30, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted from first sergeant January i, 1863 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate 
April 4, 1864. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



Company H, 149TH Regiment. 301 

James Russell, second lieutenant August 30, 1862, three years; promoted 
from sergeant July i, 1864; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

John A. Bamber, first sergeant, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered 
out with company June 24, 1865. 

James W. Henry, sergeant, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

James C. Wilson, sergeant, August 30, 1862, three years; promoted from 
corporal April i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Lewis Statzler, sergeant, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at North 
Anna River, Va., May 23, 1864; promoted from corporal April i, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

J. G. Rifenberrick, sergeant, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863 ; promoted from corporal May i, 1865; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Joseph J. McMillen, sergeant, August 30, 1862, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate July 18, 1863. 

Austin Gro, sergeant, August 26, 1862, three years ; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July I, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps January i, 
1865. 

Thomas D. Hummel, corporal, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864; absent at muster out. 

Nathaniel Kennedy, corporal, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864, and at Hatcher's Run February 7, 1865 ; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Andrew O. Johnson, sergeant, August 30, 1862, three years ; prisoner from 
May 5, 1864, to February 26, 1865 ; promoted to corporal May i, 1865 '■> mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Jas. B. Crawford, corporal, August 26, 1862, three years; promoted to cor- 
paral May i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Woodroe Douglass, corporal, August 30, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal May i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Wm. Cornelius, corporal, August 30, 1862, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral May I, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Alex'r K. Shimer, corporal, October 16, 1863, three years; drafted; pro- 
moted to corporal May i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

William K. Murphy, corporal, July 11, 1863, three years; drafted; pro- 
moted to corporal May i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

W. M. Rifenberrick, corporal, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded with 
loss of leg at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May ii, 1864; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate January 26, 1865. 

William A., Guthrie, private, August 30, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Signal Corps September i, 1863. 

29 



302 History of Clarion County. 

Paul Bickel, corporal, August 26, 1862, three years; died at Philadelphia,. 
Pa., August 2 of wounds received at Gettysburg July i, 1863. 

Jacob Landis, corporal, August 26, 1862, three years; died June 17, 
1864. 

Jas. W. McCartney, private, August 26, 1862, three years; died February 
II, 1865, of wounds received at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864. 

Henry Rothrock, corporal, August 26, 1862, three years; died June 25 
of wounds received at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864; buried in National Cem- 
etery, Arlington. 

Robert A. Stroup, corporal, August 30, 1862, three years; captured at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; died on steamer 5. R. Spaiilding March 4, 
1865 ; buried in U. S. Gen. Hos. Cem., No. 2, Annapolis, Md. 

John Smith, musician, August 30, 1862, three years; transferred to Signal 
Corps September i, 1863. 

George W. Conser, musician, August 30, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Signal Corps September i, 1863. 

Applebaugh, R. T., private, August 26, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March 13, 1863. 

Allen, David, private, August 26, 1862, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Blanco, Charles W., private, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

Beegle, William A., private, September 28, 1863, three years; drafted; 
wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 
24, 1865. 

Baumgardner, E. A., private, August 19, 1863, three years; drafted; cap- 
tured at Weldon Railroad, Va., August 21, 1864; died at Salisbury, N. C, 
December 13, 1864. 

Bottorf, David, private, October 5, 1864, three years; drafted; absent, 
sick, at muster out. 

Bratton, Samuel G., private, August 26, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

Barkley, Wm. H., private, March 8, 1865, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Bobb, Moses, private, August 26, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate June 2, 1863. 

Baumgardner, Jno., private, August 26, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 26, 1863. 

Baumgardner, E., private, September 11, 1863, three years; drafted; 
wounded at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate 
January 18, 1865. 

Baumgardner, Jos., private, February 29, 1864, three years; wounded and 



Company H, 149TH Regiment. 303 



captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., Au- 
gust 25, 1864; grave 6^]^. 

Bousch, Christian, private, August 20, 1863, three years; drafted; died 
June 23 of wounds received at North Anna River, Va., May 23, 1864 ; buried 
in National Cemetery Alexandria ; grave 2230. 

Barcus, Lewis, private, August 26, 1862, three years; died November 25, 
1862. 

Beatty, Miles H., private, August 30, 1862, three years; died June 21, 
1863 ; buried near Guilford Station, Va. 

Butler, Charles, private, August 19, 1863, three years; drafted; deserted 
December 5, 1863. 

Crotzer, Daniel, private, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July I, 1863 ; prisoner from February 6 to March 25, 1865; dis- 
charged by general order June 21, 1865. 

Canady, Boyd R., private, September 26, 1863, three years; drafted; 
wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out with company June 
24, 1865. 

Coover, Samuel H., private, March 21, 1865, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

Canaan, Richard, private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 28, 1863. 

Cruse, William, private, August 20, 1863, three years ; drafted; discharged 
December 5, 1863. 

Disart, Samuel G., private, September 1 1, 1863, three years ; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Dreese, Henry J., private, February 26, 1864, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

Deviney, David P., private, September 28, 1863, three years; drafted; 
mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Decker, Thomas, private, August 19, 1863, three years; drafted ; wounded 
at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Dunmire, Daniel, private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate March 21, 1863. 

Dunkle. John K., private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate June 30, 1863. 

Davis William H., private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate March 26, 
1864. 

Davis, John, private, August 30, 1862, three years; killed at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July I, 1863. 

Fuller, William, private, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July I, 1863 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 



304 History of Clarion County. 

Fitchthorn, Aug., private, September 12, 1863, three years ; draftfd ; 
wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out with company June 
24, 1865. 

Fink, Jacob F., private, September 26, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Fay, Patrick, private, September 28, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded 
at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864 ; discharged by general order March 31, 1865. 

Forsyth, James, private, August 26, 1862, three years; killed at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July I, 1863. 

Fultz, Jackson, private, August 20, 1863, three years ; drafted ; died July 
23, of wounds received at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864 ; buried in National 
Cemetery, City Point. 

Fleming, James H., private, August 30, 1862, three years; deserted Au- 
gust 6, 1863. 

Galbraith, Wash'n, private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863 ; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Grenour, John, private, September 26, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded 
at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate June 24, 
1865. 

Hanould, Jos. T., private, August 30, 1862, three years ; wounded at Wil- 
derness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

How, John W., private, September 12, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded 
at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; 
discharged by general order July 13, 1865. 

Hand, James, private, September 28, 1863, three years ; drafted ; mustered 
out with company June 24, 1865. 

Haux, Jacob, private, September 29, 1863, three years ; drafted ; missing 
in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Harshberger, Christian, private, August 30, 1862, three years; drafted;, 
missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Holt, John D,, private, September 11, 1863, three years; drafted; trans- 
ferred to Department of Northwest August 1 1, 1864. 

Harrington, James T., private, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps January 
I, 1865. 

Harkless, George, private, August 30, 1862, three years; died May 23, 
1863. 

Hanould, Daniel L., private, August 30, 1862, three years ; died July ii, 
of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863. 

Hister, Franklin G., private, August 20, 1863, three years; drafted; died 
January 9, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, O. & A. R. R., Fords of 
Rapidan, Va. 



Company H, 149TH Regiment. 305 

Jumper, Barnett, private, September 28, 1863, three years; drafted; 
wounded at Weldon Railroad, Va., August 21, 1864 ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate May 4, 1865. 

Johnson, George, private, March 3, 1864, three years; prisoner from May 
5, 1864, to February 28, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

Kauffman, John S., private, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Kercher, John, private, September 21, 1863, three years; drafted; cap- 
tured at Bristoe Station, Va., October 18, 1863; absent, at Camp Parole, at 
muster out. 

Knapp, Peter, private, September 20, 1863, three years; missing in action 
at Weldon Railroad, Va., August 21, 1864. 

Koon, John J., private, August 26, 1862, three years; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Keeley, Francis P. A., private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate April 14, 1863. 

Kearnes, George W., private, August 26, 1862, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate December 12, 1862. 

Keever, William A., private, August 26, 1862, three years; died Decem- 
ber 4, 1862. 

Kline, David C, private, August 26, 1862, three years; killed at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July I, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery, section B, grave 15. 

Lane, Benjamin H., private, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

Livingston, Michael, private, September 29, 1863, three years ; drafted; 
mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Lacy, Job, private, August 17, 1862, three years; drafted; wounded at 
Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May ii, 1864; mustered out with company 
June 24, 1865. 

Mathers, Richard H., private, missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 
1864. 

Myers, William H., private, August 20, 1863, three years; drafted; de- 
serted; returned ; discharged by general order July 8, 1865. 

Mayben, William, private, October 5, 1863, three years ; drafted; wounded 
at North Anna River, Va., May 23, 1864; mustered out with company June 
24, 1865. 

Maben, James F., private, October 15, 1863, three years; drafted; cap- 
tured at Hatcher's Run, Va., February 7, 1865 ; mustered out with company 
June 24, 1865. 

Metz, Alexander, private, March 21, 1865, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Miller, Anderson P., private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate April 7, 1863. 



3o6 History of Clarion County. 

Manning, Robert A., private, October 5, 1863, three years; drafted; dis- 
charged on surgeon's certificate March 10, 1865. 

Maxwell, George W., private, August 30, 1862, three years; transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

Manson, John W., private, August 30, 1862, three years; died at Phila- 
delphia, Pa., May 15, 1865. 

Marvin, William, private, September 28, 1863, three years; drafted; died 
May 7, of wounds received at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Maxwell, Adam P., private, August 30, 1862, three years; died February 
28, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Culpepper Court House, Va., block 
I, section A, row 6, grave 181. 

McMunn, Samuel, private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded and 
missing in action at Weldon Railroad, Va,, August 21, 1864. 

McQuilkey, George, private, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

McManany, Samuel, private, February 26, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

McEntire, Thomas, private, March 3, 1864, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

McCanna, Francis, private, August 30, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown. 

McNaughton, H., private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July I, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February, 
1865 ; discharged by general order June 28, 1865. 

McGrew, M. Frank, private, September 26, 1863, three years; drafted; 
died May 3, 1865. 

Port, Winfield S., private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order July 15, 1865. 

Price, Sylvester F., private, August 28, 1863, three years ; drafted ; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Port, Jones C, private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate December 24, 1863. 

Potter, Calvin, private, August 30, 1862, three years; killed at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July I, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery, section D, grave 3. 

Quary, Jacob, private, August 20, 1863, three years; drafted; deserted 
May 5, 1864. 

Rutherford, John C, private, August 30, 1862, three years; missing in 
action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Ramsey, Albert, private, September 10, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Rothermal, Daniel, private, September 10, 1863, three years; drafted; 
mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 



Company H, 149TH Regiment. 307 

Reninger, James, private, March 8, 1865, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Roland, Samuel, private, August 26, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate October 14, 1862. 

Reed, W. H., private, August 26, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate Janiiary 2, 1864. 

Reed, Albert J., private, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at Laurel 
Hill, Va., May 8, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate March 24, 1865. 

Rutherford, John, private, August 30, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate May ii, 1863. 

Rifenberrick, G. M. D., private, March 3, 1864, three years; died July 23, 
1864. 

Shrum, Henry, private, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1864. 

Stewart, Alcana S., private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863 ; missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5^ 
1864. 

Stroup, Joseph, private, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Spencer, Thomas D., private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; mustered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Stumpff, Reuben, private, August 26, 1862, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July I, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; discharged 
by general order July 29, 1865. 

Shroyer, Lewis, private, September 11, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Steel, Samuel G., private, September 28, 1863, three years; drafted; 
wounded, with loss of leg, at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864 ; absent at muster 
out. 

Shire, Lewis, private, September ii, 1863, three years; drafted; captured 
at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; absent, at Camp Parole, at muster out. 

Seabrooks, Harrison, private, October 14, 1863, three years; drafted; 
wounded at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, 1864; discharged by 
general order May 30, 1865. 

Strate, Dennis, private, March 20, 1865, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Stine, Peter, private, September 29, 1863, three years; drafted; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate October 7, 1863. 

Smith, Anson, private, August 30, 1862, three years ; died January 20, 
1863 ; buried at Clarion, Pa. 

Stover, Reuben, private, August 30, 1862, three years; killed at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July I, 1863. 



3o8 History of Clarion County. 

Snook, Simon, private, August 26, 1862, three years ; captured at Wilder- 
ness, Va,, May 5, 1864; died December 18, 1864. 

Stephenson, William, private, August 26, 1862, three years ; died June 18, 
1863 ; burial record, June 28, 1863 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, 
D. C. 

Sage, Charles W., private, August 30, 1862, three years; deserted July 8, 
1863. 

Smith, John, private, August 26, 1862, three years; deserted September 25, 
1862. 

Teats, William A., private, August 30, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 

Terwillegard, William, private, August 30, 1862, three years ; prisoner 
from May 5, 1864, to February 25, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 
24, 1864. 

Taylor, William A., private, August 20, 1863, three years; drafted; mus- 
tered out with company June 24, 1865. 

Vandusen, Stephen, private, March 3, 1865, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Vasbinder, Frank, private, March 3, 1865, three years; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Weber, Charles, private, August 17, 1863, three years ; drafted; wounded 
at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864; discharged by general order June 
16, 1865. 

Wagner, Elias, private, February 26, 1864, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 24, 1865. 

Williams, John, private, August 30, 1862, three years; wounded at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July I, 1863 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate October 12, 
1865. 

Zimmerman, B. F. G., private, March 23, 1865, three years ; mustered out 
with company June 24, 1865. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

COMPANY G, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. 

Enlistment — To the Field — Services — Roll. 

IN July, 1862, Dr. Klotz recruited a company known as the "West Clarion 
Guards." The men were enlisted in Richland, Salem and Washington 
townships. The company met at Blair's Corners August 14, and proceeded by 



Company G, i 55x11 Regiment. 309 

wagons to Kittanning via Callensburg and Rimersburg, reaching Kittanning 
that night. They immediately got aboard the cars and proceeded that night 
to Pittsburgh, where for a while the men were quartered in Lafayette Hall. 
The company went into camp at Camp Copeland, and was mustered into the 
United States service August 28, 1862. In September the company pro- 
ceeded by rail to Harrisburg and was placed in the One Hundred and Fifty- 
fifth Regiment and designated Company G. At Harrisburg it was armed and 
clothed, and then it was hurried forward to Washington and placed in the de- 
fenses across the Potomac, being assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Di- 
vision of the Fifth Corps. The regiment advanced to Antietam, but was not 
engaged. The first duty of Company G was on the i8th of September, 1862. 
After the battle of Antietam Company G and Company C were detached from 
the regiment and, with the One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania, ordered 
to cross the Potomac and take possession of the opposite heights. The com- 
pany advanced to the river bank and unslung their knapsacks and haversacks, 
preparatory to fording the stream. When this was done Captain Klotz volun- 
teered to stay and guard the impedimenta till the boys crossed the stream and 
attended to the work on the other side. Under command of Lieutenants 
Meeker and Kribbs the boys plunged into the water up to their waists, 
crossed over, engaged the enemy and were beaten back, recrossing the stream 
without loss. 

The company took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. In the spring of 
1863 the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division of 
the Fifth Corps. The regiment did desperate fighting at Gettysburg on the 
2d of July. It fought its way to the very crest of Little Round Top, which 
position it held against the most furious assaults of the enemy, and viewed 
unmolested from its rocky fortress the magnificent struggle on the following 
day. Meantime Captain Klotz had been discharged, January 10, 1863, and 
the company was commanded by Capt. George F. Morgan. From this time on 
the fortunes of the regiment were shared by Company G. The accompanying 
roll has been carefully corrected by Sergeant W. F. Collner, who at various 
times commanded the company, and who had the honor of being in command 
at Appomattox. The company was mustered out June 2, 1865. It should 
be observed that the following names on the roll were carried on to the rolls of 
Company G from the rolls of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, but that they 
neverjoined the company, viz.: Thomas Hamilton, William Vandiver, William 
Wenner, James White, Philip Baumgard, Charles Blume, John Burns, Joha 
Eshelman, William H. Fortune, Squire H. Hayden, William Hall, John W. 
Jones, George Mingflower, Charles Osburne, John Reily, and Solomon Smith. 
Some of these are marked " deserted," when, no doubt, they should not be, as 
their presence elsewhere may have been as carelessly noted as it was in this 
company — they never having been with the company at all. 

30 



3IO History of Clarion County. 

Corrected Roll of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth 

Regiment. 

Charles Klotz, captain, September 2, 1862, three years; discharged Janu- 
ary 10, 1863. 

George F. Morgan, captain, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted from 
sergeant-major to captain January 10, 1863 ; brevet major April 9, 1865 ; ab- 
sent on detached service at muster out. 

Miles P. Sigworth, first lieutenant, September 2, 1862, three years; dis- 
charged December 15, 1862. 

John A. Kribbs, first lieutenant, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted 
from first sergeant January 10, 1863 ; mustered out with company June 2, 
1865. 

Edwin Meeker, second lieutenant, September 2, i8$2, three years; dis- 
charged January 10, 1863. 

Arthur W. Bell, second lieutenant, August 22, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted from sergeant-major January 10, 1863 ; mustered out with company 
June 2, 1865. 

William F. CoUner, first sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered 
out with company June 2, 1865. 

Oliver Paup, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Franklin Shoup, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Alonzo McMichael, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Josiah Fillman, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; promoted from 
corporal May 21, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Franklin H. Cope, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate November 30, 1862. 

Daniel Whitling, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 25, 1863. 

Thomas H. Hall, sergeant, January 24, 1862, three years; discharged by 
special order September 20, 1864; veteran. 

George W. Paup, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; died December 
9, 1862. 

Daniel Imbody, sergeant, August 28, 1862, three years; died of wounds 
May 20, 1862 ; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 

Edward Alexander, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Emanuel Sloughenhoupt, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; mus- 
tered out with company June 2, 1865. 



Company G, 155TH Regiment. 311 



William Fowles, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded; pro- 
moted to corporal March i, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

George F. Piatt, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded May 
5, 1864; promoted to corporal May 21, 1865 ; mustered out with company 
June 2, 1865. 

Charles Alt, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate May 18, 1863; died after being discharged ; burial record, 
died March 28, 1863 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Matt. M. Eshleman, corporal, August 28. 1862, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate December 24, 1862. 

John Morgan, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged Janu- 
ary 17, 1863. 

John G. Sherline, corporal, August 23, 1862, three years; discharged by 
special order November 5, 1864. 

Daniel M. Delo, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 30, 1863. 

Wm. H. Smithman, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 3, 1865. 

James L. Black, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania May 12, 1864; discharged by general order May 30, 1865. 

Paul Mahle, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at Wilder- 
ness, Va., May 5, 1864; discharged by general order, date unknown. 

John Konkle, corporal, July 10, 1863, three years; drafted; promoted to 
corporal March 15, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 2, 1865. 

Andrew Jackson, corporal, March 24, 1864, three years; wounded at 
North Anna, May 23, 1864; promoted to corporal May i, 1865; discharged 
by general order June 9, 1865. 

Edward Swartz, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps September i, 1863. 

William Vensel, corporal, March 24, 1864, three years; died February 24, 
1865, of wounds received in action at Hatcher's Run February 6; buried in 
National Cemetery, Loudon Park, Baltimore, Md. 

Charles Wiles, corporal, August 28, 1862, three years; deserted 1863. 

Amsler, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded December 
13, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps September 30, 1863. 

Beals, Jacob, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Beals, Hiram, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Bowser, Emanuel, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 2, 1863. 

Bish, Abraham, private, March 24, 1864, three years; wounded with loss 



312 History of Clarion County. 

of leg at first Hatcher's Run October 29, 1863 ; discharged on surgeon's cer- 
tificate March 9, 1865. 

Best, Wilh'am F., private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at Pe- 
tersburg, Va., March 25, 1865; discharged by general order, date unknown. 
Baumgard, Phihp, private, August 18, 1864, three years; substitute; dis- 
charged by general order June 3, 1865. 

Boyd, William J., private, February 29, 1864, three years; discharged by 
general order May 31, 1865. 

Buhle, William, private, August 9, 1864, three years; substitute; trans- 
ferred to Company C, 191st Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Blume, Charles, private, March 2, 1865, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany C, 191st Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Bish, James, private, March 24, 1864, three years; wounded four times; 
transferred to Company C, 191st Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Baker, Marion M., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died October 3, 
1862 ; buried in National Cemetery, Antietam, Md., sec. 26, lot B, grave 120- 
Boyer, Richard W., private, August 28, 1862, three years; deserted De- 
cember 14, 1862. 

Best, Peter W., private, August 28, 1862, three years; deserted July i, 
1863. 

Best, Gottlieb, private, March 31, 1864, three years; deserted October 
1864. 

Burns, John, private, August 28, 1863, three years; substitute; deserted 
May 4, 1864. 

Cleeland, William, private, August 22, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps July i, 1863 ; discharged by general order June 24, 
1865. 

Dehner, Leonard, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Dittman, Adam, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Darnell, Edward, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 5, 1865. 

Dower, Peter, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Disher, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps April 
22, 1863. 

Disher, Nathan, private, August 28, 1862, three years; died April i, 1863. 
Edinger, George W., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Edinger, Andrew J., private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 



Company G, issth Regiment. 313 

Eiserman, Miles, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Edinger, John, private, March 18, 1864, three years ; wounded at Wilder- 
ness May 5, 1864; discharged December 12, 1864, for wounds received in 
action. 

Edinger, Andrew, private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865 ; discharged by general order May 24, 
1865. 

Eshelman, John, private, March 2, 1865, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order June 7, 1865. 

Eiserman, Ferdinand, private, August 28, 1862, three years; died March 
12, 1865, of wounds received in action at Hatcher's Run ; buried in National 
Cemetery, Loudon Park, Baltimore, Md. 

Fries, John G. A., private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

French, William, private, September 22, 1864, three years; substitute; 
mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Fulmer, Henry, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Fowles, Erred, private, August 28, 1862, three years; died October 6, 
1862, of wounds received in action; buried in National Cemetery, Antietam, 
Md., section 26, lot B, grave 197. 

Fortune, William H., private, July 16, 1863, three years; substitute; de- 
serted, date unknown. 

Greer, John P., private, August 29, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Gilner, Peter, private, July 22, 1861, three years; discharged by general 
order January 28, 1865. 

Gordon, John, private, March i, 1864, three years; wounded at Spottsyl- 
vania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864; absent in hospital at muster out ; discharged 
at Philadelphia. 

Groner, Jacob, private, August 28, 1862, three years; died Januarv 6, 
1863. 

Goughler, Joseph, private, August 28, 1862, three years; deserted Decem- 
ber 14, 1862. 

Hunsbarger, Jacob, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Hess, William, private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at Laurel 
Hill May 8, 1864; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Heeter, Franklin, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 25, 1863. 

Hughes, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; discharged March 6, 
1865. 



314 History of Clarion County. 

Hybarger, Amos, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; wounded at Five 
Forks, April i, 1865 ; discharged by general order May 31, 1865. 

Harris, Sylvester, private, March 31, 1864, three years; discharged by 
general order June 22, 1865. 

Hunsicker, Peter, private, March 24, 1864, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Hagan, James, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; wounded in 
action May 15, 1864; transferred to Company C, One Hundred and Ninety- 
first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Hondle, George, private, August 28, 1862, three years; killed at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Hummel, Henry J., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died June 5, 
1864, of wounds received in action May 5, 1864 ; buried in National Cemetery, 
Arlington, Va. 

Hunsbarger, Henry, February 29, 1864, three years; killed at Hatcher's 
Run, Va., February 6, 1865. 

Hayden, Squire H., private, July 16, 1863, three years; snbstitute ; de- 
serted March 25, 1864. 

Hall, William, private, August 13, 1863, three years; substitute; deserted 
October 13, 1863. 

Hamilton, Thomas, private, March 26, 1864, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

Imhofif, Henry, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; discharged by gen- 
eral order July 13, 1865. 

Isensee, Frederick, private, August 5, 1864, three years; substitute; killed 
at Gravelly Run, Va., March 31, 1865. 

Jones, John W., private, November 19, 1863, three years; substitute; de- 
serted April 15, 1864. 

Keefer, George J., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order June 24, 1865. 

Keefer, David, private, July 16, 1863, three years; drafted; transferred to 
Company A, Twenty-second Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps ; discharged 
by general order August 4, 1865. 

Keefer, Jacob M., private, February 25, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

King, Christian, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Kline, Gustavus, private, July 27, 1864, three years; substitute; trans- 
ferred to Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2^ 
1865. 

Keely, Jeremiah, private, August 28, 1862, three years; killed at Peters- 
burg, Va., June 18, 1864. 



Company G, 155TH Regiment. 315 



Little, William B., private, July 18, 1863, three years; substitute; dis- 
charged by general order May ii, 1865. 

Lilly, Richard S., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died December 
25, 1865. 

Mong, Joseph, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Mong, Isaac W., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; wounded at Peters- 
burg June 18, 1864; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Meeley, Alexander, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 10, 1863. 

Myres, John W., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate January 21, 1863; died after discharge at Washington, 
D. C. 

Martin, Edward M., private, August 20, 1 861, three years; discharged 
August 23, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Martin, Charles W., private, February 8, 1862, three years; discharged 
February 8, 1865 — expiration of term. 

Mahle, Jerry, private, August 25, 1862, three years ; discharged by gene- 
ral order May 31, 1865. 

Marsh, John N., private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at Quaker 
Road, Va., March 29, 1865 ; discharged by general order, date unknown ; died 
from wound. 

Mahle, Levi J., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died January 13, 

1863. 

Mortimer, William F., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died April 
28, 1864. 

Miller, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; killed at Laurel Hill, 
Va., May 8, 1864; buried in Burial Grounds, Wilderness. 

Miller, Henry W., private, August 28, 1862, three years; deserted Decem- 
ber 14, 1862. 

Mingflower, George, private, March 26, 1864, three years; not on muster- 
out roll. 

McGary, Augustus, private, July 28, 1864, three years; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company June 2, 1865. 

McKee, John H., private, August 10, 1863, three years; transferred to 
Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

McFarland, John, private, July 22, 1861, three years; missed in action at 
Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865 ; veteran. 

McCabe, Alexander, private, August 20, 1861, three years; discharged 
August 23, 1864 — expiration of term. 

Neely, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 



3i6 History of Clarion County. 

Nevil, John A., private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865 ; wounded at Petersburg June 18, 1864. 

Neiderlander, Joseph, private, August 19, 1864, three years; substitute; 
absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Neil, Thomas, private, July 22, 1863, three years; drafted ; transferred to 
Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Oler, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; killed at Chancellors- 
ville, Va., May 3, 1863. 

Osburne, Charles, private, September 2, 1863, three years; substitute; de- 
serted October 13, 1863. 

Pauchert, John A., private, August 19, 1864, three years; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Piatt, John S., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate November 26, 1862. 

Piatt, George O., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; wounded at Five 
Forks, Va., April i, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 7, 1865. 

Piatt, Hugh P., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died December 21, 
1862, of wounds received in action December 13 ; buried in Military Asylum 
Cemetery, D. C. 

Poler, Joseph, private, January 18, 1864, three years; missing in action at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Reichner, Jeremiah, private, March 24, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Laurel Hill May 8, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate March 23, 1865. 

Reily, John, private, March 26, 1864, three years ; transferred to Company 
C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Swab, George, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Stagley, David E., private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Sheets, Samuel C, private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 14, 1863. 

Smidth, Casper, private, August 18, 1864, three years; wounded at Five 
Forks April i, 1865 ; substitute; absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Stitt, William H., private, August 23, 1864, three years; wounded at Five 
Forks, Va., March 31, 1865 ; discharged by general order June 5, 1865. 

Shaffer, John, private, December 3, 1863, three years ; wounded at Peeble's 
Farm, Va., September 30, 1864; discharged by general order June 2, 1865. 

Stewart, Robert, private, April 11, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Smith, William B., private, August 20, 1863, three years; drafted; trans- 
ferred to Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 
1865. 



Company G, 155TH Regiment. 317 

Stringfellow, J. W., private, August 28, 1862, three years ; died November 
28, 1862. 

Snyder, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; killed at Fredericks- 
burg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Swab, Jonas P., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died December 29, 
1862. 

Smith, Solomon, private, August 6, 1864, three years ; substitute; deserted 
September 2, 1864. 

Taylor, William, private, August 5, 1864, three years; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Toman, Amos, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate November 30, 1862. 

Taylor, Thomas, private, August 28, 1862, three years; wounded at Pee- 
ble's Farm, Va., September 30, 1864 ; absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Timmons, Joseph, private, August 22, 1864, three years; substitute; dis- 
charged by general order June 3, 1865. 

Thomas, John G., private, January 29, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, 1864; absent, in hospital, at muster 
out. 

Toman, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; died November 12, 
1862 ; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., block 2, section E, row 4, 
grave 73. 

Texter, John, private, August 28, 1862, three years; killed at Fredericks- 
burg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Toman, Isaac, private, August 28, 1862, three years; missing in action at 
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

Vensel, Jacob, private, February 29, 1864, three years ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps November, 1864. 

Vandiver, William, private, July 13, 1863, three years; drafted; deserted 
April 15, 1864. 

Will, Franklin, private, August 28, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Weber, John, private, August 17, 1864, three years ; substitute; mustered 
out with company June 2, 1865. 

Wenthng, James H., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, October 12, 1862. 

Weaver, James G., private, August 28, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate, November 26, 1862. 

Wentling, Eli, private, August 28, 1862, three years ; discharged by gene- 
ral order June 15, 1865. 

Woodward, William, private, August 19, 1864, three years ; discharged by 
general order June 3, 1865. 

31 



3i8 History of Clarion County. 

Wenner, William, private, July 26, 1864, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order June 7, 1865. 

Wentling, Joshua, private, March 17, 1864, three years; transferred to 
company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, June 2, 1865. ' 

Wingard, Jos. G., private, August 28, 1862, three years; transferred to 
Fourteenth Company, Second Battery Veteran Reserve Corps, September 16, 
1863 ; discharged by general order June 30, 1865. 

Wetzel, Henry H., private, August 28, 1862, three years; died December 
21, 1862. 

Wentling, Isaac, private, March 24, 1864, three years; wounded at Wil- 
derness May 5, 1864; captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., September 28, 
1864, grave, 9909. 

White, James, private, March 9, 1864, three years ; not on muster-out roll. 

Yeager, Thomas, private, August 17, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, June 2, 1865. 



CHAPTER XXXn. 

COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. 
Enrollment — Services — Casualties — Roll. 

NO company in the whole number of Clarion county companies deserves a 
higher place in the estimation of the reader than Company H, of the One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth. It was recruited at Rimersburg, by Professor John 
Ewing, in August, 1862, and was mustered into the United States service Au- 
gust 22, 1862, being designated as shown by title, and assigned to the Second 
Brigade, Third Division of the Fifth Corps. It proceeded to the field by way 
of Kittanning, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg to Washington. The Regiment went 
into the field at once, lying in reserve at Antietam. At Gettysburg it did 
magnificent service as noted under "Company G." 

At Petersburg the regiment lay in reserve on the i6th and 17th. On the 
1 8th the Fifth Corps relieved the Ninth Corps in the morning and moved upon 
the enemy, capturing a cut in the railroad, the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth 
occupying a position about the center of the corps. At five P. M. a charge was 
ordered, and the troops moved forward under the most fearful and destruct- 
ive fire that ever greeted brave men on a mission of death. In this terrible 



Company H, 155TH Regiment. 319 

ordeal Company H lost twenty-two men in killed and wounded. Milton 
Stewart and William Travis were slain upon the field, and seven afterward died, 
among whom were John Cowan, Frank Lyon, Will Horner, and William J. 
Marks. Travis was the first man killed of the company. Milton Stewart was 
carried off the field and buried by A. J. White, Philip Over, and Abner Hark- 
less. On the 22d of June General Birney commanded the Second Corps, as 
General Hancock's Gettysburg wound had re-opened. General Birney ad- 
vanced for an extension of his line, and left an open space between his corps 
and the Sixth corps which lay on his right. The enemy, perceiving his oppor- 
tunity, advanced between the two corps and attacked each in the rear. The 
Fifth Corps had been held in reserve ; it was now ordered to charge the enemy. 
It drove him back across the Jerusalem Plank Road and reinstated the Union 
line. Here Colonel Ewing, late captain of Company H, was severely wounded 
in the foot, and Andrew J. White lost his left leg. Each was struck by a Min- 
nie ball. In this campaign George Kerns, William Marks and John Cowan 
each lost a leg on the i8th, and A. J. White on the 22d ; Lewis Gathers, also 
of Company H, lost a leg February 6, 1865, and J. D. Burns lost an arm, date 
unknown to the writer. 

Captain Ewing of Company H rose rapidly on his own merit, being pro- 
moted to major, to lieutenant-colonel and breveted colonel. Lieutenant D. E. 
Lyon, born of'wealthy parents, entered as lieutenant and became captain, ac- 
quitting himself with honor, and upon his discharge for sickness, Wilson E. 
Allen became captain. 

The company had more than an ordinary share of brave men. At Fred- 
ericksburg, when Company C — the color company — was beaten back, it left 
the colors on the field. Captain D. E. Lyon seeing this, rallied Company H, 
and Corporal Chalmers Lawson rushed forward, seized the colors and bore 
them from the field. The company was mustered out June 2, 1865. Moses D. 
Anderson, C. W. Fulton, and A. J. White have our thanks for valuable data. 

Corrected Roll" of Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth 

Regiment P. V. 

John Ewing, captain, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to major 
November i, 1863. 

D. E. Lyon, captain, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted from first 
lieutenant April 25, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate December 9, 
1864. 

Wilson E. Allen, captain, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted from 
sergeant to second Heutenant January 20, 1863 ; to first lieutenant April 25, 
1864; to captain January 7, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Samuel Q. Blair, first lieutenant, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted 
from corporal to sergeant October 12, 1862; to first sergeant January 20, 



320 History of Clarion County. 

1863; to second lieutenant April 25, 1864; to first lieutenant January 10^ 
1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

John Mooney, second lieutenant, August 22, 1862, three years ; discharged 
January 20, 1863. 

Elijah M. Lee, second lieutenant, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted 
from corporal to sergeant October 24, 1862 ; to first sergeant April 25, 1864; 
to second lieutenant January 10, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 
1865. 

Thomas C. Lawson, first sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; pro- 
moted from corporal to sergeant March 24, 1863 ; to first sergeant January 10, 
1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

David T. Orr, first sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Law- 
sonham, Pa., March 24, 1863. 

Wash. A. Craig, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal March 24, 1863; to sergeant April 25, 1864; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

John R. Jackson, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal October 24, 1862; to sergeant December 11, 1864; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

James M. Lyon, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years ; promoted to cor- 
poral January 20, 1863 ; to sergeant January 10, 1865 ! mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865 ; wounded, date unknown. 

T. T. Montgomery, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 6, 1863. 

Alfred G. Thomas, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 13, 1862. 

David J. Stewart, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded De- 
cember 13, 1862, and at North Anna River, Va., May 24, 1864; absent, in 
hospital, at muster out. 

William R. Whitmer, sergeant, August 22, 1862, three years; died at 
Sharpsburg, Md., October 12, 1862. 

James J. Irwin, sergeant August 22, 1862, three years ; captured ; died at 
Anderson ville, Ga., October 15, 1864. 

David R. Curll, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral September 11, 1863; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

John Anderson, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral April 25, 1864; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Philip Over, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years ; promoted to corporal 
September i, 1864; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

John Reedy, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years ; promoted to corporal 
January 10, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

John G. Rutherford, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate March 25, 1863. 



Company H, 155TH Regiment. 321 

Isaac N. Hagan, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to cor- 
poral January 15, 1865; wounded February 6, 1865; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

John V. Reed, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate July 15, 1863. 

Moses D. Anderson, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Five Forks, Va., April i, 1865 ; absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Julius P. Wilkins, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to 
sergeant September 11, 1863 ; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Samuel Weight, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864; transferred to Third Regiment Veteran Re- 
serve Corps; discharged by general order April 14, 1865. 

Jacob Bruder, corporal, February 27, 1864, three years; discharged by 
general order June 9, 1865. 

Alexander Fox, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Beverly^ 
N. J., November 26, 1864. 

William Roihan, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; died January 
31, 1864. 

Reuben Harriger, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Phila- 
delphia, Pa., July 29, 1864, of wounds received in action. 

Hortio S. Harnish, corporal, August 22, 1862, three years; killed at Wil- 
derness, Va., May 5, 1864. 

H. Thompson, musician, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Wilkins B. Newell, musician, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Ashbaugh, Andrew, private, September 20, 1864, three years; discharged 
by general order June 27, 1865. 

Alexander, T. M., private, February 25, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Bell, William S., private, August 22, 1862, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Bussman, George J., private, January 26, 1864, three years ; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Badger, Uriah J., private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged Sep- 
tember 18, 1863. 

Brown, Cooper, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate P'ebruary 24, 1863. 

Bartoe, Amos, private, February 25, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Bell, George, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 



322 History of Clarion County. 

Bell, Oliver, private, February 29, 1864, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Burns, Richard, private, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Curllsville, 
Pa., September 13, 1864. 

Bordenstein, George, private, August 16, 1864, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, November 16, 1864, of wounds received in action; buried in 
National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 

Burns, James D.. private, February 29, 1864, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, November 30, 1864, of wounds received in action ; buried in 
National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 

Baumeister, Michael, private, August 10, 1864, three years; substitute; 
wounded and captured at Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865 ; died May i, 
1865; buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Petersburg; division A, 
section B, grave 7. 

Conrad, Daniel F., private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Corbett, Jerry M., private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate December 15, 1862. 

Craig, David M., private, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Falmouth 
Va., December 27, 1862. 

Cowan, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Alexandria, 
Va., July II, 1864, of wounds received in action June 18 ; grave 2375. 

Drittenbach, Joan, private, August 6, 1864, three years; substitute; 
wounded at Five Forks, Va., April i, 1865 ; transferred to Company D, One 
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Dalgauer, Albert, private, August 17, 1864, three years ; substitute ; trans- 
ferred to Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 
1865. 

Delp, Peter, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Eaton, Alexander, private, August 22, 1862, three years; killed at Five 
Forks, Va., March 31, 1865. 

Finefrock, William, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Fulton, Charles W., private, August 22, 1862, three years; promoted to 
corporal May 5, 1864; mustered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Flick, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate July 15, 1863. 

Fox, Leonidas, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate September 8, 1863. 

Fox, Isaac, private, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded at Wilderness 
Va., May 5, 1864; transferred to Company 5, Second Battery Veteran Re- 
serve Corps; discharged by general order August 22, 1865. 



Company H, 155TH Regiment. 323 



Fox, Reynolds, private, August 22, 1862, three years; captured, died at 
Andersonville, Ga., August 23, 1864; grave 6649. 

Forkum, William, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate February 2, 1864. 

Freeman, Adam, private, February 29, 1864, three years; died at Alex- 
andria, Va., May 28, 1864, of wounds received in action ; grave 1948. 

Fox, William A., private, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, September 4, 1864, of wounds received in action; buried in 
National Cemetery Arlington, Va. 

Gourley, George B., private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Gathers, Lewis, private, February 24, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865 ; transferred to Company D, One Hun- 
dred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Griffith, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded and pris- 
oner May 5, 1864; discharged by general order June 18, 1865. 

Gathers, S. Ross, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June i, 1865. 

Gourley, John, private, August 12, 1862, three years; died at Falmouth, 
Va., January 12, 1863. 

Gray, WiUiam O., private, August 22, 1862, three years; died at Wash- 
ington, D. C, February 17, 1863. 

Hartman, Wm. D., private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Hartman, Lewis, private, August 22, 1862, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Harriger, Henry, private, August 22, 1862, three years ; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Hilliard, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Hite, Henry, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate October 15, 1862. 

Harkless, Abner, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged June 
20, 1865. 

Hamilton, David, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Hess, Henry, private, August 18, 1864, three years; substitute; transferred 

to Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Horner, William, private, August 22, 1862, three years ; died at City Point 

June 28, 1864, of wounds received in action June 18; buried in National 

Cemetery; section C, division 4, grave 175. 

Hermansdefifer, J. A., private, September 22, 1864, three years; suicided 
October 7, 1864. 



324 History of Clarion County. 

Hayden, James, private, August i8, 1864, three years; transferred to Forty- 
eighth Company, Second Battery Veteran Reserve Corps ; discharged by gen- 
eral order September 12, 1865. 

Jordan, David, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Johnson, Joseph R., private, August 22, 1862, three years ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate September 25, 1863. 

Kerr, George R, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Koler, Jacob, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Kerns, George D., private, February 29, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864; discharged December 30, 1864. 

Kerr, James, private, August 17, 1864, three years ; discharged by general 
order May 19, 1865. 

Kirkwood, James J., private, February 29, 1864, three years; discharged 
by general order June 27, 1865. 

Kifer, Joseph M., private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged by 
general order May 16, 1865. 

Korpeng, Edward, private, August 15, 1864, three years; discharged by 
general order May 19, 1865. 

Kaster, James M., private, August 22, 1862, three years ; died near Fal- 
mouth, Va., January 14, 1863. 

Kuhns, Solomon, private, February, 25, 1864, three years; died August 
22, 1864, buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, L. I. 

Lash, Jacob, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Lewis, Edward, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Lewis, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Lewis, John A., private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Lewis, Peter, private, August 22, 1862, three years; killed at Wilderness, 
Va., May 5, 1864.' 

Lyon, B. F., private, February 29, 1864, three years; died at Alexandria, 
Va., July 6, 1864, of wounds received in action June 18 at Petersburg. 

Long, B. Sloan, private, February 25, 1864, three years; died at Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., September 11, 1864. 

Myers, James A., private, August, 22, 1862, three years ; discharged by 
general order June 3, 1865. 

Marks, William J., private, November 25, 1863, three years; died at City 
Point, Va., June 28, 1864, of wounds received inaction June 18. 



Company H, 155TH Regiment. 325 



Meeker, Harnett E., private, February 25, 1864, three years; captured; 
died at Andersonville, Ga.,.July 17, 1864, grave 3467. 

Moss, George, private, January 16, 1864, three years; not on muster-out 

roll. 

McPherson, David, private, August 22, 1862, three years ; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

McCain, Thomas C, private, August 22, 1862, three year; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

McTigue, Stephen, private, September 22, 1864, three years ; mustered 
out with company June 2, 1865. 

McElravy, Charles W., private, August 22, 1862, three years ; discharged 
on surgeon's certificate March 25, 1863. 

McCall, John D., private, February 29, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865 ; transferred to Company A, One Hun- 
dred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

McKee, Hugh, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged by gen- 
eral order June 12, 1865. 

McMullen, H. M., private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

McMullen, Samuel A., private, February 29, 1864, three years; trans- 
ferred to Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 
1865. 

Nail, Daniel, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate May 20, 1864. 

Oldekop, Henry, private, August 7, 1864, three years; substitute; trans- 
ferred to Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 
1865. 

Pernal, Adolph, private, August 23, 1865, three years; substitute ; mus- 
tered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Peters, Elias, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Powell, John, private, August 23, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Palmer, Absalom W., private, February 12, 1864, three years; transferred 
to Company D, One Hundred and Ninty-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Peters, Amos, private, February 29, 1864, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Porter, John T., private, February 25, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Rankin, Joseph, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Rhodes, Fullerton, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. ^^ 



326 History of Clarion County. 

Ripple, Adam, private, August 20, 1864, three years; substitute; mus- 
tered out with company June 2, 1865. 

Risher, Simeon, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate January 13, 1863. 

River, John, private, November 10, 1863, three years ; transferred to Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Riley, James Q., private, February 29, 1864, three years; wounded May 
5, 1864; captured; returned; died at Curllsville, Pa., January 15, 1865. 

Reedy, William, private, August 22, 1862, three years ; died at New York 
July 16, 1864, of wounds received in action ; buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, 
L. I. 

Stewart, John A., private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out 
with company June 2, 1865. 

Stewart, Nathan, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Swarm, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Switzer, William, private, August 22, 1862, three years; discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate June 6, 1863. 

Swires, Joseph W., private, February 25, 1864, three years; wounded at 
Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865 ; transferred to Company D, One Hun- 
dred and Ninety first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Seckengost, Daniel, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Smith, Francis, private, February 25, 1864, three years ; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Stewart, Milton, private, August 22, 1862, three years; killed at Peters- 
burg, Va., June 18, 1864. 

Snyder, Ira, private, Februay 9, 1864, three years; died at Point Lookout, 
Md., March 3, 1865. 

Thornley, Charles, private, February 15, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1865. 

Travis, William, private, February 29, 1864, three years; killed at Peters- 
burg, Va., June 18, 1864. 

Welsh, John, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered out with 
company June 2, 1865. 

Whitmer, Samuel, private, August 22, 1862, three years; mustered oyt 
with company June 2, 1865. 

White, Andrew, private, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded in action 
June 22, 1864; discharged November 10, 1864. 

Watterson, Samuel, private, February 29, 1864, three years; discharged 
by general order May 16, 1865. 



Company K, 159TH Regiment. 327 



Whitmore, Eli, private, August 22, 1862, three years; wounded at 
Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, 1865 ; discharged by general order. 

Wilson, Joseph, private, February 29, 1864, three years; transferred to 
Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment P. V., June 2, 1862. 

Weiser, George B., private, February 25, 1864, three years; died near 
Petersburg, Va., June 19, 1864, of wounds received in action; buried in 
National Cemetery, City Point, section D, division i, grave 149. 



CHAPTER XXXHI. 

COMPANY K, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY -NINTH REGIMENT P. V.- FOUR- 
TEENTH CAVALRY. 

First Enlistment Recruits — Other Recruits — In the Field — Record of the Men. 

THE following named Clarion county men enlisted in September, 1862, at 
New Bethlehem, Pa., in Captain David K. Duff's cavalry company, viz: John 
W. McNutt, recruiting officer ; Robert Simes, Joseph Case, James J. Frazier, 
Peter Angle, Simon P. Cravenor, Noah H. Brown, James M. Goheen, and 
Solomon C. Rhodes. 

The following recruits from Clarion county joined the company at Martins- 
burg, Va., in 1864: William M. IV'IcNutt, Chalkley C. Brocius, Jesse S. Mc- 
Elhoes, John F. Gruber, Amos P. Brocius, Lewis R. Coursin, Michael Craw- 
ford, Milton Hepler, Philip Hamm, Elias S. Lavan, Abraham Moore, Robert 
McNutt, and Tate M. Henry. Philip Farringer, Jacob S. Miller, and Richard 
Miller joined the company at Camp Montgomery, near Pittsburgh, in November, 
1862, and were mustered into the service with the company, but these three 
soon joined the Second United States Cavalry, and are noted in the miscella- 
neous list. 

These men, twenty- two in all, with their regiment, left Pittsburgh Novem- 
ber 24, 1862, and went to Hagerstown, Md., thence to Harper's Ferry on the 
28th of December, 1862, where they went into active service, doing picket duty 
and scouting in that part of Virginia. They were almost constantly employed 
from the time of the regiment's entering Virginia to the close of the war. 
Early in May, 1863, they were sent to Grafton, West Va., on the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad, where their regiment was attached to the mounted command of 
General W. W. Averell, known as Averell's Brigade of Cavalry, which belonged 
to the Army of West Virginia. Their field of operations was in West Virginia 
and the Shenandoah valley. 



328 History of Clarion County. 



Roll of Clarion County Men of Company K. 

John W. McNutt, first lieutenant, November i8, 1862; wounded at White 
Sulphur Springs or Rocky Gap, Va., August 26, 1863; discharged November 
8, 1864. 

William M. McNutt, first sergeant, February 25, 1864; transferred to 
Company B July 31, 1865 ; mustered out with Company B August 24, 1865. 

Chalkley C. Brocius, sergeant, February 25, 1864; promoted to sergeant 
June I, 1865 ; to sergeant-major July 3, 1865 ; wounded and taken prisoner 
at Millwood, December 17, 1864; date of discharge not known. 

Jesse S. McElhose, corporal, February 29, 1864; transferred to Company 
B July 31, 1865; veteran; wounded at New Market, Va., May 15, 1864; 
mustered out with Company B August 24, 1865. 

James J. Frazier, corporal, November 23, 1862; discharged May 31, 1865; 
now major Fifteenth Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania. 

John F. Gruber, bugler, February 24, 1864; transferred to Company B 
July 31, 1865 ; mustered out with company August 24, 1865. 

Peter Angle, November 23, 1862; captured at Jackson River, Va., on 
Salem Raid. December 20, 1863 ; died at Andersonville, Ga., May 28, 1864, 
grave No. 1436. 

Noah H. Brown, November 23, 1862 ; discharged, date unknown. 

Amos P. Brocius, February 25, 1864; lost, supposed to have been captured 
at Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864, and to have died in prison. 

Joseph Case, November 23, 1862 ; mortally wounded and died in an en- 
gagement at Liberty, Va., June 19, 1864. 

Lewis R. Coursin, February 25, 1864; discharged by general order May 
25, 1865. 

Simon P. Cravenor, November 23, 1862 ; captured at Rocky Gap, Va., 
August 26, 1863 ; died at Andersonville, Ga., May i, 1864; grave 837. 

Michael Crawford, February 19, 1864; captured and died at Anderson- 
ville, Ga., October 29, 1864; grave 11614. 

Philip Farringer, November 23, 1862; transferred to 2d U. S. Cavalry. 

James M. Goheen, November 23, 1862 ; discharged, date unknown. 

Milton Hepler, February 25, 1864; transferred to Company B July 31, 
1865 ; mustered out with Company B August 24, 1865. 

Philip Hamm, February 24, 1864; killed in cavalry engagement at Mill- 
wood, Va., December 17, 1864. 

Elias S. Lavan, February 29, 1864; transferred to Company B July 31, 
1865 ; mustered out with Company B August 24, 1865. 

Jacob S. Miller, November 23, 1862; transferred to 2d U. S. Cavalry. 

Richard Miller, November 23, 1862; transferred to 2d U. S. Cavalry. 

Abraham Moore, March 9, 1 864 ; killed at Ashley's Ford on Shenandoah 
River, Va., February 19, 1865. 



Company B, 169TH Regiment. 329 



Robert McNutt, February 26, 1864; discharged by general order July 5, 

1865. 

Tate M. Henry, February 25, 1864; discharged, date unknown. 

Solomon C. Rhodes, November 23, 1862; discharged, date unknown. 

Robert Simons (or Simes), November 23, 1862 ; discharged, date un- 
known. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 
Enlistment — Remarkable Number of Desertions — Roll. 

CONCERNING this company we know little. It was recruited in Clarion 
county; was mustered in October 16, 1862, at Camp Howe, near Pitts- 
burgh, and mustered out July 26 (or 27), 1863, at Harrisburg, having been in 
the field from December 5, 1862, to the time stated. Its service was brief and 
comparatively light, suffering somewhat, however, from disease. 

It is with feelings of regret that we append the roll of this company, 
copied from Bates's "Pennsylvania Volunteers," page 1152, of vol. IV, as it 
charges the company with the almost incredible number of thirty -one deser- 
tions, all of which are dated prior to the regiment's start to the field. In jus- 
tice to these men, the opinion is ventured that something was wrong in the 
conduct of the regiment. The thirty-one men said to have deserted from the 
company must have been subject to conditions different from the other Clarion 
county companies, whose rank and file in the aggregate represented both con- 
stancy and devotion. Company B, of the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth, 
must have been somewhat sinned against; otherwise, why this sinning? 

Roll of Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-Ninth Regiment. 1 

Henry J. Shortts, captain, November 20, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Johnson Mercer, first lieutenant, November 19, 1862, nine months ; mus- 
tered out with company July 26, 1863. 

Harmon Phipps, second lieutenant, November 19, 1862, nine months; 
mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

WiHam Totten, first sergeant, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted 
from private December 8, 1862 ; absent, sick, at muster out. 

1 Copied from Bates. 



330 History of Clarion County. 

Jesse E. Hepler, sergeant, October i6, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

WilHam A. Wilson, sergeant, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered 
out with company. 

John C. Shunk, sergeant, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Jacob R. Shull, sergeant, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Andrew Sippey, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1862; mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

Moses A. Porter, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1862; mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

Daniel Walters, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

Joseph Bryner, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1862 ; mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

George A. Clark, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1862; mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

James R. Right, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to 
corporal December i, 1862 ; mustered out with compan}' July 26, 1863. 

John Barker, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; promoted to cor- 
poral December i, 1862; mustered out with company July 26, 1863. 

Joseph Hank, corporal, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Henry Kalp, musician, October 16, 1862, nine months ; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Allison, Harvey, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Allsbach, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Allsbach, Levi, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Allshouse, And. J., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember ID, 1862. 

Black, John R., private, October 16, 1862, nine months ; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Black, Wilham F., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Barger, Abraham, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Berlin, Uriah, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 



Company B, 169TH Regiment. 331 



Birch, Besin, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Barger, Jacob, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Copp, Isaac C, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted December i, 1862. 

Degoust, George, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Delph, Peter, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Dunklee, Daniel W., private, October 16, 1862, nine months ; died at Glou- 
cester Point, Va., March 12, 1863. 

Ely, Christopher, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Edmiston, Joseph, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; died at Glou- 
cester Point, Va., February 21, 1863. 

Fey, Henry, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Farringer, William, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Fribley, Henry, private, October 16, 1862, nine months ; drowned at Fort 
Keys, Va., June 24, 1863 ; buried in National Cemetery, Yorktown. 

Graham, George, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Graff, David, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Grants, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber II, 1862. 

Houpt, Elias, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Hall, Henry, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company, July 26, 1863. 

Hancock, Lewis, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Hartman, George, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Heckman. Jacob, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Hankey, John, private, October, 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 12, 1862. 

Kean, John, jr., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Kittering, Adam, private, October 16, 1862, nine months ; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 



332 History of Clarion County. 



KHngensmith, I., private, October i6, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Kepper, Reuben, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Kale, Jerome, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted October 
29, 1862. 

Lewis, Reuben, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Lewis, Anthony, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Linn, William, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

LilHg, George, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 16, 1862. 

Miller, William C, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Mong, Harrison, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Mitchell, Joseph, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Musser, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Myers, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Mong, William, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Moyer, Alonzo, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Myers, Cyrus, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Mail, Adam, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted December 
I, 1862. 

Mealy, Abraham, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 16, 1862. 

Montgomery, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 12, 1862. 

McCall, Robert, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

McCafferty, David, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 22, 1862. 

Nolan, Charles, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Decem- 
ber I, 1862. 



Company B, 169TH Regiment. 333 

Rigts, William D., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Rigle, David, private, October 16, 1S62, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Rumberger, Levi G., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted 
November 12, 1862. 

Rowan, David, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Decem- 
ber I, 1862. 

Seipe, Charles, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Sayers, Harvey, private, October 16, 1862, nine months ; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Slatterly, Patrick, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Shoup, John A., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Saltgiver, Daniel, private, October 16, 1862, nine months ; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Shoop, John A., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Swartz, Jacob, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 2, 1862. 

Stoops, Daniel, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 22, 1862. 

Sheasley, Andrew H., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted 
November 16, 1862. 

Smith, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted November 
12, 1862. 

Shultz, Frederick, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 12, 1862. 

Simmons, Oliver H., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 12, 1862. 

Salts, Richard, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 14, 1862. 

Shade, Joseph, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 12, 1862. 

Walters, George W., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Wetzel, Aaron, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Walters, David R., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 
33 



334 History of Clarion County. 

Wairham, William, private, October i6, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Wolf, Lemuel S., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out 
with company July 26, 1863. 

Weiter, Levi, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 

Wales, Alexander, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 12, 1862. 

Waite, John D., private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 14, 1862. 

Wallace, James, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 16, 1862. 

Walker, Samuel, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted October 
16, 1862. 

Wright James, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 26, 1862. 

Weiser, Benjamin, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted No- 
vember 20, 1862. 

Wilson, Albert, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 20, 1862. 

Weller, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted November 
20, 1862. 

West, John, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted November 
20, 1862. 

Wright, Charles, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; deserted Novem- 
ber 20, 1862. 

Yoder, Nathan, private, October 16, 1862, nine months; mustered out with 
company July 26, 1863. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS. 

Captain Tanner's Independent Company : Muster — Service — Roll. List of Soldiers En- 
rolled in Various Other Organizations Tlian Those Already Named. 

CAPTAIN Tanner's company was not entirely of Clarion county men. The 
company was composed of lOO-day men. It was mustered in August SO, 
1864, and discharged December 10, 1864. Its principal service was acting as 
train guards conveying drafted men to the front at Petersburg and other points. 



Miscellaneous Enlistments. 335 

The following thirty-three names represent the Clarion county men in this 
company. The hst was made out by one of the number, Mr. A, R. Cyphert, 
of Clarion, who kindly gave his assistance in the matter. 

George W. Wilson, first lieutenant ; I. S. Orcutt, sergeant; Samuel Critch- 
low, sergeant ; J. T. Patton, sergeant ; D. K. Cyphert, corporal ; C. M. Sloan, 
corporal ; John W. Baker, drummer ; and the following privates : A. R. 
Cyphert, Joseph S. Bollman, Win Fisher, C. L. Fulton, James L. Harriger, 
Jackson Harriger, D. C. Hilliard, Clinton Hindman, George W. James, Clinton 
Jones, John M. King, O. W. Kapp, A. W. Loux, J. F. Lucas, Thomas Mil- 
ler, George W. McCammant, Thomas McCoy, William C. Orr, W. H. Rear- 
don, R. R. Richardson, Lewis Richardson, M. F. Rifenberick, J. W. Sloan, 
Robert Williams, Jonas Wentling, and Henry Whitehill. 

These men enHsted June 18, 1864, at Greenville, Strattanville and Clarion. 

The compiler made an effort to get a complete list of all the soldiers resid- 
ing in the county as well as of those who went from the county. So far as 
reported the following list is composed of those names. The names of sol- 
diers not known to have entered the service from Clarion county are marked 
with an asterisk (*). No doubt the names of many Clarion county soldiers do 
not appear in this work. Any one whose name is omitted will please report 
the omission to the author. 

Addleman, Benjamin P., enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1861, in Com- 
pany C, 39th Regiment P. V. (Tenth Reserve) ; promoted to corporal July 
15, 1863 ; mustered out with company, June 11, 1864. 

* Alexander, E. B., mustered into service in Company D, 131st Regiment 
P. v., August 12, 1862; mustered out with company May 23, 1863; re-en- 
listed in Company H, 36th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, June 29, 1863; 
discharged August 11, 1863. 

Bartley, W. F., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

*Barnett, P. S., enlisted March 4, 1865, in Company A, looth Regiment 
P. V. ; discharged by general order June 30, 1865. 

Baum, Henry, drafted March 15, 1865 ; served in Company F, 46th Regi- 
ment P. V. ; mustered out with company July 16, 1865. 

*Bruner, Samuel, company and regiment not known. 

Beals, Wm., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company G, 56th Regiment P. V.; 
mustered out with company July i, 1865. 

Boyer, Neri J., substitute in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V., April 6, 
1865 ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

*Benner, Geo., company and regiment not known. 

Blair, Jno. C, drafted in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V., March 15, 
1865 ; mustered out with the company June 29, 1865. 

Blair, John W., enlisted in Company G, 78th Regiment P. V., February 2, 



336 History of Clarion County. 

1864; promoted to corporal of Company G; transferred to Company A as 
corporal October 18, 1864; mustered out with company A September 11, 
1865. 

Blair, David R., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Blair, Robert, company and regiment not known. 

Brinkley, J. A., substitute in Company A, 58th Regiment P. V.; mustered 
into service November 2, 1864; mustered out November 9, 1865 — expiration 
of term. 

Burns, T. B., mustered into Company K, 103d Regiment P. V., at Kittan- 
ning, Pa., October 28, 1861 ; mustered out at Newbern, N. C, December 30, 
1864, having served three years and two months, and yet was not nineteen 
years old when he reached home. 

*Camp, Benjamin F., enlisted at Franklin, Venango county, Pa., July 25, 
1 861, in Company C, 39th Regiment P. V. (loth Reserve); transferred to 
191st Regiment P. V., June i, 1864; wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 
1864; discharged by general order July 25, 1865. 

*Callender, Wm., enlisted August 12, 1862, in the 91st Ohio Regiment, 
Company K; discharged June 30, 1865. 

*Campbell, W. B., enlisted November 23, 1862, in Company K, 14th 
Pennsylvania Cavalry (159th Regiment P. V.); discharged by general order 
May 31, 1865. 

*Clark, G. A., company and regiment not known. 

Clark, Alfred, enlisted August 28, 1862, in Company F, 12 1st Regiment 
P. v.; discharged at close of war at Philadelphia. 

Clover, Philip S., enlisted January 16, 1864, in Company L, 15 2d Regi- 
ment P. V. (3d Artillery); mustered out with the battery November 9, 1865-. 

Colwell, W. H., mustered into Company K, of the 103d, at Kittanning,, 
Pa., October 28, 1861 ; died at Fortress Monroe, Va., July 5, 1862. 

Colwell, James, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Conver, Aaron, drafted March 15, 1S65, in Company G, 56th Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with company July i, 1865. 

Cope, Joel, drafted in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V., March 15, 1865; 
mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Craig, Robert, drafted in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V., March 15, 
1865 ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Case, Ben. P., enlisted February 25, 1864, in Battery E, Third Artillery 
(l52d Regiment P. V.) ; mustered out with battery November 9, 1865. 

Carson, Robert, drafted August 27, 1863; served in Company B, 76th 
Regiment P. V.; killed at Petersburg, Va., July 4, 1864. 

*Crawford, Wm., enlisted in Company I, 105th Regiment P. V., October 
23, 1 861 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate February 15, 1863. 



Miscellaneous Enlistments. 337 

Cribbs, David, enlisted August 26, 1862, in Company F, 12 1st Regiment 
P. v.; killed at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 

Crum, Oliver J., drafted March 15, 1865 ; mustered into service in Com- 
pany A, 98th Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Crick, James H., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Davis, A. J., enlisted in Company B, I52d Regiment P. V. (3d Artillery), 
February 20, 1864; discharged July ii, 1865; living at Clarion; vice presi- 
dent of the association of the twin regiments, the 15 2d and the i88th. 

Dearolph, John, drafted March 15, 1865 ; served in Company A, 98th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

*Doverspike, Joseph, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company B, 56th Regi- 
ment P. v.; discharged with company July I, 1865. 

Elslager, F. J., enlisted in Company E, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, October 
25, 1862; transferred to Company D July 17, 1865 ; mustered out with Com- 
pany D August 24, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. 

Edinger, Henry, substitute, enrolled April 8, 1865, Company A, 98th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

*Emery, J. H., enlisted in Company D, 109th P. V., March i, 1862; not 
accounted for on muster-out roll. 

Eckenberger, Myers, enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1861, in Company 
C, 39th Regiment (lOth Reserves); promoted to corporal July 15, 1863 ; mus- 
tered out with company June 11, 1864. 

Elliott, Orin A., drafted March 15, 1865; served in Company F, 46th Regi- 
ment P. v.; mustered out with company July 16, 1865. 

Fair, John Wesley, enrolled April 10, 1865, in Company A, 98th P. V. ; 
substitute; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Ferringer, Philip, enlisted at Pittsburgh, Pa., November 20, 1862, in Com- 
pany L, 2d United States Cavalry; discharged November 20, 1865, at Fort 
Leavenworth, Kan. 

Fowler, Thomas, enlisted February 25, 1864, in Battery F, Third Artillery 
(i52d Regiment P. V.); discharged on general order July 8, 1865. 

Frampton, H. C, enlisted in Company F, I52d Regiment P. V. (3d Artil- 
lery), June 25, 1864; mustered out with battery November 9, 1865. 

Frederick, D. E., drafted March 15, 1865; served in Company F, 46th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company July 16, 1865 ; died at Blair's 
Corners January 4, 1880. 

Fulmer, George, drafted March 15, 1865 ! served in Company G, 56th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company July i. 1865. 

Ganoe, William S., enlisted June 18, 1862, at Pittsburgh, Pa., in Company 
A, 2d Battalion 17th United States Infantry; wounded at Chancellorsville, 
May 3, 1863 ; served three years ; discharged at Fort Preble, Maine, June 18, 
1865. 



338 History of Clarion County. 

Grable, William J., enlisted at Franklin, Pa., in Company C, 39th Regi- 
ment P. V. (loth Reserve), June 23, 1861 ; absent, wounded, at muster out, 

* Greenland, W. W., enlisted in Company D, 5th Pennsylvania Reserve Corps 
June 15, 1 861 ; mustered into State service at Harrisburg, Pa.; discharged by 
Governor Curtin on account of age (fifteen years, five months and nine days) 
at time of enlistment ; enlisted again and mustered into the United States ser- 
vice at Harrisburg, Pa., as private in Company C, 125th Regiment P. V. ; pro- 
moted to 5th sergeant August 18, 1862 ; to color sergeant on the battle-field 
at Antietam September 17, 1862 ; mustered out May 18, 1863. 

Goodman, Henry, substitute, April 8, 1865 ; enrolled in Company A, 98th 
Regiment P. V.; died at Alexandria, Va., July 28, 1865. 

Gufifey, John A., enlisted in band of the 105th Regiment P. V., October 
10, 1861 ; discharged by general order discharging regimental bands August 
13, 1862 ; re-enlisted a veteran in Battery C, 3d Pennsylvania Heavy Artil- 
lery; mustered out with company November 9, 1865. 

Ginkle, William, substitute, April 8, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

*Hall, Ellis, enlisted May 29, 1861, in Company K, 42nd Regiment P. V.; 
mustered out with company June 11, 1864. 

* Hancock, O., enlisted at Pittston, Luzerne county, April 27, 1 861, in Com- 
pany C, 15th Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company August 7, 1861 ; 
served in 3d New Jersey Cavalry, in which he was promoted sergeant-major. 

Harbst, George, enlisted August 27, 1861, in Company I, 83d Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with Company C June 28, 1865. 

Hagan, William, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company F, 46th P. V.; de- 
serted June 5, 1865. 

* Hansom, H, E., enlisted January 18, 1862, in Company L, 12th Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry (ri3th Regiment P. V.); promoted from corporal to sergeant 
March 20, 1865 5 mustered out with company July 20, 1865 ; veteran. 

Hariff, John, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V.; 
discharged by general order June 15, 1865. 

* Henry, J. C, enlisted at Lock Haven, Pa., October 17, 1861, in Company 
C, 5 2d Regiment P. V. ; wounded in head and shoulder at White Oak Swamp; 
discharged at expiration of term, November 5, 1864; native of Clarion county. 

Horton, James, a member of Company H, 37th Regiment; transferred to 
the 3d U. S. Artillery ; horse shot under him several times, hat and spur shot 
off, never injured; died at East Liverpool, O., January 5, 1885. 

Hoon, Francis, substitute April 8, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment P. 
V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Hours, Samuel W., enlisted September 13, 1862, in Company E, 62d P.V.; 
transferred to Company D, 155th P. V., July 3, 1864; mustered out with 
Company D June 2, 1865. 



Miscellaneous Enlistments. 339 

* Holbrook, H. H., private in Company F, 2d New York Cavalry. 
Horner, Andrew, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 

P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Hosey, M. M., entered Company L, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry, March 18, 
1864, for three years; discharged by general order July 18, 1865. 

Hogan, J. A., enlisted October 16, 1862 ; discharged July 23, 1863 J be- 
longed to Company A, unattached Pennsylvania Volunteers ; served as a 
musician. 

Hilliard, David, company and regiment not known. 

Jennings, William B., drafted March 15, 1864, in Company A, 98th Regi- 
ment P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

* Jolly, T. H., company and regiment not known. 

Kahl, N. L., enlisted in Company F, I2ist Regiment P. V., August 29, 
1862 ; transferred to Invalid Corps April 6, 1864; discharged July 3, 1865. 

Kriebel, Samuel, enlisted August 12, 1862, in Company K, 91st Ohio Reg- 
iment; discharged June 30, 1865. 

Kuhns, Emanuel B., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regi- 
ment P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Kinch, E. S., enlisted May 21, 1861, in Company I, 34th Regiment P. V.; 
transferred to Signal Corps, date unknown. 

Keatley, John, major and paymaster. 

Kirkpatrick, John C, enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1861 ; sergeant in 
Company C, 39th Regiment P. V. (loth Reserve); discharged on surgeon's 
certificate December 14, 1861. 

Kirkpatrick, W. H., enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1861 ; corporal in 
Company C, 39th Regiment P.V. (loth Reserve); discharged on surgeon's cer- 
tificate October 14, 1861. 

Kifer, Levi, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 56th Regiment P. V.; 
mustered out July i, 1865. 

Kifer, Henry, drafted March 15, 1865 ; assigned to Company A, 56th Regi- 
ment P.V. ; deserted June 15, 1865. 

Kriebel, John, drafted March 15 in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V.; mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865. 

Leech, Lot C, enlisted in band of the 105th P. V. October 10, 1861; dis- 
charged by general order discharging regimental bands August 13, 1863 ; en- 
listed January 4, 1864, in the i88th Regiment; promoted to commissary 
sergeant April i, 1864; to quartermaster January 6, 1865; mustered out with 
regiment December 14, 1865. 

Logan, George, drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment P. 
v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

* Logue, James B., enlisted in Venango county, Pa., September 27, 1862, 
in Company E, i6th Pennsylvania Cavalry (i6ist Regiment P.V.); participated 



340 History of Clarion County. 

in all the battles fought by the Army of the Potomac; discharged June 17, 
1865 ; native of Clarion county. 

Logue, Joseph L., drafted March 15, 1865 ; served in Company A, 56th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company July i, 1861. 

Longwell, M. V. W., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regi- 
ment P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Magee, Adam H., enlisted in Company H, I52d Regiment P. V. (3d Ar- 
tillery), January 16, 1864; mustered out with battery July 25, 1865. 

Meager, George, enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1 861, in Company C, 
39th Regiment P. V. (loth Reserve); mustered out with company June ii, 
1864. 

McGonagle, William C, corporal, enlisted June 21, 1861, in Company C, 
34th Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company June ii, 1864. 

McKinley, Sylvester, enlisted June 7, 1861, in Company K, 40th Regiment 
P. V. (nth Reserve); died October 22, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam. 

*Maitland, William S., enlisted February 20, 1865, in Company H of the 
1 6th Ohio Cavalry; mustered out August 1 1, 1865 ; discharged at Harrisburg, 
Pa., August 19, 1865. 

McClelland, James, enlisted October 10, 1861, in regimental band of the 
105th P. V. ; discharged by general order discharging regimental bands Au- 
gust 13, 1862. 

McEntire, B. M., drafted March 15, 1865; served in Company G, 56th 
Regiment P. V. ; absent, sick, at muster out. 

Miller, R. P., enlisted at Pittsburgh, Pa., November 20, 1862, in Company 
L, 2d U. S. Cavalry ; promoted to first sergeant ; discharged at Fort Leaven- 
worth, Kansas, November 20, 1865. 

Miller, Jacob, enlisted at Pittsburgh, Pa., November 20, 1862, in Company 
L, 2d U. S. Cavalry ; discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, November 
20, 1865. 

Miller, John L., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Miles, Jacob, mustered in in Company L, I2th Pennsylvania Cavalry, March 
28, 1864; discharged July 20, 1865. 

Mooney, James, enlisted October 10, 1861, in band of the 105th Regiment 
P. V. ; discharged August 13, 1862, by general order discharging regimental 
bands. 

Mong, Leonard M., drafted March 16, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regi- 
ment P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Mong, Leonard, substitute April 10, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Moyer, Charles, substitute in Company F, 98th Regiment P. V. ; enrolled 
April 8, 1865 ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 



Miscellaneous Enlistments. 341 

Murray, William Parks, drafted March 15, 1865; served in Company F, 
46th Regiment P. V. ; mustered out with company July 16, 1865. 

Neiderreiter, William, substitute April lO, 1865, in Company A, 98th Reg- 
iment P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Nolph, Thomas C, enlisted at ^Brookville, Pa., in Company K of the nth 
Reserve June 7, 1861 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate January i, 1863; 
re-enlisted in the nth Cavalry; killed at Reno Station, Va., (see Company L, 
nth Cavalry). 

Patton, W. H., enlisted February 20, 1864, in Company B, I52d Regiment 
P. V. (3d Artillery) ; discharged July ii, 1865. 

* Patrick, John B., enlisted July 23, 1863, in Captain John McClain's Com- 
pany B of Colonel Lininger's Independent Battalion; discharged January 21, 
1864; enrolled again July 15, 1864, and discharged September 21, 1864, be- 
cause of re-enlistment for one year in an Independent company of the 97th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company June 17, 1865. 

Patton, W. M., enlisted at Franklin, Pa., July 21, 1861, in Company C, 
39th Regiment P. V. (loth Reserve); promoted from ist sergeant to 1st lieu- 
tenant, April 26, 1864; mustered out with coumpany July ii, 1864. 

Phipps, John, enlisted August 29, 1862, in Company F, 121st Regiment P. 
v.; wounded at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862 ; died of said wounds in 
hospital at Washington, D. C, January 15, 1863. 

* Philips, J. B., enlisted in Company G, 149th Regiment P. V., August 26, 
1862 ; discharged on surgeon's certificate January 21, 1864. 

Pollock, Thomas, H., enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1861, in Company 
C, 39th Regiment P. V. (loth Reserve) ; discharged for wounds February 12, 
1864. 

Rankin, George W., substitute April 8, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regi- 
ment P. v.; mustered out with Company June 29, 1865. 

* Reeseman, Thomas C, enlisted January 5, 1862; died at Point Lookout, 
Md., June 5, 1862. 

Revir, John, substitute April 8, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment P. V.; 
mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Ritchey, P. J., enlisted September 10, 1862, in Company L, 4th Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry ; commanded for a time the dismounted camp near Washington 
City; served as orderly for General U. S. Grant; discharged July i, 1865 ; 
promoted from private to corporal ; drowned April 4, 1866, in Tionesta Creek 
while running out a raft. 

Richter, Boniface, drafted March 15, 1865 ; served in Company F, 98th 
Regiment P. V.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Rider, John, drafted March 15, 1865 ; served in Company A, 56th Regi- 
ment P. v.; mustered out July i, 1865.' 

Rugh, Solomon, sergeant in Company F, 12 1st Regiment P. V.; enlisted 

34 



342 History of Clarion County. 

August 25, 1862 ; discharged at Finley Hospital near Washington, D. C, on 
surgeon's certificate May 25, 1863. 

Say, LesUe L., enhsted August 28, 1862, in Company F, 121st Regiment 
P. v.; lost at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Saylor, H. E., company and regiment not known. 

Sharrow, Peter, enlisted May 21, 1861, in Company I, 34th Regiment P. 
v.; transferred to Battery C, 5th U. S. Artillery; killed at Fredericksburg. 

Sheridan, William, substitute April 8, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. v.; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Showers, George A., enlisted August 29, 1862, in Company F, I2ist Reg- 
iment P. v.; deserted at Sharpsburg, Md., October 26, 1862. 

Shirley, Washington, company and regiment not known. 

Simpson, Milton, company and regiment not known. 

Silvis, S. D., enlisted September 3, 1864, in Company M, 203d, Regiment 
P. V. (5th Artillery) ; mustered out with the battery June 30, 1865. 

Smith, James M., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company F, 46th P. V.; de- 
serted June 7, 1865. 

Smith, William, served in the 103d Ohio Regiment ; died at Andersonville, 
Ga., dates unknown. 

Stanford, John W., drafted March 15, 1865 ; served in Company K, 56th 
Regiment P. V. ; discharged July 19, 1865. 

Steele, Samuel S. W., enlisted September i, 1862, in Company C, 139th 
Regiment P. V. ; promoted to first sergeant June i, 1865 ; wounded at Flint's 
Hill, Va., September 21, 1864; discharged on surgeon's certificate April 20, 
1865. 

Sterner, John, company and regiment not known. 

Stover, William H., drafted March 15, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regi- 
ment P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Stratton, John T., enlisted October 10, 1861 ; leader of the 105th Regi- 
ment band; discharged August 13, 1862, by general order discharging regi- 
mental bands ; re- enlisted as a veteran August 13, 1863, i'^ Company D, 3d 
Pennsylvania Artillery; transferred to the war department in October, 1864; 
mustered out with the regiment at Philadelphia November 9, 1865. 

*Thompson, A. L., enlisted August 16, 1861, in Company I, I02d Regi- 
ment P. v.; wounded at Wilderness Ma}' 5, 1864; promoted to sergeant June 
10, 1865; commissioned second lieutenant, but not mustered; mustered out 
with company June 28, 1865. 

Varner, William A., enlisted at Franklin, Pa., June 23, 1861, in Company 
C, 39th Regiment P. V. (lOth Reserve); mustered out June ii, 1864. 

* Weaver, Coon, company and regiment not known. 

*Wenner, Jacob, company and regiment not known. 

Wiant, George P., substitute April 8, 1865, in Company A, 98th Regiment 
P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 



From the Civil War to the Oil Era. 343 



* Wilson, Rev. W. J., enlisted February 12, 1864, in Company D, 105th 
Regiment P. V. ; mustered out with company July 11, 1865 ; native of Clarion 
county, enlisted in Jefferson county, Pa. (See also Company H, 57th Regi- 
ment, militia of '63, Wm. J. Wilson). 

*Wilson, James, belonged to a colored regiment; lives at Clarion. 

♦Williams, John, company and regiment not known. 

♦Wise, George W., enlisted in October, 1861 ; mustered into United States 
service December 13, 1861, in Company K, 64th Regiment P. V. (4th Cav- 
alry) ; promoted from second lieutenant to first lieutenant December 13, 1864; 
mustered out with company July i, 1865. 

♦Wright, Henry, drafted September 26, 1863; enrolled in Company K, 
76th Regiment P. V., as " Henry Reich ;" discharged June 29, 1865.- 

Yingling, John, enlisted at Frankhn, Pa., July 21, 1861, in Company C, 
39th Regiment P. V. (loth Reserve); discharged for wounds April 11, 1863. 

Yingling, G. W., drafted March 15, 1865; served in Company A, 98th 
Regiment P. V. ; mustered out with company June 29, 1865. 

Yingling, Harrison, drafted in Company F, 98th Regiment P. V., March 
15, 1865 ; mustered out June 29, 1865. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE OIL ERA— 1865-1877. 

Oil Mania— Apprentices— The Allegheny Valley Railroad— The Low Grade— Telegraphic- 
Attempt to Move County Seat — Politic.'^ — Statistics — County Finances. 

IN 1864 and 1865 Clarion county was the scene of the wildest speculation in 
hypothetical oil lands. Then almost every point wathin fifteen miles of a 
producing well was considered good territory, and available tracts were seized 
upon with great eagerness. A host of fancy oil companies — most of them 
having headquarters in Philadelphia — sprang up, their object being to buy up 
and operate the prolific petroleum deposits, which, in their ardent imaginations, 
were to be found in the bosom of every rugged Clarion river hillside. Real 
estate changed hands at fabulous prices, and many a farmer, whose stony acres 
had been just sufficient to supply him with the necessaries of life, received five 
or tenfold their real value. Leasing was almost unheard of, such was the reck- 
lessness and confidence of the times. Buy first and test afterwards, was the 
rule. 

This craze, excited mainly by the discovery of oil at Deer Creek, reached 
its height in December, 1864, and in a year had entirely subsided. The spec- 



344 History of Clarion County. 

ulators retired from their Clarion county experience with Hght purses and heavy- 
hearts ; sadder but wiser men. 

The apprentice system was yet in vogue, in 1865, as the following adver- 
tisement in a newspaper of that date shows : 

" Six Cents Reward. — Ran away from the subscriber in Licking tp., Clarion cc, an indentured 

apprentice named on the loth day of May, inst. All persons are hereby warned not to harbor 

or trust the said on my account, as I will prosecute any person who shall be known to harbor 

him about their premises, and I will hold such person or persons to pay to me his wages if hired by 

any person to work during his minority. The said is about twelve years old, large growth, 

dark hair, dark complextion and black eyes. Any person returning said apprentice to the subscriber 
will receive the above reward for his trouble. 

" Licking tp.. May 12, 1865— 3t. ." 

Two other runaway notices appear in the same number. 

A destructive flood on Thursday, March 15, 1865, carried off the bridges 
over the Clarion, and there was a general severance of communication between 
one town and another for awhile. 

At an early period in the fifties the much wished for railroad through Clar- 
ion coimty was discussed. Prominent among the schemes afoot was the " Phil- 
lipsburg and Waterford Railroad." Later came the "Clarion County Rail- 
road," which was to connect Clarion with some point on the Allegheny valley, 
and which finally materialized in the Sligo Branch. 

The Allegheny Valley road was completed as far as Kittanning in 1856, 
and to the mouth of Mahoning in 1865. Work on its extension to Oil City 
started in the autumn of 1866, and trains began running in June 1867. 

In 1852, when the Allegheny Valley Railroad (then called the Pittsburgh, 
Kittanning, and Warren) was projected, an act of assembly authorized the 
counties through which it was to pass to subscribe stock. The route, as origi- 
nally planned, was either to leave the Allegheny River below the mouth of the 
Clarion, or to follow its border along Redbank Creek, on the line of the present 
low-grade. By the act of 1852, the commissioners of this county (or a major- 
ity of them) were empowered to take stoclc for the county, and issue bonds to 
the railroad company in pa}'ment therefor, "-provided, that the amount of 
subscription by any county shall not exceed ten per cent, of the assessed valu- 
ation thereof, and that before such subscription is made, the amount thereof 
shall be fixed and determined by one grand jury of the proper county, and 
upon the report of such grand jury being filed, it shall be lawful for the county 
commissioners to carry the same into effect, by making in the name of the 
county, the subscription so directed by said grand inquest. Provided farther. 
That whenever bonds of the respective counties are given in payment of sub- 
scription, the same shall not be sold by said railroad company at less than par 
value." 

The grand jury of Clarion county, at the September sessions of the same 
year, recommended a subscription of $168,000, and on the lOth the commis- 
sioners executed a written agreement with the company to that effect. This 



From the Civil War to the Oil Era. 345 

was signed by Daniel Bostaph and Peter B. Simpson, James T. Burns dissent- 
ing. For some reason there was a delay in closing the negotiations ; the bonds 
were not issued, and the stock was not delivered. The route of the railroad 
was changed so as to run along the western edge of the county and terminate 
at Venango (Oil) City, instead of passing centrally through the county towards 
Warren, as originally intended. This was considered a breach of the contract, 
and to release the county from its former obligations. 

In 1 87 1, after a lapse of nineteen years, the company wished to enforce the 
issuing of the bonds, but there was a general aversion against compliance, and 
the commissioners demurred. Their counsel published an opinion unfavorable 
to the claims of the railroad, and the company let the matter drop. 

The next road to enter the county was the Low Grade division or Bennett's 
Branch of the A. V. Railroad, intersecting the Philadelphia and Erie at Drift- 
wood. Grading began in 1872, and the road was completed through Clarion 
county in March, 1873. William Phillips, then president of the A. V. Rail- 
road, was the prime mover in this enterprise ; John A. Wilson, chief engineer ; 
J. J. Lawrence, superintendent. A considerable section in this county was con- 
tracted for by Jones & Brlnker. 

The road derives its name from the gradual ascent of Redbank valley; its 
maximum grade being twenty-six feet to the mile. The Anthony's Bend tun- 
nel is a notable one, piercing the solid rock ; it is five hundred and five feet 
long, twenty-nine wide, and twenty-two feet high. The Sligo Branch, styled 
at first the Clarion County Railroad, was built in 1873-74, to reach the rich 
ore beds in the vicinity of Rimersburg and Sligo. 

The first telegraph line in the county was that connecting Franklin and 
Kittanning by way of Clarion. It was constructed in November, 1864, by 
Baldwin. The second wire was strung in the spring of the following year. 
The line to Brookville was built in 1865. At present there are about two 
thousand miles of telegraph wire in Clarion county, three-fourths of which is 
controlled by the Western Union, the balance by the United Pipe Line. 

In the winter of 1872-73 a strong attempt was made to have the seat of 
justice removed to Sligo. It had become apparent that the old county jail 
would have to be replaced by a new one, and the Sligoites seized upon the 
interval to make the change, knowing that the erection of another jail at the 
county seat would considerably diminish their chance of success. 

The movement was initiated by the proprietors of Sligo furnace, J. Patton 
Lyon, in particular, and William Phillips, president of the Low Grade, then 
contemplating a branch to Sligo. Sligo was a promising place, newly laid out, 
on an excellent site, by Mr. Lyon, and was rapidly filling up. 

Hon. David Maclay, the newly-elected senator (Republican) from this dis- 
trict, resident near Sligo, favored the change, and these influential advocates 
had the majority of the citizens of the lower portion of the county at their 
back. 



346 History df Clarion County. 

On the other hand, the inhabitants of the north and the people of Clarion 
borough strenuously opposed the measure. Petitions pro and co7t flew about 
thick ; meetings of both factions were held, and the agitation reached a white 
heat. It was understood that Senator Maclay would introduce a bill in the 
Legislature which met January, 1873. The Clarionites held a meeting and 
selected a committee to go to Harrisburg and fight the proposed removal. 
Their expenses were defrayed by the citizens. The delegation consisted of 
Hon. James Campbell, Theo. S. Wilson, VV. W. Barr, Joseph H. Patrick, and 
J. B. Knox. They interviewed the Senate committee on counties and county 
seats, which was composed of Hons. D. Maclay, Alexander McClure, Elisha 
Davis, B. B. Strang, and . 

The Sligo advocates sent no regular representation, although Colonel Lyon 
and others visited the capital in the interest of that town. There was a pro- 
tracted struggle in the committee, but the bill was finally returned with a neg- 
ative recommendation, and the matter thus settled. Colonel McClure, Elisha. 
Davis, and another formed the majority in the committee unfavorable to the 
bill. 

Politics. — In the spring of 1863 what was known here as the Union party 
was organized for the purpose of supporting the administration in its war pol- 
icy, and to enlist the sympathy of "War Democrats." This was really the 
Republican party, with the addition of some liberal Democrats. It maintained 
its organization till Grant's first nomination in 1868, and then its nominal dis- 
tinction from the Republican party disappeared. 

In the presidential campaign of 1868 Seymour and Blair had a majority of 
930 in this county over Grant and Colfax; 1872, Greeley and Brown had 
2,558 votes. Grant and Wilson 2,304, a pretty narrow majority for the Demo- 
crats. 

Under the local option law in 1873 twenty-one precincts in Clarion county 
voted against license and eight for. Those in favor of license were Ashland, 
Beaver, Elk, Farmington, Knox, Paint, St. Petersburg, and Washington. The 
general majority against license was 597. The voting was light. 

In 1876 Tilden had a majority here of 1,107. 

In 1862 Crawford, Mercer, Venango, and Clarion became the Twentieth 
senatorial district, and by the apportionment of 1864, the Twenty-third sena- 
torial district was formed out of Clearfield, Cameron, Clarion, Forest and Elk. 

In 1 87 1, Twenty- seventh senatorial district. Clarion, Armstrong, Jefferson, 
and Forest counties — Clarion and Forest to elect one member of the Legisla- 
ture. 

In 1873 Clarion county was placed in the Twenty-fifth congressional dis- 
trict, with Armstrong, Indiana, Forest, and Jefferson. 

In 1874, Twenty-eighth senatorial district, Cameron, Elk, Clarion and 
Forest — Clarion county to have two representatives. 



The Development of Petroleum. 347 

Statistics. — 1870; population 26,537. 

Value of farm products, $1,568,836 

" home manufactures, 6,932 

" animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 311,902 

'« live stock 1,317,708 

" dairy products, 188,556 

" wool, 44,398 

" all other products (garden, etc.), 3i35^ 

Total value of products, $3,441,690 

There were coiriparatively few sheriff sales during the war: In 1862, 
thirty; in 1864, ten. The minimum and maximum of sheriff sales between 
1865 and 1887 were: For 1866, 9; 1878, 459. 

Comity Finances. — In 1863 relief orders for the families of absent volun- 
teers (under the act providing therefor) were issued to the amount of $5,- 
066.70, 

To liquidate the debt contracted by the building of the new jail the com- 
missioners, in 1875, issued bonds for $70,000, bearing six per cent, interest. 
These were refunded and the interest reduced to four per cent. November 
20, 1882, the last of these bonds were funded. The rate of taxation was 
raised to fifteen mills, and reduced after several years to ten. 

At the 1st of January, 1878, the liabilities of the county were $56,535.98 ; 
assets $14,678.32. There was $1,429.28 in the treasurer's vaults. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PETROLEUM. 



Deer Creek Oil Spring — The Pocohontas — Early Operations — Graham's Landing — Foxburg 
— First Pipe Line — Orass Flats— St. Petersburg — Turkey City and Monroeville — The St. Law- 
rence — Edenburg — Beaver City — Elk City — Pipe Lines — Cogiey Field — Reidsburg — Statistics. 

COLONEL THOMAS WATSON, grandfather of J. B. Watson, esq.,i about 
1 8 10 began to operate for salt at the mouth of Deer Creek. He sank a 
well there and manufactured some salt, but the supply of water failing, 
he undertook to drill deeper. The "rig" of that day consisted chiefly of a 
spring pole, with one end fixed ^^ the ground and supported about midway by 
a prop. The tools were attached to li. -^^ler end; a loop, or stirrup, was made 
in a rope suspended from near the tool end, and with his foot in this, the oper- 
ator swung the flexible beam up and down to good eftect. 

1 Colonel Watson was a soldier from this county in the War of 1812, and participated in the Black 
Rock Campaign. He was not a member of either of the companies organized here. 



348 History of Clarion County. 

After they had penetrated past the upper water veins, Abraham and James 
Watson, sons of Thomas, were working at night with a lamp or torch, when 
to their alarm and amazement, the well took fire, burning the rig and the sur- 
rounding structure. The drillers had a narrow escape from the flames. Not 
discouraged, Mr. Watson rebuilt the drilling apparatus and continued the work, 
till he struck a stream of salt water mixed with a mysterious yellow fluid of a 
strong odor, and very inflammable. Of course this made the salt water worth- 
less, and the enterprise was abandoned. 

Some time after Job Packer came into possession of the property, gathered 
four or five barrels of the fluid and boated it to Pittsburgh for examination. 
Its light color and salty admixture condemned it as lacking the good qualities 
of the Seneca oil found in springs ; and it was dumped into the river as a 
nuisance. Mr. Allen Wilson, at one time owner of the Piney mill, collected 
some of the "stuff" and used it in lamps and torches for light. The property 
passed into the hands of David Whitehill, and the hole was plugged. 

In i860, when petroleum was discovered in large quantities along Oil 
Creek, the well and the tract on which it was situated — rough hill- side land — 
was leased by Messrs. Jacob Hahn, Charles Hahn, and Jesse Thompson. The 
plug was removed and a few barrels of clear oil of light color and gravity 
floated to the surface. This was hailed as a great discovery ; the hole was 
cleaned out and pumping apparatus put in ; about 200 barrels were obtained 
and the well then failed. The war, which then arose, checked further specula- 
tive investments. 

On the revival of the oil furore in 1864, nine companies of eastern parties, 
forming really one composite syndicate, were organized to develop the rich 
territory along the Clarion, which the Whitehill well and the springs along the 
Clarion (in which the drainings of iron pyrites were often mistaken for oil) in- 
dicated as existing there. These were the Davenport Oil Company ; John 
Lyon tract; 318 acres; on Little Toby Creek, Highland township. Little 
Toby River Oil Company; Samuel Dufl" tract ; 318 acres; on Little Toby 
Creek, Highland township. Black Diamond Oil Company ; Breneman tract ; 
336 acres; on west side of Clarion River, Highland township. Highland Oil 
Company; William Reed tract; 212 acres; on west side of Clarion River, 
Highland township. Greenland Oil Company; Daniel Gilmore tract; 212 
acres; on Little Toby Creek, Highland township. Deer Creek Oil Company; 
at mouth of Deer Creek; 228 acres; on west side of Clarion River, Beaver 
township. Whitehill Oil Company; 228 acres; adjacent to the former tract. 
Clarion River Oil Company ; Seth Clover tract ; 286 acres ; on west side of 
Clarion River, Highland township. Pennsylvania Oil Company ; Columbus 
Reed tract ; 318 acres ; on west side of Clarion River, Highland township. 

Of these companies, W. P. Schell, of Bedford, was president; J. Simpson 
Africa, of Huntingdon, secretary and treasurer; Walter W. Greenland was 
sent out as superintendent. 



The Development of Petroleum. 349 

The Deer Creek Oil Company, as we have seen, bought the Whitehill 
property at the mouth of Deer Creek, consisting of 225 acres ; and the White- 
hill Oil Company, 228, adjoining this on the north. Early in May, 1865, oil 
was discovered at a depth of 308 feet by a well on the Whitehill Company's 
tract, half a mile above the mouth of Deer Creek ; at first only a showing, the 
production increased without deeper drilling to ten barrels per day — Clarion 
county's first producing well. Shortly after this the Deer Creek Oil Com- 
pany's " Pocohontas " came in, gushing at the rate of fifty barrels a day ; the 
fluid came from a second or salt water sand. 

These strikes sent a thrill of excitement through Clarion county speculative 
circles ; and May saw a number of derricks spring up along the Clarion in that 
vicinity, and on the banks of its tributaries, Piney, Canoe, Deer and Beaver 
Creeks. But these high raised hopes were destined to bedashed to the ground. 
The Whitehill well survived about a month, and the Pocohontas two; five hun- 
dred barrels of petroleum were shipped in barges from both. These wells had 
merely happened on one of those small, easily exhausted pools of amber petro- 
leum which have occasionally been found here in extra- belt territory. 

About the same time as the Pocohontas strike the Pennsylvania Salt Manu- 
facturing Company's well in Millcreek township, near the mouth of Blyson Run, 
of which Colonel J. B. Knox was superintendent, found heavy oil at nearly five 
hundred feet. The vein proved a profitable one, as the oil answered well for 
lubricating, and about one thousand barrels were shipped to Pittsburgh by flat 
boat. Abner James, the spiritualistic oil theorist, conceived faith in the Bh'son 
territory, and from 1872 to 1874 put down several wells there, but the search 
was fruitless, except to show the meagerness of the deposit there. Not satis- 
fied with these experiments, Judge A. Cook, in 1885, again tested the mouth 
of Blyson, and found only a small showing of lubricating oil. It was obvious 
that the first well had drained the " pocket" 

As may be imagined, the machinery of these early wells was primitive 
enough ; much of it being the handicraft of home machinists. Portable boil- 
ers were unknown; the string of tools then weighed about eight hundred 
pounds ; the auger stem was from one and a half to one and three-fourths 
inches in diameter; derricks forty- four feet high. For the first several years 
none but copper tubing was used; the "seed-bag" took the place of casing. 
The improved machinery came from Pittsburgh, most of it from Fisher Bros. ; 
the home-made rigging was antique and cumbrous, with cog-wheels, etc. The 
art of tool-dressing was then a minor item ; the engineer's was the most im- 
portant station at a well ; there was no apparatus to regulate the engine from 
the derrick. These old wells averaged nine hundred feet in depth ; rarely one 
thousand feet was attained. The Black Diamond on the Highland township 
side of the State road crossing was one of the deepest, 1,300 feet. It required 
from two to four months to sink a well of average depth ; seven feet a day was 
considered fair speed. ^"^ 



350 History of Clarion County. 

A universal belief, founded on the Oil Creek developments, obtained then, 
that the oleaginous fluid was to be found only in the bottom of valleys on the 
flats near the water's edge. Consequently operations were confined to the brink 
of the Clarion and its chief affluents for a short distance up. If some bold 
wild catter had left the barren flats near the mouth of Beaver or Canoe Creeks^ 
and started to bore on the uplands of those streams, with the determination of 
drilling to the maximum depth, he would have been scouted as a visionary or a 
madman ; but his enterprise would in all probability have been rewarded by a 
rich discovery of the desired fluid, and the Clarion district would have been 
developed ten years earlier. 

The ill success of these ventures dampened further attempts of the like 
character, and people had settled down to the belief that the golden age was 
as far off as ever which would see the earth respond to the persuasive touch of 
the drill, and the coveted fluid burst forth to enrich the vales of Clarion county, 
when it appeared in an unexpected quarter; and the operations begun there, 
slowly and obscurely at first, and afterwards with gradual and swifter advance, 
took up their march of discovery. The derricks first seen at Graham's Landing 
and Foxburg were to mark the progress of a new Eldorado into (perhaps 
through) the heart of Clarion county. 

We will follow this interesting advance step by step, noticing in particular 
only the pioneer wells, those which defined the belt, and those whose extraor- 
dinary production is worthy of special remark. 

In the May of 1869, on the outbreak of the Parker's Landing excitement, 
the Graham's Landing Oil Company, consisting of R. L. Brown, Simon Truby, 
W. H. H. Piper, William Robinson, and Robert Crawford, sank a hole at Gra- 
ham's Landing, immediately opposite Parker's, and obtained a three-barrel 
well, which increased spontaneously to eleven. It was situated in the gulch at 
the mouth of the streamlet that falls into the Allegheny there. This was the 
first permanent paying well struck in Clarion county. Soon after Duncan 
Karns met with success on the the James Pollock farm on the heights back 
from the river. The well produced fifteen barrels. The Buckeye, forty bar- 
rels, below Graham's Landing, was opened the same season. But the attempts 
to extend the territory inland, northeasterly, failed. A small well on the Mc- 
Ilwain farm marked the limit of production in that direction. 

Attention was then directed to a more northern line toward Foxburg, where 
a few pumping- wells of small importance, on the Fox estate, were known to 
exist. Drilling on the Simpson farm yielded only barren results; it was evi- 
dent that a dry interval lay between Parker and the mouth of the Clarion. 

In the fall of 1865 Messrs. Samuel Fox and Joel Fink commenced their 
well No. I, on the east side of the Allegheny, on the upper or " Reed" tract. 
Oil was found of good quality but in small quantity ; in those days of Pithole 
with its 500 and 1,000 barrelers, a well which pumped four or five barrels was 



The Development of Petroleum 351 

deemed almost worthless, and this received little attention. It must, however, 
be classed as Clarion county's first stayhig vj&W of illuminating petroleum. In 
the succeeding summer No 2 was put down by the same firm and also proved 
a small producer. No. 3 was drilled in 1867, and was shortly abandoned. Its 
machinery was taken down the river below the " Stone House " and near the 
mouth of the Clarion, and on the 30th of September, 1869, No. 4 was struck 
with paying results ; about fifteen barrels per day. About the same time the 
Gailey well on the south side of the Clarion, one-fourth of a mile above its 
mouth, commenced to pump the same quantity. These ventures created some 
excitement and activity in that vicinity, and soon quite a number of wells were 
under way. 

In October A. S. Palmer obtained a lease from Mr. Fox, on the hillside 
above the station, and assigned it to Fertig and Hammond. Fertig No. i struck 
petroleum in paying quantities. About this time operators began to see the 
fallacy of the theory that oil would be found only in river bottoms ; and rigs 
began to climb the hillsides. In the season of 1869 also the Mead Bros, sank 
a well at the river's mouth on the south, near the end of the A. V. Railroad 
bridge, and found oil ; the Elephant well, farther up on the hillside, was struck 
about the same time, and the Island Queen, on Stump Island, astonished the 
operators with a production of over 100 barrels a day. This well was first 
owned by O. E. Shannon, — Hartley, — Washabaugh, Jno. Gailey, and E. 
H. Long, and became the property of Robert Gailey. Nearly all these old 
wells about Perryville and the mouth of the Clarion are still pumping. 

The Original Pipe Line. 

Gus R. Harms, of Petroleum Centre, and M. C. Martin, of Foxburg, had 
entered into partnership in September, 1869, to engage in the business of trans- 
porting petroleum from wells to the railroads. On October 19th they signed 
the following agreement with Samuel Fox : 

" For and in consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand paid, the receipt 
of which is hereby acknowledged, I, Samuel M. Fox, of Richland township. 
Clarion county, Pennsylvania, do hereby sell and assign, and by these presents, 
set over to M. C. Martin and Gus R. Harms, their heirs and assigns, for the 
period of five years from the date hereof, the exclusive right of way over my 
land in Perry township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and my lands in 
Richland township, Clarion county, lying near the mouth of the Clarion River, 
for the purpose of piping, transporting and shipping petroleum oil over and 
across said lands for shipment on cars ; provided always, that the rate of trans- 
portation charged by said M. C. Martin and Gus. R. Harms, shall never exceed 
twenty-five cents per barrel. Should said rate at any time be exceeded, this 
sale and transfer shall have its legal termination ; otherwise, I bind myself, my 
heirs and assigns, to protect said M. C. Martin and Gus. R. Harms, in exclusive 



552 History of Clarion County. 

possession of said right of way for said term of five years ; nevertheless the said 
S. M. Fox reserves for himself and his lessees on the east side of the river, the 
right to ship oil of their own production, by car or otherwise, as they may see 
fit, and to lay a pipe for that purpose. In witness whereof I hereunto set my 
hand and seal this 19th day of October, 1869. 

"Samuel M. Fox." [l. s.] 

The other part of the agreement is as follows, viz. : 

"In consideration of Samuel M. Fox having granted us the right of way 
through certain lands of his, for the purpose of piping petroleum, we agree to 
lay a pipe across the Allegheny River, and to extend the same through his 
lands in Perry township, Armstrong county, within two months from the date 
hereof, and to lay pipe to the tanks of his lessees as soon after their wells be- 
come productive as conveniently practicable, and to allow him a drawback of 
five cents per barrel on his oil piped over the river, unless our general charge 
should be reduced to fifteen cents per barrel, when the drawback shall only be 
two and a half cents. We also agree, in case the oil passed through our pipes 
shall amount to five hundied barrels per diem, to build an iron tank of not less 
than eight thousand barrels capacity, for its reception. And at the end of 
every four months, to divide among our customers, pro rata, any excess of oil 
that we may have received over and above what we may have given credit for. 

" Witness our hands and seals this 19th day of October, 1869. 

" M. C. Martin. [l. s.] 
" Gus R. Harms, [l. s.] " 

August 1870, Soult and Dower struck a fifteen barrel well, on the hill-top, 
Rupert tract, adjoining Fox's on the northeast; the well was a short distance 
off the road to St. Petersburg. Martin and Harms laid a line from the rack at 
the railroad to this well, necessarily across the Fox land ; the Foxes construed 
this as a privilege not accorded by the agreement, and their employees tore 
up the pipe. A suit ensued which resulted in mutual concessions. In the 
mean time, about the close of 1870, Martin and Harms had joined with James 
Bishop and C. Myer, under the name of the " Mutual Pipe Line Company," 
with headquarters at Foxburg. 

" Grass Flats" is the name applied to the strip of level land lying along 
the Clarion between the hillside and the river, directly south of St. Petersburg. 
Most of this land belonged to Hon. J no. Keating. In 1870 there had been 
some isolated drilling done in this direction, with small results till on June 3, 
1871, the Bovard & Palmer well, "Nettie," at the southwestern extremity of 
the Flats near the bend, opened up this prolific field with seventy-five barrels. 
This marks the beginning of a new era in the history of Clarion county oil 
production. A great number of wells were soon under operation, and in July 
the Tillman Jackson well No. i, further up the river, came in with a good pro- 
duction. Back from the Clarion the Lewis Collner farm, and the Shoup farm 



The Development of Petroleum. 355 

adjoining, proved to be very rich territory. In January, 1872, the Fleming 
and Salsbery wells on the CoUner farm were completed and yielded between 
400 and 500 barrels per day. In April Lady Harris No. i, on G. R. Harris's 
lease from Collner, added to the list of large producers. 

By April, 1872, Grass Flats for its entire length, and the country between 
the river and St. Petersburg, were covered with wells, yielding a product of 
between 30 and 400 barrels each. In the succeeding summer St Petersburg 
reached the climax of its prosperity, and was the scene of stirring activity and 
excitement unprecedented in Clarion county. 

On October 23, 1871, the first well east of St. Petersburg, Marcus Hulings's 
famous Antwerp, on the Ashbaugh farm, was finished and proved a fountain 
of the first quahty, flowing two hundred barrels of oil through the casing at 
first, and subsiding to the very respectable production of seventy-five barrels 
daily. This strike indicated the existence of petroleum in large quantities in a 
new quarter, and whetted the zeal of speculators. In a short while every avail- 
able foot lying on a forty-five degree hne between St. Petersburg and Turkey 
Run was in the hands of eager operators. The fee simple of farms commanded 
$300 and $400 per acre, and "Pennsylvania Dutch" farmers, who had toiled 
for years on their paternal acres without amassing affluence, suddenly found 
themselves wealthy. 

Hitherto, with Parker as a starting point, the general drift of development 
had been on hnes ranging between twenty-two and thirty degrees east of 
north. It was soon discovered that a bend occurred at St. Petersburg. A 
month from the striking of the Antwerp, the well on the Hiram Neely farm 
(Richmond), owned by Patterson & Dickey, W. H. Nicholson and others, 
came in with a large showing and confirmed confidence in the new territory; 
at that time these were the only wells east of St. Petersburg. Soon after M. 
E. Hess's fine well on the D. Shoup farm advanced discoveries one step north- 
east from the Antwerp. This was followed in March, 1872, by Smith, Cook 
& Co'.s 150 barreler, in the same neighborhood; and on April loth Harring- 
ton & Co. got a twenty-five barrel well on Turkey Run, far ahead of devel- 
opments. Operations in this direction soon became extensive and covered so 
wide an area that it is impossible to trace them, except generally. Among 
those completed in 187 1-2 between St. Petersburg and Turkey we may men- 
tion as notable : M. Hulings's well, on the Stubble farm, north of Richland fur- 
nace ; J. W. Irwin's, 200 barrels, on Little Turkey, Edinger farm. On the 
extreme northwest were the wells on the land of Charles Masters and Daniel 
Heeter. 

On the east the belt extended to the Isaac Neely farm, across Turkey Run, 
near its mouth, but northeast from that point was uncertain and streaky, retir- 
ing in the direction of Richmond. On the Fillman place, however, consider- 
ably east of Richmond, petroleum was found. On the west, or more correctly. 



354 History of Clarion County. 

northwest, the producing region did not advance beyond the valleys of the 
small tributaries of Turkey Run, narrowing down north and northwest of St. 
Petersburg. Dry holes on D. Hale's heirs, Salem township, and on the upper 
end of the farm of D. Knight marked the northern limit, and inclined opera- 
tions to the east, where good wells were found on the J. Hale and Knappen- 
berger farms, opening the Monroeville field. The maximum width of the belt 
was three miles, and so continued to Edenburg. 

In June, 1872, Hess & Veary's well, on the D. Knight farm, opened up at 
the rate of two barrels an hour, and on August 30, M. Hulings again led the 
star of empire northeastward by a seventy-five barreler on the farm of George 
Delo, in southern Salem township. 

July 20, 1872, there were 233 producing and 106 drilling wells in the 
Clarion (third) district; by the middle of September the producing wells num- 
bered 300. About this time the Clarion producers met at St. Petersburg and 
resolved on a month's shut down, and suspension of drilling, in conjunction 
with the outside fraternity, on account of overstock and depression in the crude 
market ; as a consequence, all but sixteen wells in the Clarion district closed 
operations. When they resumed, November i, it was with a decreased pro- 
duction. 

January, 1873, Lee & Plummer's one hundred and fifty barrel well on the 
Plummel farm was struck, and soon after Hammer and Geyer marked an ad- 
vance by success on the Exley farm, Beaver township. These were pioneer 
strikes in new territory, yet notwithstanding the incitement they gave to opera- 
tors, it was almost a year before the Turkey City, Monroeville and Paris City 
(Pickwick) fields rose into prominence. Clarion oil operations made slow head- 
way, as a rule, before a field reached full development. The belt was a wide 
one, its length indefinite, and it required a succession of rich finds to concen- 
trate activity in a particular district. In this w^ay the field was developed by 
patches. 

On June 27, 1873, attention was suddenly diverted to northern Beaver 
township by a strike by John Turner and Walter Lowry, at Bowers, three- 
fourths of a mile north of Edenburg — the St. Lawrence well, opening with sixty 
barrels. This was miles ahead of previous developments, and in the furore 
over this discovery many producers left Turkey City, IVIonroeville, and Pick- 
wick before the lateral limits of that portion of the belt had been reached, and 
with much advance territory untested. Shortly after the St. Lawrence, Hulings 
found oil on Canoe Creek, and September 9, 1873, Lee and Balhet brought in 
another large producer, a two hundred barrel well on the Bowers farm. This 
prolific tract was bought by Wetter and Bleakly. 

In January, 1874, Gray Bros, and Spargo on the Mendenhall property, 
close to Edenburg, brought the developments a step farther south, while early 
in February, Smith, Cook & Go's., producing eighty barrels, following the dis- 



Development of Petroleum. 355 

covery at G. Exley's on Switzer Run widened the territory westward, and 
formed a link between Pickwick and Edenburg. 

At this period there seemed to be no Hmit to the possibiHties of the terri- 
tory, except in Salem, where upper Turkey Run formed a barrier on the west, 
and confined production to the corner. The summer of 1874 was an era of 
great activity in the field around Edenburg, and that village rose into notoriety 
as a petroleum centre. Producers began to discover, too, that a prolific field 
stretched southwestwardly, and started to retrace their steps to complete the 
connection between the St. Petersburg and Edenburg regions. The oil trade, 
however, was very much depressed, and operations progressed in the face of 
discouragements. Petroleum dragged along between forty and sixty cents, 
and not till the spring of 1875 did the advance begin which culminated in the 
boom of 1876. To add to this difficulty the producers who held their oil for a 
better market, were burdened with a storage rate of five cents per month for 
every barrel. 

Petroleum was found at Jefferson Furnace,^ and in the middle of July a 
sixty-barrel find on the farm of George Kribbs — the future Beaver City — 
opened a prolific section. The belt now began to be defined on the northwest 
and southeast. It was apparent that it would only truncate the corner of Ash- 
land township, as it had done in Salem. On the south it was less distinctly 
-outlined, as it ran northeast in streaks, and was very "touchy" territory. But 
beyond Blair's and Wentling's corners, and east of the Hanst and Ditman farms, 
on Canoe Creek, the most enterprising wild-catting failed to show up oil terri- 
tory. 

In June, 1874, fifty- nine rigs were up around Edenburg, and the average 
of production was twenty- nine barrels to each well. 

The year 1875 saw little extension southwest, but opened up rich fields in 
the front, and brought the Clarion district to a pretty high stage of develop- 
ment. The field obtained prominence, but the daily average of the wells was 
lowered ; doubtless by reason of their increased numbers. The St. Petersburg 
region had begun to decline materially, but Edenburg and Beaver City daily 
increased their production. The Kribbs well (Sept.), on the Beck farm, a mile 
south of Edenburg, unexpectedly' broadened the belt. Outside of this, the 
only discovery in the south worthy of notice, was that on the farm of Eli Logue, 
near the Clarion, in northern Perry township. August, 1875, the Logue, 
Gailey & Smullen well started off with two hundred barrels, and in 1876 the 
producing wells on this farm numbered thirty. 

1 A map of Clarion county, published in 1865, marks " Oil Company" on Turkey Run, near the 
site of Turkey City. Two wells are indicated at Jefferson. Kribbs & Company have a well a little 
south of the Hanst farm, on Canoe Creek. There is also the Lehigh Oil Company, west of Shippen- 
ville, where the Elk City district was developed, and a well north of that point, near Baker »S: Rich- 
ardson's well. The Lehigh Company did not put down a well till 1876 or 1877. 



356 History of Clarion County. 

In 1875 one hundred and eighty-one wells were completed in the Clarion 
district, with a new daily production of 2,556 barrels.^ 

In 1872 the Antwerp Pipe Line Company entered the field, and in the 
same year a line was laid to Oil City by way of East Sandy, adopting the latter 
as its name. The Antwerp line discharged their oil at Tylerton, on the Alle- 
gheny Valley Railroad, between Foxburg and Emlenton. In 1874 the Emlen- 
ton line was laid. The iMutual was merged into the Atlantic Pipe Line Com- 
pany, of which Charles P. Hatch, of Titusville, was president, and A. W. 
Smiley, of Foxburg, superintendent. In April, 1875, this company began 
piping oil to Sligo ; afterward the terminus was changed to Foxburg. 

Fourth Sand. 

The only prolific fourth sand ever found in the Clarion field was that 
struck by J. W. Taj'lor, on the Knappenberger farm, north of Monroeville, 
July I, 1876. Oil showed up abundantly, flowing for a short period, and 
pumping 400 barrels per day for some time. 

In 1876 an important well, owned by Gates & Vensel, doing fifty barrels 
per day, was struck near the Stone Church, Jefferson Station. Major Henry 
Wetter got a 125-barrel well on the Beals farm, Beav^er City, the largest of the 
season, except Taylor's fourth sand well. But the most active drilling was on 
the extreme northeast front. Hess & Bradley's small well, on the Dale farm, 
west of Shippenville, had first attracted notice to that quarter. This was fol- 
lowed by a twenty-five barrel producer in the same vicinity, owned by Jacob 
Hahn, and a fifty barreler by Jacob Black. In March, 1876, Leedom & Pat- 
terson struck oil northwest of Shippenville, far in advance; the Lehigh Com- 
pany's hole, between Elk Cit}' and Shippenville, filled up with seventy-five 
barrels a day. 

Wells completed, 804 ; new production, 10,015. 

In the spring and summer of 1877 the Elk City field reached its height. 
Large wells were found on Joseph Riser's farm, Tyler's " Mudlark," near Elk 
City, May, 1877, produced seventy-five barrels, and on A. R. Black's farm 
adjoining were a number of paying wells. To the northwest some aston- 
ishing gushers, rarities in the Clarion district, were found. The Antwerp Com- 
pany's (afterwards Oak Shade) well on the Johnston farm spouted 400 barrels 
a day after torpedoing, and for a considerable time maintained a production of 
140 barrels. The Jerusalem tract, J. M. Gufte}^, north of Johnston's, proved 
similarly lucrative. A fountain on the G. Howe farm, on the southern bound- 
ary of Ashland township, flowed for a time 400 barrels per day ; this well was 
owned by Baker Howe, A. Rittenhouse, William S. Hess, and J. S. Oliver. 

In the southwest a few large wells developed some additional territory or 

1 These figures do not afford an accurate criterion of Clarion county's yearly average increase, as 
tliey represent the output of the wells immediately or shortly after being struck, when they were at 
their best. 



The Development of Petroleum. 357 

revived the old. Cram & Company struck a large well on the Fisher farm 
in July, and later Hukill & Davis brought in a hundred-barrel well on the farm 
of Mrs. Wentling. A mushroom town, styled " Slam Bang," at the cross- 
roads, was the result of these discoveries. 

The year 1877 was the banner year of Clarion's petroleum annals ; it was 
at the same time a year of expansion, and one of exhaustion. The older por- 
tions of the field were thoroughly overhauled, and the new territory found its 
limits ; these combined influences forced the production to its highest point. 

As Edenburg loomed into prominence all the pipe lines, the United, Sandy, 
Antwerp, Oil City, American Transfer, and Atlantic centered there, and as a 
consequence carrying rates became ruinously low; for a while five cents per 
barrel. This competition — very welcome to the producers — was ended on 
March 12, 1877, by their consolidation with the United Pipe Line, controlled 
by the Standard Oil Company, with central office at Oil City and branches in 
all the prominent fields. There are two pumping stations in this county; one 
on Canoe Creek, near Edenburg, and one at Turkey City. 

In 1876 the Clarion district ranked first, with Butler county a close second, 
and in 1877, while ours fell below the total production of Butler, it surpassed 
either the Bullion or Millerstown fields taken separately. 

1877, 1,228 finished wells gave a new production of 13,944 barrels. 

1878 saw a great falling oft"; the rising Bullion and Bradford regions at- 
tracted many from Clarion, and left the field comparatively deserted. Many 
took with them the rigs and machinery from exhausted or unprofitable wells. 
Activity was confined to efibrts to discover an extension of the belt, but with 
meager results. A few small wells were found about Shippenville, but the 
more numerous dry holes dampened ardor, and demonstrated the unreliability 
and narrowness of the streak. So operations rested there. 

1878, 325 wells completed; production 3,880 barrels; 1879, eighty-two 
wells, 720 barrels. 

The period between 1878 and 1885 is an unrelieved blank as regards devel- 
opments in this county. In February of the latter year, Dietrich, Berlin, 
Young, Star and Maxwell, composing the Cogley Oil Company, sank a well 
on G. N. Berlin's tract, Cogley's Run, in northern Ashland township ; it yielded 
about ten barrels daily. This was the beginning of the Cogley pool. It ap- 
peared afterwards that this well tapped the deposit near its northeastern edge ; 
subsequent developments retrograded to the southwest, reversing the general 
order in the Clarion field. Oil was found north on the Fisher, Young and 
Exley farms, but on pushing further, on the Shippen, Kahle and Rickenbrode 
tracts, the drilling was brought to a halt by " dusters." 

About a mile southwest from the Cogley well Hess and Sackett struck oil 
on land of E. F. Heeter, Little Sandy. The intervening country was opened 
by Koch Brothers' 100 barrel well, the largest of the field, on the farm of Mar- 

30 



358 History of Clarion County. 

vin Hess. The pike at Kossuth marked the southern hmit, but few paying 
wells were found beyond it. 

Cogley was a field of small operators and small wells ; it was not long be- 
fore it was seen that its days were numbered. It reached its climax in Novem- 
ber, 1885, with an average daily production of 5,416 barrels. In December, 
1886, Cogley's production was 1,361 barrels. During twenty months, com- 
mencing with May, 1885, and ending December 31, 1886, the Cogley field 
produced 1,723,295 ; a daily average of 2,895 barrels. 

The striking of the Swartzfager well, June, 1886, south of Shippenville, 
which yielded at the start one hundred barrels a day, awakened interest in that 
spot and stimulated wild catting. Previously a very few operators had succeeded 
in successfully crossing the pike. Gradually an extremely narrow belt, or rather 
a line, running northeasterly from that road, was opened. After much testing 
Hahn and Wagner procured a few small wells in the neighborhood of Paint 
Mills, and thereby established an extension of the Shippenville streak. Be- 
tween Shippenville and Paint Mills, however, there is an unproductive break 
of half a mile. There are at present sixteen oil producing wells east of the 
pike at Shippenville, averaging tw^o and one-half barrels each. 

The Clarion oil belt, taken in connection with the Butler county continua- 
tion, is in many respects the most remarkable deposit of petroleum yet devel- 
oped, extending as it does from Paint Mills here to St. Joe in Butler county. 
Along this, oil-yielding farm joins farm continuously with but a single gap for 
a distance of thirty miles, and with a width varying from one-fourth to three 
miles. In Butler county a rich cross-belt of fourth sand underlies this line. 

On March i, 1887, Messrs. Hess and Sackett found oil on the farm of A. 
J. Kifer, about a mile south of Reidsburg, in a second or stray sand. The well 
has been since yielding fifteen barrels daily of clear petroleum much resem- 
bling that of Washington county. This strike has awakened interest in this 
comparatively untested territory, but until the completion of more wells its 
value is only a matter of conjecture. The deposit appears to be a 45 degree 
prolongation of the Armstrong Run (Arm. Co.) amber oil. 

In connection with the Reidsburg field, tradition says that Marcus Hulings, 
formerly of Franklin, was a paymaster in the War of 18 12, absconded with 
the funds in his possession and came to the vicinity of the present Reidsburg. 
It is certain that he purchased land from Hugh Reid in 181 5. In 18 18 he 
sank a well on what is known as the " old Reid farm," back of the academy a 
short distance. When he reached the depth of six hundred or seven hundred 
feet, he was astonished by a strong flow of gas, which blew out the salt water. 
A little oily substance floating iridescent on the water came with it too, which 
the owner and the neighbors recognized as Seneca oil or petroleum. It ap- 
pears that it came up in sufficient quantity to make the saline flow worthless, 
and the well was abandoned. The spot is still marked, and on the water wdiich 
bubbles up through the hole a thin coat of oil may be detected at this day. 



The Lumber and Coal Industries. 



359 



Production. 

It was impossible to obtain the exact statistics of total production before 
1878. The fragmentary records of the various pipe lines were not preserved, 
and it was not till the United Pipe Line Co. in 1877 assumed control of the 
traffic that a systematic tabulation was adopted. The pipe-line runs of the 
Clarion district were given separately only for the years 1878 and 1879; there- 
after, on account of their small production, Butler and Clarion were imited 
into the " Lower District," and so remained till 1884, when the Wardwell and 
Baldridge fields entitled Butler county to distinct reports. During these years 
Clarion and Butler's production maintained about an equal pace. The annexed 
table shows the daily average production of Clarion county for the years 
1866-1883: 

estimated 1876 9,000 barrels, estimated 

estimated 1877 

estimated 1878 

estimated 1879 ,. . . 

estimated 1 880 

estimated 1881 

estimated 1882 

estimated 188^ 



1866 8 barrel 

1869 100 " 

1870 200 " 

1871 500 " 

1872 3,000 " 

1873 4,000 " 

1874 4,500 " 

1875 5'90o " 



12.000 


estimated 


8,440 


official 


5,089 ' 


official 


4,467 ' 


estimated 


3'33^ 


estimated 


2,776 ' 


estimated 


2,500 ' 


estimated 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE LUMBER AND COAL INDUSTRIES. 

Early Lumbering — Hahn & Metzgar — Marvin, Rulofson & Company — Penn Mills — 
Shonp & Siegwoith — Cobb & Sons — Paint Mills — Star Mills- P. Haskell — Byrom, 
Minor & Gordon — Higby Tract — Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company — Blake Tract — F. Vo- 
winckel — T. Raine — Observations — Statistics — Fairmount Mines — Mineral Ridge — New Catfish 
— Hardscrabble — Pine Run — Clarion Shaft — Star and Long Run — Church Hill — Sligo Branch — 
Western Shaft. 



Lumber. 

JAMES LAUGH LIN and Frederick Miles, at the mouth of Piney Creek, in 
1805, built the first saw-mill in the country, and it is probable rafted some 
timber to Pittsburgh. 

In 181 1 Benjamin Gardner, sr., a carpenter by trade, attracted by the 
wealth of virgin pine on the banks of Toby's Creek, came from Philadelphia to 
engage in the business of lumbering on the homestead tract and on Turkey 
Run. The work of stripping the steep and rugged hillsides, even now an 
arduous one, was then, when so many labor-saving appliances were lacking, 



360 History of Clarion County. 

exceedingly toilsome. Early lumbering was accompanied by hardships, test- 
ing severely the stoutest frames and the most robust constitutions. 

Mr. Gardner continued in the business till his death, and introduced the 
use of steam into the Clarion region at his double upright mill, at the mouth 
of Beaver Creek. 

The first circular steam mill in the county was the Jamestown Company's 
at the mouth of Mill Creek, built in 1853. 

Thomas Peters, in 1822, erected a dam for lumbering purposes across the 
Clarion at the mouth of Turkey Run, under the following act: 

"Be it enacted by the Se?iate and House of Representatives, etc. : That from 
and after the passing of this act, it shall and may be lawful for Thomas R. 
Peters, his heirs, executors, and assigns, to construct, erect, support, and main- 
tain forever, a dam or dyke across Toby's Creek (or Clarion River), at or near 
the mouth of Turkey Run, emptying into the said creek (or river) in Venango 
county, in the Commonwealth aforesaid : Provided, That the said Thomas R. 
Peters, his heirs and assigns, shall at all times keep, support, and maintain a 
race or canal, at least sixteen feet wide, with a lock or locks if necessary, the 
gates of which shall not be less than eighty feet apart, which lock or locks 
shall be effectually supplied with water for boat and canoe navigation, out of 
and from the said creek or river, in such a manner as that boats and canoes 
may pass along and through the same, both ascending and descending, with as 
much ease and as little impediment to the navigation as may be : And pro- 
vided fiirthcr, That the said Thomas R. Peters, his heirs and assigns, shall 
construct and maintain a slope of at least forty feet wide and two feet below 
the summit level of the dam, over a convenient part of the said dam, for the 
passage of rafts descending the said river, and that the slope shall have an 
apron or inclined plane of six feet for every foot of the said dam above the 
ordinary level of the water in the said creek or river." 

The succeeding section provides that if complaint be made that the dam 
seriously obstructs navigation, viewers shall be appointed by the court to pass 
judgment ; from whose report an appeal may be taken, and the issue tried be- 
fore a jury. 

The richly wooded slopes about Turkey Run and Callensburg were the 
scenes of the first active lumbering operations. The southern half of the 
county never possessed the pine and hemlock in the abundance found in the 
north ; and the furnaces stripped it of nearly all that it had. 

Prior to i860 one or two steam mills, and a multitude of small water mills 
of the upright style, on the tributaries of the Clarion, supplied the moderate 
.demands of the market with their quota of sawed product. We may instance 
Porter's, Gilmore's, Walter's, Sarvey's, Griebel's, all on Little Toby. 

The first mills had single sash saws; "muley" and gang saws were the next 
improvement. 



Lumber and Coal Industries. 361 

Hahn & Metzgar. In 1848 Jacob and Charles Hahn, of Philadelphia, pur- 
chased the old mill at Piney, together without about lOO acres, from Mr. Al- 
len Wilson. The mill was of the primitive order, with two upright saws and 
worked by water-power. At that time the timber had already been pretty 
well culled from the country about the mouth of Piney Creek. The Hahn 
brothers were chiefly engaged in turning out heavy timber, and the manu- 
facture of boats for the iron trade. The mill was capable of cutting about a 
million yearly. 

In 1853 the property was sold to Corbett and Wynkoop, and rebought the 
next year by Mr. Hahn, who retired again in 1867, but on starting Paint mills 
in 1870 with John Metzgar and others, he regained a half interest in this mill, 
which he retained a few years, and then sold to Mr. Krause. This mill has 
been a singularly fatal one to two of its proprietors. Mr. Metzgar was drowned 
in the dam during an ice gorge ; and Mr. Krause some years after met his 
death by drowning in the river, at the loading place. The mill was converted 
into a steam one, under Mr. Krause's management ; it now belongs to Messrs. 
M. Wagner and J no. Hahn. 

Marvin, Rulofson & Company. This extensive and enterprising firm own 
about 8,000 acres along both sides of Mill Creek, much of which, however, has 
been cleared of valuable timber. The first saw-mill was erected at the mouth 
of Mill Creek about 18 17, by Thomas Guthrie, in connection with his grist- 
mill there. It was a small one, with a flutter-wheel of the oldest style. It 
was sold to John and Herman Girts, who ran it a short while, when it was 
purchased by the brothers W^orkman, with about 1,000 acres of timber land. 
They built a larger mill, and rebuilt it twice, but were unsuccessful. In 184- 
J. W. Guthrie became proprietor, and constructed a large double water-power 
saw-mill on the river immediately below the mouth of Mill Creek, but Mr. 
Guthrie met with similar misfortunes as his predecessors ; the mill was repeat- 
edly destroyed and damaged by freshets and ice gorges. 

The property not realizing the investment, was sold in 1850 to Nathaniel 
Lowry, of Jamestown, N. Y., and on his death, in the following year, passed 

into the hands of Benjamin Davis, W. Wheeler, M. Burnell, Marvin, 

and others of that vicinity. These gentlemen had scarceh' finished repairs on 
the mills when they were again swept away. Convinced that the old site was 
an impracticable one, they moved up the stream, a short distance above its 
mouth, the site of the present mill, and in 1853 built a double circular steam 
mill, which was operated till 1857, and ceased running, till September, 1858, 
when Mr. Rulof Rulofson purchased an interest in it and revived business. By 
the death of several members of the company, the property became vested in a 
few who compose the present firm of Marvin, Rulofson & Company, Mr. 
Rulofson, manager. The latter, on assuming charge in 1858, put in a gang 
mill. In 1883 the mill was remodeled and equipped with the latest improve- 



362 History of Clarion County. 

ments in machinery, increasing its capacity to 3,000 feet per hour. It is now, 
if not the largest, one of the largest and most complete mills in the lumber 
region. 

The land at the time of Rulofson's purchase had been enlarged by various 
conveyances to about 8,000 acres ; a large portion of this was sold off in farms, 
and 4,000 acres purchased from the Blake lands, so that the area of the tract 
remains about the same. The bulk of the tract consisted originally of Bing- 
ham warrants, purchased by Algernon S. Howe, and which from Howe passed 
to Thomas Perley, Marshall Cram. G. Blake, and others, of Cumberland county, 
Me., his co-partners in the Maine Lumber Company, a syndicate of lumber- 
men, who invested in large timber tracts along the upper Clarion and its 
tributaries. 

Mr. Rulofson estimates the amount of timber cut before the beginning of 
the present ownership in 1853, as 20,000,000 of feet; since then 80,000,000 
of pine have been manufactured. There yet remain on the tract 50,000,000 
feet of pine, 30,000,000 feet of hemlock, 10,000,000 feet of oak. 

Penn Mills, a short distance from the mouth of the Toby, was one of the 
earliest steam saw-mills in the country. It was built in 1858 on a large and 
complete scale for that date, with a cutting power of 15,000 a day. The pro- 
prietors were Reynolds, Pritner, Curll and Myers. In 1865 a water- spout 
devastated the valley of Little Toby, undermining the mill, carrying away the 
boiler, and destroying the road and tramway to the river. The mill was not 
rebuilt. 

Shoup & Seigworth owned a large tract of timber land, about 500 acres, 
on the headwaters of Paint Creek, between Tylersburg and Lickingville; and 
in the sixties had a steam mill on it, but cut comparatively little. Before 1865 
they sold to Ludlow & Verman, an eastern firm, but rebought in a few years,, 
and pretty eftectually rid the land of timber between 1868 and 1875, sawing 
about 10,000,000 feet of pine. 

Cobb & Sons. Jno. Cobb and sons were among the earliest of the exten- 
sive operators in the lumber region of Farmington. They stripped the Guth- 
rie and Fleming lands on Tom's Run in 1873-75. Later they built Red Hot 
Mills, on Little Coon Creek, on the Ford and Lacy tracts ; warrant 5502, and 
about 800 acres adjoining east. Five years were spent in clearing this of pine, 
at the rate of 3,000,000 a year. All this product was taken into Forest county 
and marlceted there. Cobb & Sons also had an extensive tract on Hemlock 
Creek, part of which extended into Clarion county. 

Paint Mills. In 1870 Jacob Hahn, Martin Wagner and Jno. Metzgar pur- 
chased 1,600 acres in Paint township from Jacob Black, esq., for $37,000, and 
established Paint Mills, which are capable of sawing 20,000 feet per day. They 
have been marketing lumber yearly ever since ; their boat wharf and rafting 
ground being on the Clarion River, a little above the pike bridge. In oil times 



Lumber and Coal Lxdustries. 363 

they disposed of the most of their timber at Elk City and Edenburg. The 
timber is now all but exhausted, and the year 1887 shall probably see the com- 
pletion of the work. Metzgar's interest was purchased by D. B. Curll about 
1878. Mr. Hahn retired from the partnership in 1883, Mr. Wagner taking 
his interest. 

Star Mills. Leeper & Co. (Leeper, Bowman and Curll), was situated on 
land purchashed from C. Osterreid in southern Knox township, on Paint Creek, 
in extent about 300 acres. The mill was built in 1875, and is now abandoned, 
the timber tract being stripped. 

P. Haskell, originally Leeper & Haskell. This timber tract lies in north- 
ern Farmington township and consists of about 7 50 acres. The mill, erected 
in 1 87 1, has a capacity of 20,000 feet a day. About 15,000,000 have been 
already cut. Adjoining this property H. H. May operated some years for 
Root & Gillespie, of Forest county, taking off about 7,000,000 feet. 

Byrom, Minor & Gordon. This firm lumbered on Blyson Run, their tracts 
embracing 1,300 acres. The mill was situated at the mouth of the run. They 
began operations in July, 1872 ; cut about 5,000,000 feet, and ceased in 1878. 

Higby Tract. This contained 1,453 acres, situated southeast of Tylers- 
burg, and joined Arnold, Leeper & Co. on the northwest. It was originally 
Peters land, and was bought by Zara H. Coster, of Allegheny. In 1846 Cos- 
ter conveyed it for the consideration of $15,000 to Henry, Enoch I. Higby 
and George Higby, also of Allegheny. Enoch I. and George assigned their 
interests to Henry. It was purchased in October, 1879, by Charles Leeper, 
David Bowman, M. Arnold, and F. M. Arnold, for $38,000. They obtained 
35,000,000 feet from it. It is now entirely stripped. 

The Blake Tract. After Marvin, Rulofson & Co.'s, this the largest and 
most valuable piece of timber land in the county, contains 1,500 acres. It 
Hes in Farmington township on both sides of Toby Creek, and consists chiefly 
of portions of Lewis and Peters's warrants, Nos. 3683, and 3684 ; and two 
irregular strips of Bingham territory, extending from these to the north and 
east, comprising about 900 acres. An offsetting tract, called the " Wing 
Tract," lies to the west ; this was originally owned by Elliot & Gray, who had 
a small mill on it at an early date. It was purchased by G. Blake. The Peters 
portion of the tract was sold in 1846 by Richard Peters to Zara Coster, and 
thence passed to Henry Higby in the same manner as described in the Hig- 
by tract. Higby shortly sold warrants 3683 and 3684, embracing 2,005 acres, 
to Robert Barber and W. L. Packer. On their failure in 1848 it fell under 
the sheriff's hammer to Tobias Myers, and through him to David Richey, 
who sold in January, 1856 to Grinfil Blake for $9,000. The Bingham por- 
tion was conveyed in 1840, by the Bingham trustees, to Algernon Howe, one 
of the Maine company; by him to Elizabeth Blake and Grinfil Blake, her hus- 
band, and finally became the sole property of the latter. 



364 History op^ Clarion County. 

In the winter of 1880 Blake began preparations to put a mill on the tract, 
but on May 6th a sale was effected, whereby, for the amount of $100,000 Elias 
Ritts obtained a one-third interest, and P. Graham and R. Buzard, a third. 
Graham really owned but a twelfth interest, the other twelfth belonging to P. 
McCullough, of Pittsburgh, but nominally held by Graham. May 31, 1880, 
Hon. James Campbell purchased the remaining third from Blake for $50,000. 
October 14, 1884, Chas. Leeper purchased R. Buzard's interest (one-sixth) 
for $40,000, and shortly after G. W. and F. M. Arnold became the owners of 
Ritts's third (including some finished lumber) for $85,000. In January, 1886, 
Hugh McCullough, heir of P., conveyed his one-twelfth share in the property 
to Manasseh Arnold. The proprietors now are James Campbell, one-third, 
G. W. and F. M. Arnold, one-third, Charles Leeper, one-sixth, M. Arnold, 
one-twelfth, Graham heirs, one-twelfth. The firm is known as Leeper, Arnold 
& Co. The first mill was built in 1880, and replaced by a new one in 1883, 
which has a capacity for cutting 30,000 feet per day ; there is a lath mill in 
operation also. The boat wharf is at Porter's landing, two miles distant from 
the mill. About 50,000,000 feet of pine have been taken off this splendid 
tract; as much yet remains; the total stumpage exceeds the estimate at the 
purchase from Blake, by 25,000,000 feet. There is about 50,000 feet of oak. 
Arnold, Leeper & Co. employ thirty hands. Mr. Leeper is superintendent, 
with pay. 

The Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company, held i,ioo acres of land in the 
northeast corner of Paint township, purchased from Ralph Bagaley and J. C. 
Reid. The company were Ralph Bagaley, Robert Arthurs, S. E. Gill and 
Elisha Mix, all except the latter, who was manager, residing in Pittsburgh and 
vicinity. They began operations early in 1880, and ceased in 1886, having 
exhausted the timber. About 16,000,000 feet were sawed. This company 
took the initiative in introducing railroad facilities into the lumber region. In 
1 88 1 they constructed a branch from Clarion Junction to their mill, five miles 
distant. 

T. W. Raine. In 1882 Messrs. Carrier and Raine, of Troy, Jefferson county, 
purchased the Corbett and Wilson tract, 913 acres, along both sides of the 
river near Clarion, and also 263 acres four miles above on Toby. March, 1885, 
Mr. Thos. Raine bought out Carrier's interest. The mill, first built by Thos. 
Baker, about 1863, has a present capacity of about 20,000. Carrier and Raine, 
and T. W. Raine have cut about 10,000,000 feet of pine. 

F. Vowinckel. In the northeastern corner of Farmington township, on 
the P. and W. Railroad, Mr. Frederick Vowinckel's tract is situated, being 
land purchased from Rick, Taylor and Zagst, and comprising about 1,100 acres. 
The mill is a modern one, having a daily capacity of 30,000. It was erected 
in March. 1883. Since that time Mr. Vowinckel has turned out 7,000,000 feet 
of finished product. 



Lumber and Coal Interests. 365 

The construction of the Kane extension of the Pittsburgh and Western Rail- 
road revolutionized the lumber trade of Clarion county. The river is no longer 
the great highway for the traffic ; with the exception of Marvin, Rulofson & 
Company, and Raine, all the larger firms have sidings and ship their products 
by the more convenient and always available rail, sending only empty coal 
boats by water. The increased cost of transportation is compensated by ship- 
ping to order, thereby saving the delay and expense of waiting for purchasers. 

It requires no degree of foresight to see, from the facts and figures given 
above, that seven years hence Clarion county shall be completely stripped of 
its pine and oak timber of value. Already there is a demand for stray lots of 
timber, previously overlooked on account of their comparative insignificance. 
The age of the portable mill is upon us. 

The stave-mill industry has assumed prominence of late years, and many 
portable stave mills are scattered over the country, especially in the south where 
oak is more abundant. The only large lumber areas of any kind there are the 
W. Craig pine tract, near Greenville, and Hovvley, Reid & Company's tract of 
oak on Leasure's Run, Porter township. 

Clarion is the third lumber county in the State, being second only to Ly- 
coming and Clearfield in the amount of pine lumber manufactured, and ex- 
ceeded by Allegheny and Northumberland in oak. In 1873 there were 
93,394 acres of unimproved woodland in this county. In 1885 there were 
fifteen saw-mills in Clarion county, employing 369 persons. Of the mills, thir- 
teen were steam. Saws, twenty- two. These cut, during that year, 17,110,000 
feet of pine, 2,388,000 of hemlock, 1,000 feet of ash, 60,000 of chestnut, 
2,455,000 of oak; other timber, 50,000 feet; shingles, 30,000; pickets, 29,- 
000. Value of products, $273,998. 

Coal. 

The collieries of Clarion county : 

The Fairmount Mines. In 1873, on the completion of the Low Grade 
Railroad, R. W. Jones and J. M. Brinker, composing the Fairmount Coal Com- 
pany, opened drift No. i on land purchased from John Hilliard. This was 
worked until 1879, when the present No. 2 was opened on the farm of Philip 
Doverspike. J. M. Brinker was the general manager of the mines. In 1882 
the property changed hands, and is now operated by the Fairmount Coal and 
Iron Company, of which B. K. Jamison, of Philadelphia, is president; John 
A. Wilson, of the same city, vice-president ; Ensign Bennet, of Buffalo, gen- 
eral manager ; S. Taylor Sheafifer, of Fairmount City, superintendent. 

In 1876 Brinker & Jones produced 55,044 tons, of the value of $77,522. 
One hundred and twelve persons were employed, and the mines were operated 
every day. At present the company have 250 miners and about fifteen mules 
and horses in their employ, and the average daily output is fifty cars. The 



366 History of Clarion County. 

greater part of the coal is sent to Canada by way of Buffalo. No. 2 is an 
extensive opening on the double-heading system. The upper Freeport, and 
the Kittanning lower, or Catfish vein, are worked. The first is about six, the 
latter four feet in thickness. The furnace system supplies air, and the drainage 
and ventilation are good. In 1885 there were two fatal accidents. 

The Fairmount Company contemplates making another opening soon, and 
increasing the capacity of the collieries to double the present. In connection 
with the mines, there are fifty coke ovens in operation, employing a number of 
men. 

Mineral Ridge. This company have had two drift openings at West 
Monterey. The Mineral Ridge Coal Company at present consists of Messrs. 
Thomas Skidmore, of Fredonia, N. Y., and W. H. C. Eicke. The latter is 
superintendent. In 1876 they employed 100 miners, and dug 51,390 tons^ 
of the value of $81,056.99. In 1885 109 men were at work, and the colHery 
was operated 267 days out of the year ; mules, 7 ; Z^S17 tons of bituminous 
coal were mined, and 20,412 shipped. Drift No. i is ventilated by a furnace, 
and No. 2 by natural means. 

New Catfish. This is a drift and connected by an inclined plane with the 
tipple at the railroad. It is owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Coal and 
Iron Company, Wm. Mullen, superintendent. This company opened three 
drifts, but all but one are now abandoned. About ten years ago they also op- 
erated mines at Lower Hillville, further up the Allegheny. In 1876 these 
mines gave employment to 116, and produced about 50,000 tons per year. 
In 1885 their one opening employed twenty-six men, was worked 160 days^ 
and put out 18,564 tons, of which 16,521 were exported. It is ventilated 
naturally. 

Hardscrabble. Operated by the Brady's Bend Mining Company, of East 
Brady, C. F. Hartwell, superintendent. Hardscrabble is a drift opening, imme- 
diately above East Brady, and in 1885 employed about ninety men, and five 
mules ; approximately 50,000 tons were excavated that year, and 30,000 
marketed. 

Clarion Shaft. This was fifty feet in depth, and was opened in 1877 to 
reach the Lower Kittanning coal, by the Clarion Coal Company, W. W. Green- 
land, manager. Operations ceased some years ago, and the shaft is now aban- 
doned. 

Pine Run, near East Brady, owned by Stephenson & Mitchell, Thomas 
Mitchell, superintendent. This is a drift. In 1885 it gave work to ninety-six 
men, and seven mules. It was operated 145 days out of the year, produced 
43,146 tons, and shipped 34,390. Ventilated by a furnace. 

Church Hill. Operated by Church Hill Coal Company, J. McCollum, and 
others. West Monterey; George Horner, superintendent. Formerly Monterey 
Coal Company, Samuel Sherwin & Sons. This is a drift opening, and in 1885 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 367 

employed seventeen hands, and worked sixty days, producing 5,040 tons and 
shipping 3,600. 

Shgo Branch. Rimersburg, a drift. Coon & Craig, proprietors, S. Coon, 
manager. In 1885 they employed eight men, working sixty days, 2,500 tons 
were mined, and 2,109 marketed. Work is now suspended. 

Star and Long Run. These mines, both drifts, are situated on Long Run, 
and are near each other. They are operated by the Northwestern Coal and 
Mining Company, which likewise controls the Fairmount mines, though there 
is a separate organization. S. T. Sheaffer is superintendent. The Star, the 
first opening, was made in 1882. In 1885 these mines employed I72fmen, 
and ten mules ; operating 232 days in the year, 109,828 tons were produced ; 
74,545 tons of lump coal shipped. Both coUeries are ventilated by furnaces. 

Western Shaft. This shaft, the only one in operation in the county, is 
about thirty-five feet deep ; sunk in the property of Isaac Hicks, at^Arthur's, 
in 1883. The proprietors are W, C. Mobley and J. D. Callery, of Pittsburgh, 
owners of the Western Drift near Karns City ; J. W. Dawson, superintendent. 
It supplies the northern division of the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad with 
fuel. In 1885 it employed nineteen men and produced 7,000 tons of coal; 
shipped 4,200. In 1886 the tipple was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. Subse- 
quently one man was killed b}' a boiler explosion. The mine is ventilated by 
a steam exhaust. 

In 1876 Clarion county's mines produced about 150,000 tons, representing 
in value a little over $175,000. 

In 1885 in Clarion county there were nine mines in operation, averaging 
200 days of the year, employing 611 persons; $185,831 was paid in wages; 
373,504 tons were mined ; 6,127 tons of coke produced from forty ovens; 
twenty-five ovens were idle. The introduction of natural gas has affected only 
the country banks which supplied the towns now using it. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

FROM THE OIL ERA TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1877-1887. 

Railroads — Politics — Statistics — County Finances — Civil List — Newspapers — Post- 
offices — Agricultural Association — Public Buildings. 

Railroads. 

THE Emlenton, Shippenville and Clarion Railroad was built as an outlet 
to the rich oil territory then existing in the heart of Clarion county, and 
to afford communication with the county seat. The company was organized 



368 History of Clarion County. 

with the following officers: President, James Bennet, Emienton ; vice-presi- 
dent, J. M. Dickey, Franklin ; secretary and treasurer, J. W. Rowland, Em- 
ienton ; chief engineer, C. K. Lawrence, Emienton ; general superintendent, 
John V. Patton, Emienton ; directors, James Bennet, M. Hulings, W. J. Mc- 
Connell, J. W. Rowland, C. W. Mackey, J. M. Dickey, P. F. Kribbs, Jacob 
Black, jr., Henry Wetter. 

Construction began in the fall of 1876, and the road was completed to 
Edenburg early in January, 1877. In the spring the road was continued to 
Clarion, and trains began running to that point in December, 1877. The 
numerous trestles and heavy grades to be overcome made this road an expen- 
sive one ; the total cost was $271,666, an average of $9,722.21 to the mile. 

In March, 1877, another narrow gauge was built, from Foxburg, connect- 
ing with the E., S. and C. at Turkey City. It was called the Foxburg, St. 
Petersburg and Turkey City Railroad. Wm. M. Fox, president ; J. M. Gufify, 
vice-president ; W. S. Watson, secretary and auditor ; J. V. Ritts, treasurer ; 
constructing engineer, Charles Graham ; directors, Jos. Blakeslee, J. B. Mac- 
Elwaine, B. Vensel, S. G. Bayne, of St. Petersburg ; F. H. Ball, A. W. Smiley, 
P. Boardman, of Foxburg. The terminus was shortly after changed to Jeffer- 
son. 

While the Foxburg people were contemplating the construction of this 
road, in February, the Emienton and Shippenville excited them by sending 
surveyors over the proposed route, and threatening, by virtue of some alleged 
right, to occupy it to the exclusion of the Foxburg company, who had yet no 
charter. That necessary document was hastily procured and the imminent 
railroad war averted. 

These roads were consolidated March 14, 1881, under the name of the Fox- 
burg, St. Petersburg and Clarion Railroad, and the Fox estate having obtained 
the controlling interest, the Emienton branch was abandoned and the track 
torn up. Not long after this change the road became the Pittsburgh, Bradford 
and Buffalo, of which the following composed the officers : C. M. Mackey, pres- 
ident ; J. M. Dickey, vice-president; W. J. Welsh, secretary; J. W. Rowland, 
Emienton, treasurer ; B. E. Cutler, Emienton, chief engineer ; J. M. Dickey, 
general manager; W. D. Reed, general superintendent, Foxburg; A. D. Cowell, 
superintendent of bridges and way. 

In the summer of 1881 this company began the Kane extension at Arthurs, 
where a branch had been laid the previous year by the Arthurs Coal and Lum- 
ber Company. This branch left the main line west of the river, and the short 
track to Clarion thus in turn became a branch. The Kane extension was not 
built by contract ; the work was done under the supervision of B. E. Cutler, 
chief engineer, and A. D. Cowell, superintendent of bridge and way construc- 
tion. The line was finished to Sheffield Junction, Forest county, in the sum- 
mer of 1 88 1, and to Kane in the autumn of the same year. 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 



369 



October i, 1883, the Pittsburgh, Bradford and Buffalo was merged into the 
Pittsburgh and Western system, and by the purchase of the Butler, Karns City 
and Parker, and the construction of a connecting link between Butler and Gal- 
lery Junction, a through line between Pittsburgh and Kane, and Pittsburgh and 
Clarion was soon perfected. By subsequent northern extensions, there is also 
direct communication with Bradford over the Bradford, Bordell and Kinzua. 

The Pittsburgh and Western is under the control of the Baltimore and Ohio 
Company. It is in the hands of receivers, Messrs. J. D. Chalfant and James 
W. Callery. Its present officers are James W. Callery, president ; Thomas M- 
King, vice-president ; H. D. Campbell, secretary and treasurer ; C. W. Basset, 
general passenger agent; J. T. Johnson, superintendent; W. L. Cromlest, 
freight agent : all the above of Pittsburgh or Allegheny. In Foxburg G. S. 
Lewis, trainmaster northern division ; E. Kennerdell, master mechanic. The 
shops of the northern division are at Foxburg.^ 

Politics. 

In 1880 Hancock polled 4,333 votes in this county; Garfield 2,933 ; Wea- 
ver, Greenback, 322. 

1884, Cleveland, 3,822; Blaine, 2,679; Butler, National-Labor, 394; St. 
John, Prohibition, 139. 

Statistics. 

1880, population, 40,328. Of these 37,912 w^ere native, and 2,416 foreign 
born ; 97 were colored, and there was i Indian. 

In connection with the census I will quote some observations in the Second 
Geological Report of Clarion county, with some corrections, and changes to 
bring them to date. 

" Tabulating the above dates and figures (population) thus : 



Date. 


Population. 


Increase. 


Years. 


Gain per Year. 


I8CXD 

1835 

1850 
1870 
1880 


11,000 
23.565 
26,537 
40,328 


11,000 

12,565 
2,972 

13.791 


35 
15 
20 
10 


314 

838 

148 

1.379 



" It becomes at once evident that the very large gain per year from 1835 ^^ 
1850, and from 1870 to 1880, must have been due to some other agency than 
that of bona fide agricultural settlement. If a further analysis of the gain per 
year be made by assuming that from 1835 ^o 1850 the increase from agricul- 
tural settlement was equal to that from 1800 to 1835, ^"^1 that from 1850 to 
1870 this gain was but 148 per year, the table then stands thus : 

1 Clarion county has an extraordinary number of wagon roads; too many to be well kept. 



370 History of Clarion County. 



Agricultural 

Period. Gain and Iron and Oil. Total Gain. 

Natural Increase. 

1800-1835 314 +0 =314 

1835-1850 314 + 524 = 838 

1850-1870 148 +0 =148 

1870-1S80 148 -^1,231 = 1,379 

" Showing an average gain, aside from that of the farming community and 
from natural causes, from 1835 to 1850, of 524 per year; and from 1870 to 
1880 of 1,231 per year. The rapid growth from 1835 to 1850 is plainly at- 
tributable to the iron and lumber manufactures; while that of 1870-80 has 
been entirely due to the rapid development of the oil territory." 

Of live stock, in 1880, Clarion county had 6,997 horses, loi mules and 
asses, 199 working oxen, 10,100 milch cows, 12,653 other cattle, 16,824 sheep, 
and 18,823 swine; 81,310 barnyard fowls and 3,895 others produced 323,450 
dozen of eggs. 

Sixty-five thousand five hundred and ninety-six pounds of wool were pro- 
duced, 28,651 gallons of milk, 780,292 pounds of butter, 604 pounds of cheese, 
18,692 of honey, 568 of wax. 

The assessed valuation of real estate was $3,128,201 ; of personal property, 
$755,497- Total, $3,883,698. 

The amount of barley raised was 265 bushels; buckwheat, 775,387; Indian 
corn, 459,435; oats, 645,134; rye, 53,839; wheat, 121,833; potatoes, 208,551 
bushels. 

There were 3,147 farms, a total of 288,558 acres. Of these, 181,818 acres 
were improved, and 106,740 unimproved. 

Value of farms, including buildings and fences, $10,375,428; value of farm- 
ing implements and machinery, $359,898; value of live stock, $962,771 ; value 
of building and repairing fences {1879), $60,996; value of fertiHzers used (1879), 
$39,821. Estimated value of all farm productions (1879), $1,204,072. 

Of the farms, 14 were under 3 acres; 159 over 3 and under 10; 180 over 
10 and under 20; 449 over 20 and under 50; 1,066 over 50 and under 100; 
1,263 over 100 and under 500; 11 over 500 and under 1,000; 5, 1,000 acres 
or over. Average size, 92 acres. In 1879 Clarion county had 28,740 acres 
in grass, from which a crop of 25,347 tons of hay was harvested. 

Value of manufactured products, $992,582; flouring and grist-mill products, 
$340,318; foundry and machine shop, $24,900; lumber, sawed, $390,378; 
ship (boat) building, $28,580. Total, $784,176. 

Since the organization of the county, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
issued 1 16 warrants for vacant land within its limits. The last was a strip 
along the county line, in Ashland township, containing fifty acres surveyed 
in 1884 to William Swartzfager, of McKean county. 

In 1882 Clarion county had a pension list of 389. For the year ending 
June 30, 1886, there were 449, drawing in all $3,794.25 monthly. 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 371 



County Finances. 

January 3, 1887, the county's liabilities were $66,958.00; assets, $46,- 
861.53. $62,600 in 3-5- per cent, bonds were yet outstanding; balance in the 
treasurer's hands, $21,243.45. $896 were paid on extermination (scalp, etc.) 
orders. 

Citizens of Clarion County who Held National and State 

Positions. 

Members of Congress. — Amos Myers, of Clarion, Whig, was elected a 
member of Congress from the Twenty-fourth District in 1862 ; James T. Maf- 
fett, elected in 1886 from the Twenty-fifth District. 

State Senators. — Christian Myers, of Clarion, elected a member of the State 
Senate in 1850 from the district composed of the counties of Armstrong, In- 
diana, and Clarion, served to 1853; Charles L. Lamberton, Democrat, elected 
in 1 86 1, Twenty- seventh District, Clarion, Jefferson, Forest, and Elk; David 
Maclay, Republican, elected from Twenty-eighth District, Armstrong, Clarion, 
Jefferson, and Forest, in 1872; W. L. Corbett, Democrat, elected 1876 from 
Twenty-eighth District, Cameron, Clarion, Elk, and Forest; John H. Wilson, 
Democrat, elected from Twenty-eighth District, Cameron, Elk, Clarion, and 
Forest, 1886. 

Assembly. — D. B. Long, elected a member of the Legislature in 1842 from 
the district composed of the counties of Clarion, Venango, and Jefferson ; re- 
elected in 1843 ; Robert Barber, elected from same district in 1844; re-elected 
in 1845 ; John Keatly, elected from same district in 1846 ; re-elected in 1847 ; 
Reynolds Laughlin, elected from Clarion, Armstrong, and Jefferson District in 
1850; re-elected in 1851 ; Thomas Magee, elected from same district in 1852; 
re-elected in 1853; Philip Clover, elected from same district in 1854; re- 
elected in 1855 ; William M. Abrams, elected from same district in 1856; re- 
elected in 1857 iri the district composed of Clarion and Forest counties ; John 
M. Fleming, elected in same district in 1858; re-elected in 1859; William 
Divins, elected in same district in i860; re-elected in 1861 ; William T. Alex- 
ander, elected in same district in 1862; re-elected in 1863; W. W. Barr, 
elected in same district in 1864; re-elected in 1865 ; R. B. Brown, elected in 
same district in 1868; re-elected in 1869; James B. Lawson, elected from 
Clarion and Forest counties in 1871 ; re-elected in 1872; Martin Williams, 
elected in same district in 1873 ; re-elected in 1874 from Clarion county, along 
with John H. Wilson for two years ; Joseph A. Summerville and M. L. Lock- 
wood, elected in 1876; J. W. Kahl and Jacob Truby, elected in 1878; S. H. 
Hamm and M. L. Lockwood, elected in 1880; W. A. Beer and A. M. Neely, 
elected in 1882 ; Bernard Vensel and A. M. Neely, elected in 1884 ; Christian 
Brinker and A. W. Smiley, elected in 1886. 



372 History of Clarion County. 

Delegates to Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, 1873. — William L. 
Corbett was elected a member at large in 1872. 

Pi^esidential Electors. — John S. McCalmont, Democrat, 1852 ; John Keatly, 
Democrat, 1856; George W. Arnold, Republican, 1856; J. N. Hetherington, 
Native American, 1856; R. B. Brown, Democrat, 1876; James T. Mafifet, 
Republican, 1880. 

Canal Commissioner. — Seth Clover, elected in 1851. 

Periodicals. 

A complete list of all ever published in this county.^ Clarion Republican 
(Dem.), Clarion Visitor, Clarion Democratic Register, Iron County Democrat 
(Clarion), Clarion Democrat, Clarion Banner, Clarion Republican (Rep.), Clarion 
Independent Democrat, Clarion Jacksonian, Clarion Republican Gazette, New 
Bethlehem Press, Nezv Bethlehem Vindicator, East Brady Independent, East 
Brady Index, East Brady Spirit, East Brady Review, St. Petersburg Progress, 
St. Petersburg Oil Field Record, St. Petersburg Crude Local, Edenburg Herald 
(Daily), Edenburg Herald (Weekly), Edenburg Evening News, Gatling Gun 
(Edenburg), Edenburg Spirit, Edenlnirg National, Edenburg Observer, Laborer's 
Friend (Edenburg), Foxburg Gazette, Lawsonham Torchlight, Cogley Sunday 
News, Fern City Illuminator, Callensburg Visitor. 

Clarion County Post- Offices (Present). 

Alum Rock, Arthurs, Asbury, Blair's Corners, Brinkerton, Broken Rock, 
Callensburg, Catfish, Church, Clarion, Curllsville, East Brady, Elk City, Fair- 
mount City, Fern City, Fisher, Foxburg, Frampton, Frogtown, Fryburg, 
Haynie, Helen Furnace, Kingsville, Knox, Kossuth, Lamartine, Lawsonham, 
Leatherwood, Leeper, Lickingville, Limestone, Lucinda Furnace, Miola, Mon- 
roe, New Athens, New Bethlehem, Newmansville, New Maysville, North Pine 
Grove, Philipston, Piny, Piollet, Pollock, Redbank Furnace, Reidsburg, Ri- 
mersburg, St. Petersburg, Scotch Hill, Scrubridge, Shannondale, Shippensville, 
Sligo, Strattanville, Strubleton, Toby, Truittsburg, Turkey City, Tylersburg, 
Valley, Vowinckel, West Freedom, West Millville, West Monterey. 

The Clarion Fair Association. 

In the summer of 1854 the Clarion Agricultural Association was 
organized, and in the autumn of that year held its first exhibition in 
the public squares and court-house. Considering the circumstances, the 
display was a creditable one. The association was chartered May 2, 1855, 
with the following incorporating members : George Means, S. T. Cor- 
bett, J. M. Fleming, Robert Sutton, William Frampton, R. Laughlin, G. 
W. Conser, Isaiah Corbett, A. Myers, Emmanuel Over, Patrick Slattery, C. 

1 Those in italics are now being published. 



From the Oil Era to the Present Tiaie. 373 

Myers, Hugh Craig, James B. Knox, Joseph W. Anderson, Charles L. Lam- 
berton, C. E. Beman, W. W. Barr, A. Probasco, John Klingensmith, John B. 
Lyon. The shares were one dollar annually. The payment of five dollars at 
once obtained a life membership without annual dues. The first officers were: 
C. Myers, president; William T. Alexander, treasurer; W. W. Barr, secretary. 

November 8, 1855, the association purchased four acres at the west end of 
Clarion town, from the assignees of Christian Myers, for one hundred dollars. 
The lot was fenced, suitable buildings and sheds erected, and a small one- eighth 
mile race-track made. Here the fair of '56 was held. In 1866 an additional 
three and one-third acres was purchased from the Tanner heirs, in whom the 
Myers property had vested. 

Judge Myers was succeeded in the presidency by John L. Fleming, with 
W. W. Barr and David Lawson secretaries, and Miles Beaty treasurer. In 1858 
J. B. Lawson became president ; T. B. Barber and George W. Arnold, secre- 
taries ; C. E. Beman, treasurer. 

During the years 1862—3—4 no fairs were held. The association resumed 
in 1865, with George Kribbs at its head ; T. B. Barber, secretary (succeeded 
by F. G. Keatly); David Lawson, treasurer (succeeded by Theo. S. Wil- 
son). In 1870 G. T. Henry became president; T. B. Barber, secretary. In 
1875 H. L. McClure, president; Samuel K. Clarke, secretary. In 1876 Cul- 
bertson Orr, president ; George F. Kribbs, secretary ; A. S. Jones, treasurer. 

June 12, 1877, the society was reorganized under the name of the "Clarion 
Agricultural and Driving Park Association." The first set of officers were : 
President, Henry Wetter ; secretary, W. W. Greenland ; treasurer, J. Frank 
Ross. The second, Samuel Pierce, A. H. Alexander, G. W. Arnold. The 
following were its original members : Frank Ross, W. W. Barr, J. H. Patrick, 
J. P. Elss, J. B.Watson, Henry Wetter, T. C. Wilson, W.W. Greenland, L. G. 
Corbett. J. C. Reid, A. S. Jones, R. Rulofson, S. M. Pierce, R. L. Buzard, E. B. 
Loomis, Edward Wilson, G. W. Arnold, A. H. Beck, C. J. Rhea, A. S. Bell, 
G. W. Stewart, F. R. Hindman, I. H. Allen, O. E. Nail, S. W. Loomis, J. F. 
Maffbt, B. B. Dunkle, C. A. Rankin, H. Sandt, Thomas Slater, D. B. and H. 
V. Curll, C. Kaufman, F. M. Arnold, A. W. Corbett, C. Leeper, J. F. Brown, 
H. Kimble, A. H. Alexander, Joseph Shettler, Kribbs and Hindman, Isaac 
Farnsworth, A. B. Thomas, C. E. Shaw, Jacob Black, S. Mendenhall, Jacob 
Hahn, J. H. Barber, S. G. Sloan, F. J. Elslager. Capital stock, $5,000; shares, 
$50 each. The new association leased twenty-five acres adjoining from the 
Tanner heirs, put it under fence, and in the summer of 1877 opened the pres- 
ent one-half mile tract, at great expense. 

This institution did not prosper, and finally, in 1880, sank under the load 
of its indebtedness. Its property passed into the hands of the First National 
Bank, who had purchased its notes, and for three years exhibitions were dis- 
continued. 

38 



374 History of Clarion County. 

In 1883, another, the present Clarion Fair Association, was estabhshed. It 
was incorporated August 30, 1883, with a capital stock of $3,000; shares, 
$30 each. The objects, as stated in the articles of incorporation, are " to en- 
courage and foster among the citizens of Clarion county a spirit of improve- 
ment in agricultural productions, mechanical arts, the breeding and raising of 
all kinds of stock, and to hold fairs for said purpose ; also to afford a pleasure 
park for all kinds of innocent sports and amusements." The signing stock- 
holders were G. W. Arnold, A. S. Jones, W.W. Greenland, R. Rulofson, Jacob 
Black, jr., J. H. Patrick, W. A. Cooper, C. Kaufman, I. M. Shannon, Margaret 
E. Beck, T. M. Arnold, C. V. Reid, James A. Murphy, Thomas A. Spence, 
P. J. Shoemaker, William C. Sloan, I. H. Allen, W. F. Collner, A.W. Corbett, 
Lan, G. Corbett, W. I. Brush, C. C. Brosius, W. Day Wilson, John A. Magee, 
Charles Weaver, Curll and Corbett, J. B. Patrick, J. B. Knox, jr., H. J. Klahr, 
and G. F. Kribbs. I. M. Shannon was elected president ; C. V. Reid, secre- 
tary ; and Charles Kaufman, treasurer. 

The new society took a fresh and vigorous start. The park was redeemed 
out of the bank's hands. A commodious new main building was erected, the 
old buildings repaired, an annex built to the grand stand, and various new 
sheds put up. The fence was also repaired and extended so as to include 
considerable more ground. The cost of these improvements exceeded $5,000. 
The enclosed area of the fair ground is now twenty- five acres. The track is 
one of the finest in Western Pennsylvania. 

The Association increased their capital to $6,000, divided into 300 shares, 
of which 132 have been taken up. C. A. Wheelock and Jos. H. Patrick suc- 
ceeded I. M. Shannon and C. V. Reid, in their respective stations. The ex- 
hibitions under the new organization have been well patronized, and the last 
one (September, 1886), notwithstanding the unfavoring weather, was one of the 
most creditable and successful yet held on the grounds. Over $1,500 were 
paid in premiums. At the last election the following officers were chosen : 
President, L. G. Corbett ; vice-presidents, P. J. Shoemaker, A. J. Parsons ; 
treasurer, C.Kaufman; secretary, J. H. Patrick; directors, Cyrus Neely, Geo. 
T. Henry, Paul Black, P. M. Kahle, Wash. Logue ; superintendent of grounds, 
Jno. Aldinger. The financial status of the Association is yearly improving, 
and all indications point to a bright future for it. 

Public Buildings. 

First Court-House. — The contract was let to the firm of Derby & Clover, 
Edward Derby, of Ridgway, and Levi G. Clover, of Clarion. Derby was the 
superintending partner. The contract price was $8,500, which, it appears, 
exceeded the lowest bid by $2,700. The extras brought the cost up to $10,- 
636.16. The building was commenced in the spring of 1841 and was ready 
for occupation in the winter of 1842, but not entirely finished till the spring 
of the succeding vear. 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 375 

The old court-house was brick, two storied, and divided by a slight offset — 
from which there were two narrow recesses — into two longitudinal wings. 
The rear annex was slightly lower than the front part of the building ; the 
main building was surmounted by a wooden cupola in the center of the roof; 
there was no clock. The main entrance was through a portico, in the Grecian 
style, reached by four low steps. The roof of the porch was supported by 
by two wooden, fluted pillars with plain capitals, and two pilasters, one at either 
end ; all painted white. The county offices were on each side of the corridor, 
in the body of the building ; the story above contained four jury rooms. The 
court-room occupied the ground floor of the rear department; two doors, one 
in each of the recesses before mentioned, opened into the entry leading to it. 
The hall above the court-room was used for public meetings, drill, etc. 

The circumstances attending the destruction of the first court-house were 
very similar to those of the second burning. About nine o'clock on the morn- 
ing of the loth of March, 1859, smoke and flames issued from the roof, near 
the cupola ; they had come from a faulty flue. The citizens of the town had 
no means of getting water up, and in two hours the building was a ruin. The 
records were all preserved. The loss was about $10,000; insurance in the 
Lycoming and York Companies $7,000. 

The Presbyterian Church was used as a court-room till the completion of 
the new building, and the county officers occupied Arnold's block. 

The First Jail. — The contract for the first jail was awarded simultaneously 
with that for the court-house, to Jonathan Frampton, of Clarion county, at the 
sum of $2,834. Difficulties arose in settling an account of extras, etc., and 
Frampton & Craig (as the firm had become) sued the county. The venue was 
changed to Armstrong county, where judgment was obtained to the amount 
of $3,097.70, exclusive of costs, making the total cost of the jail about $7,000. 

The first jail was a plain structure of square cut sandstone, with a small 
yard, surrounded by a stone wall in the rear. In 1847 the building was re- 
modeled, and a new front put in. After the completion of the new prison, it 
was finally torn down in 1883, and its stones used in the foundation of the 
court-house. The old jail stood a few rods west of the present one. 

TJie Second Cow't-Hoiisc was built by Daniel and Edmond English, of 
Brookville, and completed in 1863. It was necessary that a special act of the 
Legislature be passed, empowering the commissioners to erect a new structure. 
The contract stood at $15,720 ; extras to the amount of $1,500 were allowed. 
John R. Turner, of Carlisle, was the architect; commissioners, Daniel Mercer, 
C. Seigworth, Benjamin Miller. The undertaking was a losing one for the con- 
tractors. 

The second court-house was a substantial brick building with wooden roof; 
its dimensions were sixty feet front by ninety-eight depth ; the height of the 
first story was thirteen feet, of the second twenty-one ; average height of the 



376 History of Clarion County. 

building (exclusive of belfry) sixty-five feet. It was extremely cheap, consid- 
ering its size and solidity. 

About one o'clock on the morning of September I2, 1882, fire, which had 
been smouldering in the loft, burst through the roof The water pressure was 
not enough to force the stream to the top, and the flames gained resistless 
headway. The building was gutted in a few hours, leaving the walls standing 
comparatively intact. Insurance received, $25,000. Between the destruction 
of the old and the completion of the new court-house, the Methodist Church 
was used for holding court, and the residence part of the jail for offices. 

The Present Jail. — The old jail became dilapidated and insecure, and a new 
building was deemed necessary. After the proper recommendations, the con- 
tract was awarded, April 7, 1873, to Messrs. Samuel Wilson and W. W. Green- 
land, at the price of $96,737, to which extras to the amount of $23,527.50 
were added, making the total cost $120,274.50. James McCullogh, jr., of Al- 
legheny, was the architect ; commissioners under whom the work was done, 
Isaac Mong, John Stewart, Chris. Brenneman. The interior was not completed 
till the spring of 1875. 

The structure is imposing in appearance, and is half brick and half stone. 
The front, comprising the sheriff's residence is of brick, with semi-octagonal 
projecting wings, and basement walls of dressed sandstone ; a square battle- 
mented tower arises from the front section ; it is ninety-seven feet in height 
from the ground, eighteen feet square at the base, and ten feet at the top. 
The outside walls of the prison proper are of ashlar sandstone, rough dressed, 
two and a half feet in thickness. It contains twenty cells, eight and two-thirds 
by fourteen feet each, ranged in two tiers on each side of the interior court or 
corridor, which is fifteen and one-sixth feet wide by fifty- six feet long, and the 
full height of the prison. Iron balustrades extend the length of the corridor 
before the upper tiers of cells. There are two bath cells ; each cell is provided 
with a water faucet, etc.; the doors are of iron grating, with outside doors of 
oak two and a half inches thick. The jail is heated by steam. 

In 1885 the interior of the jail was repaired and renovated, and steam- 
heating apparatus put in. 

TJie Present Conrt House. — There were sixteen bidders, July 3, 1883, when 
the contract for the third court-house was awarded. John Cooper's bid, $135,- 
000, was the highest, and P. H. Melvin's $88,370, the lowest. This allowed 
$5,000 for materials from former court-house and jail. Mr. Melvin obtained 
the contract. The building was to be finished by November 16, 1884. Work 
began July 16, 1883, but the building was not handed over to the commission- 
ers till October 14, 1885. 

E. M. Butz, of Allegheny, was the architect ; he delegated D. English of 
Brookville, supervising architect. The commissioners who granted the contract 
were John Keatly, Aaron Kline, and Johnson Wilson. The present board, 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 377 

Samuel Bell, David Heffron, Emmanuel Over, took possession. Henry War- 
ner, of Allegheny, executed the fresco work. The painting was under the 
supervision of H. H. Holbrook, of Clarion and D. Dunkelbarger, of Brookville. 
The tile floors were laid by the Star Encaustic Tile Company, of Pittsburgh. 
The clock dial, nine feet in diameter, and bell, weight 1,313 pounds, were 
furnished by the Howard Clock Company, New York. 

P. H. Melvin, the contractor, failed January 27, 1885, and assigned to his 
bondsmen, Augustin Dietz, Edward Denneny, and Edward Lyman, who there- 
upon became the acting contractors. Melvin was retained as superintendent 
of construction. 

The building is a variation of the Queen Anne order of architecture. Its 
general dimensions are 78 feet, 8 inches front; 134 feet deep; elevation from 
the ground to the top of the tower figure, 213 feet. The tower rests on found- 
ation walls 4y feet thick, which in turn are supported by three graded courses 
of stone ; the tower is carried up on the three internal sides by stone columns 
in the corners of the vestibules, and iron cross-girders. It is surmounted by 
a galvanized iron figure of justice 11 feet in length. The interior of the clock 
loft is fitted with gas pipes for illumination. The tower is twenty-five feet 
square; its elevation above the roof is 139 feet; that of the tapering part 56 
feet. The height of the highest part of the body of the structure is 90 feet, 9 
inches. The walls of the main part are 22 inches thick. The roof is of tin and 
slate. 

The basement extends the whole length and width of the building and is 
10 feet in height. It contains the engine and boiler rooms, fan-rooms, apart- 
ments for old archives, and closets. A 20 horse-power engine (run by natural 
gas), forces steam from the generating boiler to two radiators containing each 
1,400 lineal feet of one and one-fourth inch pipe, inclosed in boxes of galvan- 
ized iron. Air is conveyed, from the roof in shafts, and blown by two revolv- 
ing fans through these shells or boxes, where it is heated by the steam-pipes, 
and thence ascends to various parts of the building through tin ducts. 

The building is ventilated on the vacuum principle. The vitiated air is 
exhausted from all parts of the house by a large fan 62 inches in diameter and 
27 inches wide, placed in a room in which the exhaust pipes center. From here 
it escapes up the foul air flue. All the heating and ventilating is done by one 
engine. The basement is also furnished with a gas regulator and water-meter. 

In the first story are the county offices on each side of a corridor 16 feet 
wide. This story is 14 feet, 9 inches high, has a vaulted brick ceiling, and is fire- 
proof The second story is 21 feet in height, and the third or mezzanine story 
12 feet. Each has a lobby in front 21 feet square. The corridor and the lob- 
bies are paved with ornamental tile. On the second floor are the court-room, 
in front of which on either side the lobby, are two waiting-rooms for ladies, 
and in the rear, the judges' and attorneys' room and two rooms for petit 



-^yd> History of Clarion County, 

juries. The third story contains the apartments of the county superintendent 
and surveyor, opening from the front vestibule. From the rear, the grand 
jury room and two witness waiting rooms. 

The court- room is seventy-four feet long, fifty-five feet wide, and forty- five 
feet high. It is lighted by twelve double windows and four chandeliers of 
eighteen lights each. 

The heating and ventilating apparatus were included in the contract. The 
following shows the cost of the furnishings, etc., exclusive of this: 

Architect $ 4,418 

Furniture 4,248 

Bell and clock 2,800 

Gas and plumbing 1,500 

Carpet 510 

Total $13,466 

An allowance of $661.50 was made for a drain; for neglected and defective 
work the commissioners deducted $949.77. The total cost to the county, 
therefore (not counting material on hand), was $97,124.27 ; $18,000 was sunk 
by contractor and sub-contractors; $3,500 by bondsmen. Total cost of build- 
ing (counting old material), $126,936. 

P. H. Melvin, on February 12, 1886, brought suit against Clarion county 
for $40,000 damages. His complaint sets forth that the commissioners failed 
to comply, on their part, with several of the contract stipulations ; that the 
estimates were not advanced at the time agreed ; that the work was delayed 
by failure to furnish him with plans promptly ; that the commissioners com- 
pelled him to purchase new brick at great loss, and that he was harassed and 
hindered in the work by the objections of the supervising architect. 

Although the undertaking has been an unfortunate one to the contractor 
and sub- contractors, the citizens of Clarion county may congratulate them- 
selves on possessing a creditable, solidly constructed court-house, at a compara- 
tively small expenditure. 

Appendix. 

Brady s Bend and Captain Brady. — A warrant was issued by the Land 
Office of Pennsylvania in 1785, for 502 acres and allowance, to Captain Samuel 
Brady. . The tract was situated in the great bend of the Allegheny, embracing 
a large portion of the peninsula ; its southwestern boundary line strikes the 
river a little west of Phillipsburg, and includes, therefore, the site of East 
Brady. It was surveyed in 1786. In 1791 Brady gave this land to Judge 
Ross, of Pittsburgh, as a fee for defending him when tried for murdering In- 
dians. In 1859 300 acres were purchased by the Brady's Bend Iron Company, 
and 200, the lower section, by James Cunningham, from William Denny, Ross's 
administrator. 

Captain Brady also had a one-third interest in two 400-acre warrants, num- 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 379 

bers 132 and 415, south of Callensburg, on Cherry Run. The latter is the site 
of the camp-meeting ground. Colonel Johnston owned the remaining interest. 
They were warranted October 8, 1785, and Brady conveyed his title January, 
1790, to John Hart. 

This is all we know with certainty of Captain Samuel Brady's connection 
with the history of Clarion county. Whether any of these tracts were donated 
by the State is doubtful ; the presumption is that they were not, for gifts of 
land in requital for military services were, as far as we know, confined to the 
" donation " territory, none of which existed in this county. 

It is evident, therefore, that Captain Brady's ownership of land here will 
throw little light on the question; did an engagement between the Indians 
and Brady occur in this county ? And in this regard popular tradition, resting 
on no continuous local basis, and therefore very unreliable, has handed down 
so many absurd and contradictory stories, so deeply tinged with the romance, 
which vulgar legends seems determined to associate with every part of a back- 
woods hero's career, that from the tangled fantastic mass it is very difficult to 
extract the clue to the truth. 

The consensus of tradition in the vicinity of East Brady is to the effect that 
a fight occurred between Brady's rangers and a band of Indians a little below 
East Brady, on the spot occupied by the Pine Run Company's coal tipple, be- 
tween the river and the hillside. A rock nearly opposite is pointed out as where 
Cornplanter found shelter from the enemy's bullets, after swimming the Alle- 
gehny under fire. Yet, in striving to arrive at the facts, little regard should be 
paid to legends of this kind. Their only value is to indicate the long existing 
and universal belief that Captain " Sam " Brady did signalize himself by a vic- 
torious encounter with Indians, somewhere on the bend on the eastern side of 
the river. 

That the curve of the river bears the name of the hero of this legend may 
have arisen simply from the circumstance that Captain Brady owned consider- 
able of the territory included in the bend. If we go back further it is a pre- 
sumption in favor of the local tradition that the warrant included the spot as- 
signed by popular belief as the scene of Brady's achievement, and was pur- 
chased by him on that account, or presented by the State as an appropriate gift ; 
yet, after all, this is mere conjecture, and requires material support. 

But laying aside local coloring, let us examine the matter in the light of 
outside history. Hitherto all the accounts of the affair at the Bend contained 
in the sketches of Clarion county in the State histories and elsewhere, have 
been copied, without question, from the sketches of Captain Brady in the "Kis- 
kiminetas Papers," published over fifty years ago by Richard McCabe, a rela- 
tive of the Brady family. As historical data these productions are utterly 
worthless ; their aim is the glorification of Captain Brady, often at the expense 
of truth. Many of McCabe's statements are flatly contradicted by official ar- 



38o History of Clarion County. 

chives, and among these apocryphal narratives must be classed his account of 
the action at Brady's Bend, so widely and trustfully copied. 

According to this writer, Brady commanded the advance guard of Colonel 
Brodhead's corps in the expedition up the Allegheny in August, 1779. " The 
troops proceeded up the Allegheny River and had arrived near the mouth of 
Redbank Creek, now known by the name of Brady's Bend, without encoun- 
tering an enemy. Brady and his rangers were some distance in front of the 
main body, as their duty required, when they suddenly discovered a war party 
of Indians approaching them. Relying on the strength of the main body and 
its ability to force the Indians to retreat, and anticipating, as Napoleon did in 
the battle with the Mamelukes, that«when driven back they would return by 
the same route they had advanced on, Brady permitted them to proceed with- 
out hindrance, and hastened to seize a narrow pass higher up the river, where 
the rocks, nearly perpendicular, approached the river, and a few determined 
men could successfully combat superior numbers. 

" In a short time the Indians encountered the main body under Brodhead, 
and were driven back. In full and swift retreat they passed on to gain the 
pass between the rocks and the river, but it was occupied by Brady and his 
rangers, who failed not to pour into their flying columns a most destructive 
fire." Then follows a poetical quotation describing the shock of the fray and 
the panic that befell the savages. This is supplemented by an episode in which 
Captain Brady fires over the head of a mocking brave, across the stream. On 
his disappearance, Brady and some of his men cross the river in a canoe to di- 
vine the cause; the Indian springs up from behind a bush, strikes his breast, 
and says, " I am a man," whereupon one of Brady's companions buries his 
hatchet in the savage's brains. 

This is all fictitious trash. The skirmish on which this pretty tale is based 
took place some seventy- five or hundred miles further up the Allegheny, near 
President.^ Captain Brady is not mentioned as in command of the advance 
guard, or in any other capacity ; that honor belonged to Lieutenant Hardin. 

Since the Kiskiminetas fable must be discarded, it behooves us to look else- 
where for confirmation of the tradition ; and we find no event recorded which 
might have occurred within the limits of Clarion county except an encounter 
between the scout and his savage enemies, and the rescue of two white persons 
on the Allegheny in June, 1779, before the Brodhead campaign. McCabe 
places this near the mouth of the Mahoning, but, as usual, gives no authority 
for that location. There is a tradition or quasi tradition in that neighborhood 
that the fight and recapture occurred there, although tradition and McCabe's 
brother differ by two miles as to the spot. Colonel Brodhead sent the follow- 
ing official report of this affair to President Reed :2 

1 Brodhead's letter to Washington, Pennsylvania Archives, Old series, Vol. XII. 

2 Pennsylvania Archives, O. S., Vol. VII., p. 505. 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 381 

" Head Quarters, Pittsburgh, June 24, 1779. 

" Dear Sir : About a fortnight ago three men which I had sent to re- 
conoitre the Seneca Country, returned from Venango, being chased by a num- 
ber of Warriors who were coming down the River in Canoes ; they continued 
the pursuit until they came to this side of Kittanning, and the White Men nar- 
rowly escaped. A few Days after they returned, Captain Brady, with twenty 
white Men and a young Delaware Chief, all well painted, set out towards the 
Seneca Country, and the Indian warriors proceeded towards the settlements. 
They killed a Soldier between Forts Crawford & Hand, & proceeded to 
Sawickleyi Settlement, where they killed a Woman and her four Children, and 
took two children prisoners. Captn Brady fell in with seven Indians of this 
party, about 15 Miles above Kittanning, where the Indians had chosen an 
advantageous situation for their Camp. He, however, surrounded them, and 
attacked at the break of Day. The Indian Captain, a notorious Warrior of the 
Muncy Nation, was killed on the spot, and several more mortally wounded, 
but the woods were remarkably thick, and the party could not pursue the vil- 
lians tracks after they had stopped their wounds, which they always do as 
soon as posssible after receiving them. Captain Brady, however, retook six 
horses, the two prisoners, the Scalps & all their plunder, and took all the In- 
dian's Guns, Tomahawks, Match Coats, Mocksins, in fine, everything they had 
except their Breech Clouts. Captain Brady has great Merit, but none has 
more distinguished Merit in this enterprize than the young Delaware Chief, 
whose name is Nanowland or (George Wilson)." The rest of the letter is de- 
voted to other topics. 

In another account of the same occurrence Brodhead writes : " Captain 
Brady fell in with seven Indians of this party, about 15 Miles above Kit- 
tanning, where they had chosen an advantageous situation for their Camp. 
He surrounded them as well as the situation would admit, "^ and finding he was 
discovered by break of Day, he attacked them, and killed the captain, a noto- 
rious warrior of the Muncy Nation, and mortally wounded most of them, but 
they being encamped near a remarkable thicket, etc." 

General Hugh Brady, a younger brother of Samuel, in a narrative written 
about 1836, lays the scene of the rescue in Clarion county, on the Redbank, 
under the following circumstances : 

" Soon after, my brother heard of his father's death ; and he waited with 
impatience for an opportunity to avenge it on the Indians. Nor was the 
opportunity long delayed. The Indians had attacked a family and killed all 
in it, except a boy aged twelve, and his sister, ten. These were taken pris- 
oners, and their father was absent from home at the time it occurred. The 
place was thirty miles east of Pittsburgh, and it so hapf)ened Sahiuel was out 

1 Sewickley, in Westmoreland County. 

' This would seem to indicate that they were encamped near the water. 
39 



382 History of Clarion County. 

in that direction ; and hearing of it he started in pursuit, having with him a 
friendly Indian, very useful as a guide. The second evening of the pursuit the 
party stopped on the top of a high hill, and the Indian guide, pointing with 
his wiping stick to the foot of the hill, said: 'The Redbank runs there.' The 
men sat down, while the captain consulted with the Indian about his future 
movements. Suddenly the Indian sprang to his feet and said he smelt fire; 
and soon after they saw the smoke curling above the trees on the opposite side 
of the Redbank. 

"The Indian said: 'They will sleep by that fire to-night.' 'And I will 
awake them with a voice of thunder in the morning,' replied the captain. The 
Indian also said, 'After they smoke and eat, and the sun has gone to sleep, 
they will give the scalp halloo.' 

" With breathless impatience the party watched the setting of the sun, and 
as its light disappeared from the tops of the trees in the east, they heard seven 
distinct scalp halloos, with the usual whoop between each. After it was over, 
Cole, the Indian, observed: 'There are fourteen warriors, and they have five 
scalps and two prisoners.' The night being clear and the weather mild, the 
captain remained in his position till near morning, when he forded the stream 
above the Indians and posted his men to await the crack of his rifle as the sig- 
nal of attack. As day broke, an Indian rose up and stirred the fire. The sig- 
nal was given. The Indian standing pitched into the fire. The attack con- 
tinued, and resulted in eight of the warriors being deprived of the pleasure of 
ever again giving the scalp halloo. When the captain got back to the fire he 
found the children much alarmed. After quieting their fears, the boy asked 
for the captain's tomahawk, and commenced cutting off the head of the Indian 
that fell in the fire, observing that this was the leader of the party and the man 
that killed and scalped his mother. The boy was permitted to finish the job 
he had commenced. 

"Three days' easy march brought the captain back to Pittsburgh. The 
father of the children was sent for to receive his lost ones. He showed much 
affection and thanked the captain for having restored them ; and then asked the 
captain what had become of his 'big basin.' It appeared that the Indians had 
carried off or destroyed a big basin, from which Henry and his numerous family 
ate their sauerkraut. The honest Dutchman thought there could be no impro- 
priety in asking for it of the man who had the best chance to know. 

" In 1804 the writer met Henry (the boy) at a friend's house in Greenburg, 
Pa. Henry had stopped with a wagon before the door, and had a barrel of 
cider for my friend, who, pointing to me, said, 'This gentleman is a brother of 
Captain Brady, who took you from the Indians.' Henry was assisting to re- 
move the cider, and he gave me a side look for a moment, and then continued 
his work. I felt hurt at the coldness he showed towards the brother of a man 
who had risked his life to rescue him from death or bondage, and to avenge 
the murder of his family." 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 383 



It will be seen, leaving the question of locality aside, that although Brady's 
narrative is over-wrought, no grave discrepancies exist between his account 
and Brodhead's, except in the number of redskins. At the distance of time 
and under the circumstances he wrote, his errors are pardonable ; his version 
tallies far better than McCabe's with the official one. 

Another version, published in the Knickerbocker for July, 1855 (author un- 
known), is analogous to local tradition. It makes the attack occur at night. 
In this Brady ascended the river on the opposite side, crossed at " Truby's 
Ripple," above the camp of the war party, and then moved down stealthily on 
their rear, hemming them in between the bank and the river. Cornplanter, 
their chief.^ escapes across the Allegheny under a shower of bullets to the 
famous rock. We quote the end of the article : " The rock that sheltered 
Cornplanter from Brady's bullets was pointed out to mo by an old Indian in a 
recent trip down this river. It is known as ' Cornplanter's Rock.' The old 
Indian gave me the story, with a sad and dejected countenance, in broken 
English." 

It is evident that much of this story is derived from imaginative sources ; 
its general tenor is foreign to the only reliable accounts we possess — Colonel 
Daniel Brodhead's and Hugh Brady's. 

We will return to these and scan them with regard to location, to determine, 
if possible, whether this achievement of Captain Brady's occurred in Clarion 
or in Armstrong county. As the result, it will be seen that the honors He 
easy between the two sections, with a preponderance in favor of Clarion. Col- 
onel Brodhead says, "about fifteen miles above Kittanning." This indefinite 
phrase is our only official authority for location. Elsewhere, in writing of his 
march up the Allegheny, he speaks of a delay " at a place called Mahoning, 
about fifteen miles above Fort Armstrong." Fort Armstrong was situated 
about three miles below the present and the old Indian town of Kittanning, and 
was frequently styled Kittanning in military documents of that date; therefore, 
I infer that by the Kittanning mentioned by Brodhead, the fort is meant. "At 
a place called Mahoning," taken in connection with the quarter mentioned in 
the letter giving the report of Captain Brady's success, would seem, then, to 
corroborate McCabe's and the generally-accepted locality ; for the mouth of 
the modern Mahoning is twelve miles above Manorville, the site of Fort Arm- 
strong, by river. 

But we must remember that the earliest name of the Redbank was Lycaw<7- 
honing,w\\\\e that of Mahoning Creek was Mohulbucteetam. When the change 
in the name of this stream took place is unknown, but probably not until the 
surrounding country became settled, about 1800. We find that Redbank is in 
one place called " Licking Creek," whose Indian equivalent would be Maho- 
ning^ 

1 Cornplanter was a Seneca, while the leader, mentioned by Brodhead, and who was killed, was 
a Muncy. It is possible, though, that Cornplanter took part in the fray. 



384 History of Clarion County. 

The question then seems to hinge on the manner Brodhead calculated the 
distance ; whether by the windings of the river, or by a more direct, overland 
route. If by the former, then the claims of Mahoning are paramount ; but if 
the latter, the mouth of Redbank, or Brady's Bend, must have been the scene 
of the engagement, because twelve miles measure the distance between Fort 
Armstrong and the latter point, on an air line, which, allowing moderately for 
the deviations of an overland journey, would make "about fifteen miles" to 
East Brady, or, with wider digressions, fifteen miles to the mouth of Redbank. 
Now, in the case of Captain Brady's expedition, where did Brodhead obtain 
the distance and the point of attack ? Doubtless from Captain Brady himself, 
who, in haste to overtake the savages, would not have lost time by following 
the river, but would have struck through the forest on a line only generally 
parallel with the course of the Allegheny. But it may be said that Brodhead, 
on the march, kept by the water's edge. There is no evidence whatever as to 
that. Very possibly he shortened the route by traversing the interior, or 
divided his course between the stream and the country, wherever the most 
practicable way was presented ; and in this way, after a march of about fifteen 
miles, arrived at the mouth of Redbank. However, the claims of Clarion 
county do not depend on Brodhead's path. 

The strongest point in favor of this county is that the captives, then ten and 
twelve years old, and their descendants, some of whom afterwards lived there, 
assert that the rescue took place at Brady's Bend} It is little likely that they 
would be mistaken ; at least, make the egregious error of ten or twelve miles. 

As between Brady's Bend and the Redbank (near its mouth), where the 
rescue is said by General Hugh Brady to have occurred, I incline to the tra- 
ditional spot at the bend, as supported by the legend and the granting of the 
land. General Brady, in his recollection of the affair as preserved in the fam- 
ily, was probably misled by the mention of the crossing of the Redbank. 

So this interesting dispute rests. The writer does not contend that he has 
proved beyond a doubt that this historical incident occurred in Clarion county, 
and while he challenges the claim of Armstrong county, is content to let the 
vexed question hang in abeyance till the desirable, but almost hopeless certi- 
tude is arrived at. He believes, though, that he has developed a strong case 
for Clarion county, and that it lacks but a featherweight more of evidence to 
tip the scales decisively in favor of the latter.^ 

Samuel Brady was the son of John and Mary Brady, and was born in 1756 
at Shippensburg, Cumberland county, Pa. He was therefore very youthful, 
twenty-three, at the time of this action. His parents moved in 1768 to Stand- 
ing Stone (Huntingdon), and finally to the West Branch near Muncy. The 

1 See History of Armstrong County, page 261 ; Pittsburgh Chronicle, December 5, 1859; History 
of East Brady. 

2 These observations are the result of painstaking researches among records, official and unofficial, 
as well as the oral traditions of the community. 



From the Oil Era to the Present Time. 385 

perilous frontier life early accustomed him to arms, and at the age of nineteen 
we find him a volunteer in Captain Lowdon's company, of Thompson's Rifle 
Battalion, which in August, 1775, joined the army before Boston. Thomp- 
son's company dissolving at the expiration of its term, Samuel re-enlisted and 
was commissioned first lieutenant in Doyle's Independent Company, annexed 
September 5, 1776, to the First Pennsylvania, but he was shortly selected for 
Morgan's corps of sharpshooters. 

He took part in the battle of Brandywine and the bloody affair at Paoli in 
the autumn of 1777, and the battle of Monmouth in 1778. Having been trans- 
ferred to Brodhead's command, the Eighth, stationed at Fort Pitt, he was pro- 
moted to captain-lieutenant, and became one of the colonel's favorite scouts, 
being sent on various hazardous and difficult errands into the wilderness north 
and west, and acquitting himself with skill and intrepidity. He signalized him- 
self in particular by the rescue of the prisoners, and a mission of espionage to 
Sandusky, during which he wrested a captive woman and child from a band 
of savage marauders. 

While at Fort Pitt he heard the news of his father's and mother's massacre 
in Lycoming by Indian raiders; and it is said that he then vowed vengeance 
against the race, seizing upon the Sewickley affair as the first opportunity for re- 
taliation. Brady participated in Brodhead's sylvan campaigns, and in 1780 be- 
came captain. January 17, 1781, he was transferred to the Third Pennsyl- 
vania at Easton, under Colonel Craig, and accompanied Wayne on his southern 
campaign. He was discharged January 14, 1783, and took up his residence 
in the Chartiers Creek settlement, Allegheny county, spending most of his time 
in the chase, when his services as an Indian fighter were not in demand. 

About 1786 Captain Brady married Drusilla Swearingen, a daughter of 
Captain Van Swearingen, a gallant fellow-soldier in Morgan's Rifle Corps. " It 
is a tradition that the gentle Drusilla was first wooed by Dr. Bradford, of 
Whisky Insurrection notoriety, but Brady returned from a long trip to Ken- 
tucky just in time to secure the coveted prize. Her father objected at first to 
his daughter marrying Brady, on account of his roving and dangerous scout's 
life, but afterward gave his consent. There was some foundation for this ob- 
jection, for we learn that the fond and lovely wife suffered untold miseries when 
her reckless husband was absent on distant scouts longer than the time agreed 
on for return. Dr. Darby once witnessed the meeting between husband and 
wife on such an occasion, and states it to have been very affecting. "^ 

During a time of peace in 1 79 1 , Brady, while hunting, it is said, encountered 
a party of Indians at the present Brady's Run, near the mouth of the Beaver 
River. His inveterate feeling toward the race, which was then inflamed by al- 
coholic influences (he had grown over fond of strong drink) mastered his bet- 
ter nature, and he shot one of the savages dead. Even Captain Brady could 

1 "Our Western Border." 



3^6 History of Clarion County. 

not in times of peace kill a red man with impunity, and the interests of justice 
demanded his trial. Warrants were issued, and it is said a reward of three hun- 
dred dollars offered for his capture, as his renown for prowess overawed the 
officers of justice. His brother says that, though an attempt was made, he was 
not taken, but subsequently voluntarily delivered himself into custody. He 
was arraigned for murder at Pittsburgh, and defended by James Ross, after- 
ward judge. In defense it was claimed that the savages had been on a raid 
against the Chartiers settlement ; that Brady, with a few retainers, had waylaid 
them on their return at the Ohio crossing. The trial was a notable one, and 
excited great interest, but public sentiment was hostile to the Indians, and the 
verdict was for acquittal. 

Shortly after his marriage. Captain Brady removed to Virginia (now West 
Virginia), near Wellsburg, where his father-in-law lived in a fortified domicile. 
On General Wayne's arrival at Pittsburgh, in 1792, he engaged Brady as a 
scout, which position he exercised till a short while before his premature end. 
He died of pleurisy on Christmas day, 1795, near West Liberty, W. Va. His 
two sons died before 1850; his widow remarried, moved to Tyler county, Va., 
and lived to a good old age. 

Of Samuel Brady's personal appearance, his brother's sketch furnishes all 
we know: " He was five feet eleven and three- fourth inches in height, with a 
perfect form. He was rather light, his weight exceeding at no time one hun- 
dred and sixty- eight pounds." His arduous, exposed life told on him in his 
later years, and he looked older than he was. He walked lame from a hurt, 
and was partially deaf from lying long in the water while hiding from the sav- 
ages. 

Captain Brady's career was doubtless a marvelously active, adventurous, 
and in some respects useful one. He was a brave soldier and a skilled and 
hardy partisan. Of the adventures, of which tradition has made him the cen- 
tral figure, some are highly embellished ; others are wholly fictitious ; largely 
the products of a relative's facile pen and fervid imagination. 

In a moral and political aspect, Brady was far from heroic. The element 
of self-control was lacking in his character. He appears to have yielded to a 
licentious passion, which discredited his race among the tribes of the Ohio, and 
inflamed their hatred;^ and his revengeful instincts detract from the merits of 
his deeds. 

George Rote and his sister Rhody, aged about twelve and fourteen, were 
taken by Indians, in March, 1781, from their home at Mifflinburg, now Union 
county, and carried prisoners to the Seneca country. After some time, when 

1 Mr. Isaac Craig writes : " He caused much trouble to the Americans by his rascally conduct to a 
Shawanese woman whom he took prisoner, and it was with great difficulty that Colonel George Mor- 
gan, the Indian agent at Fort Pitt, appeased the Shawanese tribe. It is difficult for us to understand 
Brodhead's infatuation with Brady, in the light we now have." 



The Bench and Bar. 387 



peace was proclaimed, they were liberated, met near where Clarion stands,^ 
and returned home together. "Rhody married James Ben, and they moved to 
Centre county. They were uncle and aunt to the late Captain John Rote, who 
never could hear of an Indian, in latter times, without getting into a passion." 
("Annals of the Buffalo Valley," by John Blair Linn). This bit of history was 
obtained too late to be inserted in the body of the work. 

The " Bedford and Franklin Road," mentioned in chapter ninth as having 
been surveyed through Clarion in 18 17, never went beyond that stage. 



CHAPTER XL. 

THE BENCH AND BAR. 

The First Court — Judge Alexander McCalraont — The First Attorneys — Later Ones — Judges 
BuflSngton, Knox, and J. S. McCalmont — The Logue Trial — Murder Cases — Judges Scofield and 
Campbell — Additional Sketches — Judge Jenks — The Standard Proceedings — Hons. Corbett and 
Wilson — History of the District — List of Attorneys — First Records — County Oificers. 

CLARION county's judicial organization began the first of September, 
1840, from which date, says the constituent act, "the inhabitants of the 
said county of Clarion, be entitled to and shall have all and singular the courts 
jurisdiction, officers, rights and privileges to which the inhabitants of other 
counties of this State are entitled by the constitution and laws of this Common- 
wealth." The county was attached to the sixth district, then consisting of the 
counties of Erie, Venango, and Crawford ; but by a repealing act, passed before 
any court was held (May 21, 1840), it was added to the eighteenth judicial 
district, composed of Potter, McKean, and Jefferson counties ; of which Hon. 
Alexander McCalmont was presiding judge ; Christian Myers and Charles 
Evans were commissioned associates. 

Judge Alexander McCalmont was a man a little past middle life when he 
began to preside over the courts of Clarion county. He was a native of 
Nittany Valley, Centre county; born October 22, 1785, died at Franklin, 
August 10, 1857. -H^s parents moved to Franklin in 1803, and Judge McCal- 
mont continued to reside there almost uninterruptedly till his decease. He 
received a very limited education, but by self-application, became proficient 
enough to teach school at Franklin in 1809 and '10. He held nearly all the 
offices within the gift of his county, being successively commissioner, treas- 
urer, recorder, sheriff, and justice of the peace. About 1828 he was admitted 

1 Mr. Linn's informant, a Mr. Gill, who traveled afoot through this county many years ago, and 
who was very accurate as to dates and facts, says that the meeting took place "at a furnace near 
Clarion," which must mean the site of Clarion Furnace, or Penn Mills. 



388 History of Clarion County. 



to practice, having studied with David Irvine, esq., one of Venango county's 
first lawyers. Mr. McCalmont was also engaged in the iron business, having 
constructed a furnace and forge; but he relinquished this in 1833, to devote 
himself entirely to the law, wherein he enjoyed a successful and lucrative prac- 
tice, till he was appointed president judge by Governor Porter. 

While he possessed some eccentricities, his magisterial learning and ability 
commanded respect. Judge McCalmont spent several summers in Clarion, 
bringing his family and library with him. 

Christian Myers was a prominent character of the early days, and an exten- 
sive iron manufacturer. Charles Evans had represented Armstrong county in 
the assembly, and was very active in securing the erection of the new county. 

The first court was held November 4, 1840, the first Monday of the month, 
in the house now occupied by A. H. Alexander. It was a mere preliminary 
session, to initiate the new judges and officers, and qualify the attorneys. The 
following description by an eye-witness will convey a more vivid picture of the 
proceedings than the writer could otherwise furnish : 

"The house and store being built by Alexander Reynolds was up and 
roofed, and partly weather-boarded, but the front was still open, and a large 
carpenter's bench was standing in what is now Captain Alexander's parlor. 
That apartment was secured in which to hold court, and the carpenter's bench 
turned against the east wall. Three or four trestles were arranged in front of 
the bench, and boards laid across for seats for the bar; three large chairs were 
mounted on the stand for the judges. 

" The judges elect had to be sworn in, but there were no officers sworn in to 
qualify the court ; that was the starting point, and till the court was in running 
order, the entire machinery of the county was at a stand-still, and could not 
start. But this difficulty had been foreseen, and Governor Porter had sent out 
to Jacques W. Johnson a ' dedimus potestatem ' to swear in the judges and 
start the machinery in motion. Jacques was no little elevated at the idea of 
being made the receptacle of this amount of royal prerogative in the hands of 
a subject, and talked a great deal about the importance of this sacred trust. 

"The people had elected Dr. Goe, prothonotary, and James Hasson, sheriff". 
Uncle Jacob Zeigler, then prothonotary of Butler county, was brought over to 
teach the new officers how to put on their official robes, and to see the court 
inaugurated with becoming dignity. The old court-crier of Venango county, 
Mr. Morrison, came down to help on the show, and pick up the initiation fees 
of the lawyers. 

"Early on Monday morning the town began to fill up; the Franklin, Butler, 
and Armstrong county lawyers had generally come on the Sunday evening 
before. It was a pleasant, sunshiny November day, which was fortunate, as 
we had no means of heating the room. I believe more people came in to see 
the court, than come now ; although there was not a case on the list, either 



The Bench and Bar. 389 



civil or criminal. The judges got Johnson into a room at the Western, and 
were sworn in before going to court. By ten o'clock the judges got upon the 
bench ; and at the intimation of Judge McCalmont, old Mr. Morrison opened 
the court. The seats in front of the judges by that time were pretty well filled 
with applicants for admission. Zeigler was a good officer, with a fine, manly 
voice, and after reading the commissions of the judges, commenced swearing in 
first the prothonotary and sheriff, whose bonds had been approved, then the 
constables and justices of the peace. Then the certificates of the younger 
lawyers were examined by the court, and the whole batch were told to stand 
up and be sworn ; and all were on their feet and sworn in. By dinner time 
nearly all the preliminary work was done. Though the court met in the after- 
noon there was little to do. Most of the old lawyers failed to put in an ap- 
pearance, but were seen walking around, or sitting at the hotels telling stories. 
Several were up stairs playing euchre, or other games." 

Jacob K. Boyd was the first resident lawyer in the county. He came to 
the county seat in the spring of 1840. He was soon after followed by D. B. 
Hays, John B. Butler, Jacques W. Johnson, Alfred Gilmore, and James Camp- 
bell; all these were admitted at the first session of court. In February, 1841, 
D. W. Foster, John L. Thompson, Thomas Sutton, and George W. Lathy were 
admitted. Thomas M. Jolly came in the spring of 1841. 

It is fitting here to give a brief sketch of these pioneers in the legal field of 
Clarion. The great majority of them have passed away. Their names are 
yet familiar, and their traits yet fresh in the memories of a very few ; to 
others they are dim figures in the long retrospect, and with the end of the 
present generation they would be entirely forgotten did not the kindly pen of 
the historian rescue their fame from this threatened oblivion. 

Jacob K. Boyd was from Butler county, and brought his family with him, 
to a new house he had erected. He was an illiterate man and failed to gain 
any standing at the bar. He remained only three or four years, and returned 
to Butler county. Of his subsequent career nothing is known. 

Jacques W. Johnson was the second of the series. He was a young lawyer, 
born in Dauphin county, who had removed to Clarion from Carhsle. Of a 
mercurial temperament, and a flippant tongue, he lacked solidity, and there- 
fore attained no substantial success. Shortly after coming he entered into 
partnership with George W. Lathy, and they opened the first office in Clarion, 
where Dr. Ross's office now stands ; with the legend " Johnson & Lathy, 
attorneys at law," in bright, gilt letters on the door. Johnson married an 
eastern lady, and about 1845 1^^ Clarion county. 

David B. Hays was the^son of Sheriff Hays, of Venango county, and one 
of Clarion's earliest lawyers. He had his office with James Campbell, in a 
building on the site occupied by Brown's barber shop. "Davy" Hays was tal- 
ented, witty, and of a lively and amiable disposition ; a universal favorite. ;;j , His 

40 



390 History of Clarion County. 

career here was a short one ; he departed for Mercer in the spring of 1842, 
and died there. His death was hastened by his convivial habits, which over- 
mastered him after he left Clarion. 

John B. Butler hailed from Butler county, where he had been engaged in 
journalism. His talents seemed better fitted for the sanctum than the bar. A 
nervous, impetuous habit, which often overreached itself and marred work 
which required circumspection, was a great hindrance in his forensic career. 
After some years he went to Pittsburgh, where he edited a Know Nothing paper, 
and after, by a marvelous transformation, became a Catholic. He had served 
as a major during the rebellion, and is now living at the Fortress Monroe Sol- 
diers' Home. 

Mr. Butler, while here, resided in a hewed log house, now the residence 
of William Cramer. Lawyers were well content with log houses then. 

Alfred Gilmore was a brother of Samuel A. Gilmore, of Butler, an attorney 
^f high merit. Alfred was appointed first district attorney here, and while 
•considerably lower than his brother on the legal scale, was a lawyer of fair 
ability and pretty good practice. His manner was rather pompous and pe- 
dantic. After remaining here five or six years, he returned to Butler, and 
finally settled in Philadelphia, where, at last accounts, he was still living. He 
was a member of the firm of Gilmore & Thompson, who displayed their shingle 
at the present office of 'Squire Sweny, then new, freshly painted with white, 
and presenting a very neat appearance. 

David W. Foster was also a citizen of Kittanning, and on his arrival here was 
already past the meridian of life. He was originally a cabinet-maker, and hav- 
ing been prothonotary's clerk at Kittanning, came here to act in the same cap- 
acity, and to open the records of the county. He had improved his spare time 
by the study of law, and was admitted here in February, 1841, but continued 
to assist the clerk of courts, pursuing his profession in that office. Although a 
mediocre lawyer, he acquired a respectable practice, especially as a collector. 
Mr. Foster remained in Clarion till his death in 1849. 

Jesse G. Clark, the son of William Clark, of the Forest (now the Loomis) 
House, entered the bar here, but remained but a short time, before returning 
with his father to Brookville. 

John L. Thompson was a young attorney from Lancaster, "a thin, spare 
man, with light hair," and a fluent talker. He did not abide in Clarion county 
long enough to warrant a further estimate, leaving in the spring of '42. 

Thomas Sutton, originally of Indiana, Pa., was one of the few among 
Clarion's early legal lights, who achieved a pronounced success ; a success due 
to his high personal character and real professional merit. In argument he was 
fair, but as a business attorney he excelled. Mr. Sutton practiced alone. He 
died, aged about forty, in 1853, leaving a wife and two children. 

George W. Lathy was an advocate of some experience when he cast his 



The Bench and Bar. 391 



lines in Clarion. He came from Northumberland, Pa. Lathy was an effective 
jury lawyer, but his indolent disposition led him to rely too much on his foren- 
sic powers, to the neglect of the minutiae of preparation. In March, 1871, he 
removed to Erie, as a field where his talents would have wider scope — a step 
which proved an unfortunate one. He is now living in Philadelphia, though 
not engaged in practice. Mr. Lathy, while in Clarion, married a daughter of 
Edward Derby, the builder of the first court-house. A large family was the 
result of this union. In the latter part of his career here, he took his eldest 
son, William E., in partnership with him. 

Thomas M. Jolly was attracted to the new seat of justice from Norristown, 
Montgomery county, and at his arrival here was pretty well advanced in life. 
He had served in the War of 18 12 when a mere boy, and was present at the 
siege of Fort McHenry. He always bore the title of " General " Jolly. Jolly 
was a man of ordinary attainments in the profession, and laid great stress on 
technicalities. He was addicted to the convivial glass — a fault common to sev- 
eral of the early sprigs of the law. General Jolly removed back to his native 
county in 1845. He had a family of three children. 

George W. Carskadden, formerly of Clinton county, came in 1843, with a 
host of recommendations, which the event did not bear out. He is to be classed 
with the many other ephemera, remaining scarcely a year. 

The bar of the new county seat, was composed — as we have seen — of young 
men, freshly embarked in life, who sought the newly-erected county as a vant- 
age ground, a comparatively free field, where they would not have to contend 
against the overshadowing prestige of older and more experienced heads. In 
this they were doomed to disappointment. Although by the spring of 1841 
the resident lawyers numbered thirteen, nearly all the business was in the hands 
of practitioners of adjoining counties, who had already achieved reputations ; 
such men as Bufiington, of Kittanning; Howe and Snowden, of Franklin; the 
Purviances, and Ayres, of Butler. Many became discouraged, contending 
against such odds and did not long hold their ground. Those who stayed 
owed their success to industry, genuine worth, and the courage which tided 
them over their dark and unproductive days. 

The winter of 1840-41 was a particularly dark and gloomy period for 
these first legal luminaries. Their surroundings were not such as tended to 
cheer their minds. The place was isolated in the midst of a forest; everything 
was in an inchoate state. The unfinished and unpainted houses, the muddy 
streets, and the background of gloomy pines with their snow- laden branches, 
formed a combination which had a depressing effect on the "briefless barris- 
ters," as they sat around in their barely-furnished offices, vainly waiting for a 
client to lift the latch. It was necessary to kill time, however, in some man- 
ner. The industriously inclined conned the volumes of their scantily supplied 
libraries, and then joined their idle comrades at the Great Western, where the 



392 History of Clarion County. 

evening was spent in games of euchre or " rounce," and trolling songs and 
catches. The moistening liquid was conveniently on hand in the tap-room. 
A happy diversion was the occasional dance. What odds though the company 
might happen to be a trifle democratic in ton ; none relished the fun more keenly 
than the legal fraternity. 

Boyd, Butler, and Foster were benedicts; Sutton, Hays, Johnson, and the 
others were yet untrammeled by matrimonial ties. Their circumstances nec- 
essarily threw these young men together, and this social intercourse was one 
of the agreeable amenities of those days. They were inclined to make the best 
of things, and withal formed a gay coterie. In summer they rambled over the 
hills together, pitched quoits, and tossed the bar. 

A propos of the impecuniosity prevalent then among the resident lawyers, 
one of their number relates: "As the summer (1841) advanced and harvest 
time came, times grew very dull indeed. Hays and I had paid out our last 
dollar, and were both completely strapped. One day we happened to ask Sut- 
ton what was the state of his finances, and he pulled out ten cents and said 
that was every cent of money he had in the world. We took a hearty laugh 
over it, and told him it was not fair for him to have such an advantage over us 
who had not a cent, and that he should hand the ten cents over to Hays, which 
he did, and we handed that ten cent piece back and forward, I should say at 
least two months. 

" I recollect one day Sutton and I had been up town. As we came down 
we saw Hays coming toward us, laughing and showing something over his head. 
He came up to us, saying, ' Look here, you poor rascals!' and showed us a 
two-dollar shinplaster he had just taken in as a fee, and we all started over 
to Hysung's, who sold jumbles and small beer, and spent the most of Hays's 
money. Hays's client wanted to bring a suit against a man who had shot his 
dog. In passing along the road, the dog had run out and tried to bite him, 
and having a gun on his shoulder, he took it down and cracked away and shot 
the dog. The owner was indignant, and so paid Hays two dollars for telling 
him that the dog had no business to attack a man on the public road, and that 
the man had a right to defend himself against man or beast, even if it resulted 
in the death of the canine." 

By 1845 the resident lawyers of standing had succeeded in getting the 
bulk of the local business in their own hands, and a few, such as Sutton and 
Campbell, had reputations extending beyond the limits of their own bailiwick. 
Judge Campbell was probably the best balanced, and the most generally pro- 
ficient of the early bar, and therefore entitled to be called its leader. Three- 
fourths of the lucrative practice of those days was land litigation, ejectments, 
disputes over lines, etc. Of this kind, the Junkin vs. McGinnis was the most 
noted case. It was a series of controversies, involving titles and possession to 
a portion o{ a warrant in southwestern Salem township. This civil feud reap- 



The Bench and Bar. 393 



peared with regularity in some form or other at every term for a number of 
years. Like Banquo's spectre, it would not "down." The interminable liti- 
gation in which J. W. Guthrie was a party, generally plaintiff, began early and 
remained a fixture in Clarion county practice. 

At the February session, 1841, all the Commonwealth cases were continued, 
and only civil business transacted. The first civil cause and the first jury trial 
in Clarion county was Samuel Adams vs. William Chambers; trespass; an 
appeal from the docket of Thomas B. Meager, esq., of Shippenville. It appears 
that the parties got into an altercation about the rent of a carding-mill, and 
Chambers struck Adams, who thereupon brought suit for damages and recov- 
ered before the justice. Campbell appeared for Adams; Johnson & Lathy 
for the defendant. The jury were Jacob McClain, Samuel Zink, James Huey, 
Philip Corbett, sr., John F. Conver, Alex. Blair, jr., John Smith, John Benn, 
EH H. Clapp, James Reed, William Elliot, Jno. Alt. They rendered a verdict 
of ninety-five dollars damages. The defendant appealed to the Supreme 
Court, but failed to reverse the judgment. 

At this court the following tavern licenses were granted : William Clark, 
James W. Coulter, George McWilliams, David Waiters, Philip Corbett. Then 
the law required license petitions and certificates to be published in the papers 
for several weeks previous. 

In the following May court the criminal suits were taken up : The first one 
disposed of. May 3, 1841, was Commonwealth against Thomas McCamant, in- 
dicted for keeping a tippling house, i. e., selling without license. McCamant 
plead guilty, and was sentenced to pay one dollar to the Commonwealth, and 
the costs of prosecution. The next day. May 4th, the first criminal trial took 
place. Jacob Wilks had been charged by John Wilks with malicious mischief, 
or in the wording of the bill did, " unlawfully, wilfully, and maliciously, and 
mischievously, burn, set fire to, waste and destroy shingling nails, a tin spoon, 
a cup and plate, two calico frocks, of the value of fifteen dollars." The panel 
were as follows : Peter Armagost, James Laughlin, Joseph Guthrie, Fred. 
Mohney, Isaac Courson, Jno. Armstrong, Jacob Alsbach, Barnhart Martin, 
William Clugh, Lewis Switzer, Levi Stone, Henry Schotts. 

Wilks was acquitted because " he was insane at the time of the offence 
committed." The Court adjudged that he be kept in close custody in the 
county jail during the continuance of his insanity, and till he was legally dis- 
charged. The first ordinary trial was the next, taken up on the same day, 
Commonwealth vs. Maxwell, for assault ; Penninah Gibson, prosecutrix. This 
was a weighty case, and occupied several days. Both Gilmore for the Common- 
wealth, and Jolly for the prisoner, were assisted by strong foreign counsel. The 
jury found a verdict of conviction. A new trial was granted, and when the 
case came up again, a nolle prosequi entered. 

The second court, February, 1841, was held in the upper story of the jail, 



394 History of Clarion County. 

which had been hastened for that purpose. Here the sessions continued to be 
held till the completion of the court-house in the winter of 1842. The clerk 
of courts occupied an humble frame building on the public square, immediately- 
opposite the court-house. The commissioners managed affairs of state in a 
temporary shanty standing on its southeast corner. 

" As soon as the lower story of the jail was finished, Sheriff Hasson got an 
old man named Speer to move into the front part of it to act as deputy sheriff 
and jailor. He was something of a character in his way, very clever and social, 
but not very smart as a county ofificer. In those days, when everybody was poor 
and money scarce, it was not unusual when the sheriff got a J7cri -facias to 
levy on personal property, and take a bond with security for the production of 
the property at the court-house on the return day of the writ. The object of 
this was to procure time, and generally the defendant did not expect to either 
pay the money or deliver the goods ; and at the next term a judgment would 
be entered on the bond and a new writ issued ; or, if the plaintiff preferred to 
look to the sheriff for the money, he had the bond for his protection. Sheriff 
Speer, as he was called, generally sympathized with the defendant, and as it 
made more costs, was very liberal in taking bonds. One time he got a writ on 
a man across the Clarion, and as he had no personal property, levied on a hun- 
dred acres of land, and took his bond for the delivery of it at the court-house 
on the first day of the next term. This was a standing joke on Sheriff Speer, 
and it was a long time before he heard the last of it." 

Associate Hon. C. Myers was reappointed in 1846 and served to 1 850, 
when he was elected to the State Senate, and James B. Lawson took his places 
Charles Ev^ans was also reappointed, and died in office in 1849. Robert P. 
Maclay was appointed to the vacancy. Maclay dying in 1850, James Ros 
supplied his place till 185 i. An amusing incident of Evans's judgeship will bear 
narration here: In February, 1847, George Wesner, the proprietor of a restau- 
rant at Clarion, was brought to trial for keeping a tippling house. Judge 
Evans was called down from the bench to testify for the defendant. Amid 
irrepressible merriment on the part of the spectators and attorneys, he pro- 
ceeded to relate, with solemn face and upturned eye, that once he had hap- 
pened in at the defendant's house when some of the prominent citizens of the 
town were holding high carnival and indulging in a dance upstairs. The room 
being small and cramped for space, they seized one of their number and began 
using him as a battering-ram to break down the partition. Then, that being 
the next heaviest person present, be feared that he would be next singled out 
for this ignominious treatment, and therefore retreated from the fray. Wesner 
was mulcted fifty dollars and costs. 

Hon. Alex. McCalmont's term having expired, Jos. Buffington was ap- 
pointed judge of the eighteenth district, by Governor William Johnston. He 
presided first at the September term, 1849. 



The Bench and Bar. 395 



Joseph Buffington was born at Westchester, Pa., in 1804, and when ten 
years of age his family moved to Allegheny county ; at eighteen he entered 
the Western University, was admitted to practice in Butler county in 1826, 
and went to Kittanning in 1843. In the autumn of that year he was elected to 
Congress as a Whig. He soon took a place in the front rank as a lawyer and 
public citizen. During the brief period in which he filled the bench of the 
eighteenth district he won encomiums as an upright and capable judge. In 
1850 a law was passed providing for the election of judges by the people- 
John C. Knox, the Democratic candidate, was chosen over Buffington, and took 
office in 185 i. After his retirement from this district, the latter was, in 1856, 
elected president judge of the tenth district, embracing Westmoreland, Indi- 
ana, and Armstrong counties. He completed the term and was again elected, 
but in 1 87 1 his failing health induced him to resign. He died suddenly, Feb- 
ruary 3, 1872, full of years and honors, and enjoying the deserved esteem of 
his fellow citizens. 

Hon. John Colvin Knox was born November 4, 1820, at Knoxville, Tioga 
county. Pa. He did not receive a day's schooling after his fourteenth year, 
being emphatically a self-educated as well as a self-made man ; but the strain 
on his unaided intellect told sadly on him in later years. At an early age he 
was left an orphan, and went to live with an uncle. Finally adopting the legal 
profession, he soon made his mark as an attorney, and in 1849 his high repu- 
tation was recognized by his appointment to succeed Hon. Thomas White as 
president judge of the Westmoreland, Indiana and Armstrong district, in place 
of Judge Burrell, who had been nominated, and rejected by the Senate. While 
acting as judge of that district he resided at Kittanning; and in 185 i, being 
chosen president of the i8th judicial district by popular vote, he removed to 
Franklin. 

As president judge of the courts of Clarion county he was excelled by 
none ; his rulings were marked by exceptional acumen and rectitude. In 
1853 Judge Knox was promoted to the Supreme bench, which he resigned in 
1857 to accept the attorney-generalship, under Governor Packer. The advent 
of Curtin's administration in i860 displaced him from that office, and he went 
into the practice of law at Philadelphia, as a member of the firm of Knox & 
Webster. Shortly after softening of the brain set in ; his intellect waned, and 
he never recovered. He died at a hospital at Philadelphia in 1880. In person 
Judge Knox was portly, handsome, and bore the stamp of a cultured gentleman. 
John Swayze McCalmont, the eldest son of Hon. Alexander McCalmont, 
was appointed to succeed Judge Knox, and was elected in 1853. When fif- 
teen he entered Allegheny College, and after remaining two years was ap- 
pointed to a cadetship at West Point. He graduated in 1842, and served in 
Florida till July 1843, when he resigned his lieutenancy to pursue the study of 
law, previously commenced under the tuition of his father. Mr. McCal- 



396 History of Clarion County. 

mont was admitted to practice at Brookville, November, 1844. He located at 
Clarion in 1845, as a partner of A. Myers, esq., was married in 1848, and 
elected to the Legislature for the session of 1849-50, in the latter of which he 
was Speaker of the House. As an attorney he was successful, possessing in 
particular a grace and fluency of diction, and while he would sometimes wan- 
der in apparently aimless digressions, he seldom failed to come finally and 
strongly to the point. He was the most youthful magistrate that ever pre- 
sided over the eighteenth district, being only twenty-nine when he donned the 
ermine, and having been in practice only seven years. Yet, notwithstanding 
his fewness of years, his administration of justice was creditable and satisfactory; 
few reversals could be told against him. 

Judge McCalmont was tall, thin, and striking in appearance, with an erect 
military bearing, which he brought with him from West Point, and always re- 
tained. He resided at Clarion with his family during the time he occupied the 
bench, till 1856, and then removed to Franklin. In 1861 he resigned his seat 
to take command of the Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, which he held till May, 
1862, and was then honorably discharged. He resumed the practice of his 
profession at Franklin, and continued it until appointed Commissioner of Cus- 
toms, and now spends most of his time at Washington, engaged in his official 
duties. 

The associates elected under the new system for five years, were Wihiam 
Curll and D. B. Long; the latter became prothonotary in 1855, and Benjamin 
Junkin filled his seat the remaining year. To these associates succeeded Peter 
Clover and Jacob Kahle, who served till 1861. 

Between 1844 and 1862 the second generation of lawyers, Amos Myers, 
J. S. McCalmont, Wm. L. Corbett, William Shaw, James Boggs, Robert Sut- 
ton, W. W. Barr, James B. Knox, C. L. Lamberton, B. J. Reid, David Lawson, 
Theophilus S. Wilson, were launched into legal existence. 

Amos Myers, the eldest son of Hon. Christian Myers, was born at Clarion 
Furnace, graduated at Allegheny College, Meadville, and was admitted to 
practice in the latter part of 1846, shortly after becoming of age. He studied 
under the preceptorship of James Campbell. Not long after his admission the 
firm of McCalmont & Myers was formed. He was elected as a Republican to 
Congress in 1862, and soon after left the law, and entered the Baptist ministry. 
He is still living in a suburb of Philadelphia. Mr. Myers was a man of con- 
siderable legal talent, of sprightly wit, and a ready speaker. 

William Shaw, a young married man, left his trade of cabinet-making, in 
Clarion, to study law under D. W. Foster, and was admitted December, 1847, 
but died soon after. Mr. Shaw was a bright beginner, and gave promise of 
success. 

James Boggs is a native of Plum township, Allegheny county. He took 
a Greek and Latin course at a select school, studied law under his brother, 




^. /tdz^ 



The Bench and Bar. 397 



Judge Boggs, of Armstrong county, and was admitted at Kittanning in 1848. 
He immediately after took up his residence at Clarion. He was partner with 
Mr. Lathy from 1852 to 1855, with William L. Corbett from i860 to 1865, 
being elected district attorney twice during these years. His present partner- 
ship with M. A. K. Weidner, esq., began in 1874. Mr. Boggs has had a large 
orphans' court business. 

Robert Sutton was a younger brother of Thomas, and was raised in Indi- 
ana. He received his education at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, and was 
admitted to the courts of Clarion in 1850. He practiced at New Castle, Pa., 
till the death of his brother, when he removed to Clarion, and took charge of 
the office. In 1853 he entered into partnership with W. L. Corbett, and in 
1857 with B. J. Reid. In i860 he retired from the legal profession, and became 
a Presbyterian clergyman. Mr. Sutton now resides in Cincinnati. Fle married 
Miss Andrews, of Franklin, a sister of the wife of Amos Myers, esq. While 
an attorney of no mean proficiency, he did not obtain the eminence of his 
brother in the law. He was possessed of a cultured intellect, and his tastes 
were of a refined and literary character.^ 

Charles L. Lamberton settled at Clarion in 185 i. • He was from the eastern 
part of the State, and previous to coming to Clarion county, had practiced a 
short time at Brookville. For some years he was a partner of Hon. James 
Campbell, confining himself almost entirely to office business. "Colonel" 
Lamberton, as he was called, was a man of quick parts and great activity, but 
his bent was more to the ferment of politics than the "quips and quiddities" of 
the law. He was chosen State senator in 1861. After the expiration of his 
term he removed to Philadelphia without returning to Clarion. He is now 
practicing in New York City. 

Bernard J. Reid was born at Youngstown, Westmoreland county, in 1823; 
taught school at an early age, and in 1842 came to Clarion for the purpose of 
opening a select school, which he did, but soon relinquished the school to es- 
tablish the Iron CoJinty Democrat, which, in 1844, was consolidated with the 
Republican. In the following year Mr. Reid retired. He had practiced sur- 
veying occasionally while engaged in journalism, and in 1845 became county 
surveyor. In 1847 he left for St. Louis, and from thence went to California, 
as a pioneer of 1849. ^^ returned in 1852, and after completing his studies 
at the office of Thomas Sutton, was admitted in 1853. He was in partnership 
with Robert Sutton from 1857 to i860. He took James Craig into partner- 
ship in 1 86 1, and in the same year raised a company and went into the army, 
returning in August, 1862. In July, 1863, he raised another company for the 
three months service, and was elected inajor of his regiment. The firm of 
Reid & Patrick (Joseph H. Patrick) existed from 1865 to 1869. In 1871 Mr. 
Reid removed to Titusville, and finally to Erie, and returned to Clarion in 

1 For a sketch of W. W. Bair, esq., see " Bio2;ranhical Sketches." 



398 History of Clarion County. 

1877. Mr. Reid is a master of the legal science, abstract and applied. As 
an analyst of evidence he has marked ability. In land suits of importance his 
services are almost invariably required, his experience as a surveyor rendering 
him especially fitted for such causes. 

David Lawson, a son of Hon. James B. Lawson, was born in Madison 
township, Clarion county, in 1833, ^"d completed his education at Elder's 
Ridge Academy, Indiana county. In 1856 he began the study of law at the 
office of Campbell & Lamberton, and was qualified an attorney in 1858. He 
entered into a partnership with Mr. Lamberton in 1861, which continued for 
some time. In 1869 Mr. Lawson removed to Wisconsin, and returned in 1871. 
He has filled the office of district attorney twice, and assisted Messrs. Brinker, 
Edinger and Sharrar in the county treasury during their respective terms. Mr. 
Lawson is an experienced and painstaking lawyer of unquestioned integrity. 

It was toward the close of Hon. J. S. McCalmont's administration that the 
memorable trial of Charles Curtis, alias Logue, for the murder of Jared Lewis 
occurred. It was the first murder case in the annals of the county, and this 
fact, and the circumstances attending the fatality, aroused the intensest interest 
in it. With this there was mingled no inconsiderable degree of popular indig- 
nation against the prisoner. 

Charles Curtis, a native of Ohio, and of respectable family, had early fallen 
into a career of evil, which led him to become one of a band of organized 
thieves and depredators, who made Ohio and the Western States their field. 
After a while, finding themselves under dangerously close surveillance, the gang 
dispersed, and Curtis, and one Ira Shotwell, came to Northwestern Pennsyl- 
vania, hoping to ply their vocation here in comparative security. They con- 
fined their operations to the smaller towns and rural districts, wandering about, 
leading a lawless and vagabond life under the guise of farm hands, etc. About 
1857 they came to Clarion county, assuming the name Charles Logue, and Ira 
Davis. They remained in the neighborhood of New Bethlehem but for a short 
time, and left for other parts. In i860 they returned, and came to Toby 
township as harvest hands in search of work. Logue was employed by Parker, 
and Davis, by Milton Stewart. After working there a while they moved to the 
vicinity of Callensburg, living most of the time at Major's, on the road lead- 
ing from Easton to the bridge. Major was an invalid pauper, and his daugh- 
ters, Harrietta and Lucetta, had a dubious reputation in the neighborhood. 
In August and September an alarming series of robberies and arsons excited 
that hitherto peaceful and secure community. Reynolds's store in Callens- 
burg was robbed and his barn burned. The house of an old man named Camp 
was burglarized. 

Suspicion began to attach to the strangers at Major's. Since leaving the 
Stewart's they had been engaged in no apparent occupation. At one time, 
during their absence, a store in Butler county had been robbed, and the mys- 
tery connected with their movements did not tend to dispel these surmises. 



The Bench and Bar. 399 



On Sunday, the 2d of September, i860, the people of that locaUty were 
startled by two daring robberies, at McEwen's near Sligo, and Thomas Stew- 
art's, in Toby township. At McEwen's, while the house was temporarily va- 
cant, $125 were taken. The robbers then proceeded to Stewart's, and reached 
there about ten o'clock A. M., while all but the aged Mrs. Stewart were absent 
at church. Mrs. Stewart was silenced at the point of a revolver, and eighty- 
five dollars taken from a bureau. The plunderers were unmasked and she 
recognized one as Charles Logue. Mr. Stewart, on returning, and hearing 
the tale, immediately raised a hue and cry. He proceeded to Callensburg and 
had a warrant issued for the arrest of Charles Logue and Ira Davis. The 
warrant was given to W. F. Cartwright, constable of Callensburg. Cartwright 
deputed Jared Lewis, a citizen and ex-constable of Callensburg, about thirty 
years of age, to make the arrest. Lewis went the same evening to Canoe Rip- 
ple, where constable McCall, of Toby, and William Thomas had been watch- 
ing for the culprits, surmising that they would cross there that night in passing 
to or from Major's to " Boss " Buck's, then living near Tippecanoe Furnace, 
and whose house was suspected as being a rendezvous for the criminals. 
About half past eleven, as Lewis and McCall lay in ambush by the roadside, 
two men appeared walking down the road, one of whom was identified as 
Logue. When they had approached within a few feet Lewis sprang up, pre- 
sented his pistol and ordered the twain to halt. Almost immediately two 
shots flashed from a weapon in Logue's hand. Lewis said, "My friend, you've 
shot me ; I'm shot through the side and through the thigh." The party then 
scattered and ran, McCall receiving a wound in the leg. Lewis reached 
Thomas's house, which was close by, lay down on a bed, and after a few con- 
vulsions expired, about ten minutes after receiving the shots. 

Of course the tragedy aroused intense excitement. The commissioners 
oftered $500 for the arrest of the murderer; descriptions of the men were sent 
out in all directions, and a number of detectives became interested in the case. 
The confederates escaped to Ohio, and, being hotly pressed by officers on their 
trail, separated, Shotwell going further west and Logue returning to Pennsyl- 
vania. On the 28th of October he was traced to the house of one Thompson 
in Crawford county, near Jamestown, by Sherift" Smith and ex-Sheriff Leach, 
of Mercer county, and after some show of resistance gave himself up. About 
the same time, Shotwell was captured by Robert Hague, chief of the Pitts- 
burgh police, while husking corn at a relative's farm near Laporte, Ind. By a 
strange coincidence b6th parties arrived in Clarion with their prisoners on the 
same day, and within a few hours of each other. Neither had heard of the 
other's coming. 

Charles Logue was arraigned on December 4, i860. The trial took place 
in the Presbyterian Church, then occupied as a court-room on account of the 
destruction of the court-house. It was filled with eager spectators from all 



400 History of Clarion County. 

parts of the county. The Commonwealth was represented by District- Attorney 
Barr and Messrs. Corbett, Campbell and Lamberton. Myers & Knox were 
retained by Mr. Irwin, Lewis's father-in-law, and Reynolds Laughlin by other 
parties. Defendant's counsel were John D. Mahon, of Pittsburgh, and B. J. 
Reid. The jury consisted of John Cummings, Irvin McFarland, Charles Beatty, 
John Himes, B. J. Rankin, Luther Stone, Peter Knight, Jeremiah Best, D. R. 
Craig, Thomas F. Riley, Jacob Brinker, and G. W. Arnold. The trial lasted 
a week. William L. Corbett and James Campbell made the closing argument 
to the jury on the part of the prosecution; Mahon and Reid for the defense. 
On the iith the jury found the prisoner guilty of murder in the first degree, 
and on the 13th, a motion for a new trial being overruled, he was sentenced 
to be hung. 

A writ of error was taken to the Supreme Court, and in February a new 
trial granted on the following assignment : " The Court erred in charging the 
jury, as follows : ' The prisoner's counsel have contended that the homicide 
might be justifiable or excusable, if Logue, the prisoner, had reasonable cause 
to apprehend danger to his life, and if it appeared imminent. I cannot so in- 
struct you, unless there was actual danger to his life, and not occasioned by his 
own resistance or attempt to resist.' " Logue was tried again at the May ses- 
sions, 1861 ; his counsel admitted his guilt of murder in the second degree, and 
he was sentenced to imprisonment for twenty-two years on three several 
indictments, viz. : murder in the second degree, robbery, and breaking into 
a dwelling-house. Logue lived only five years after his commitment. 

Davis, or Shotwell, was brought to trial at the February term, 1861, con- 
victed of being accessory to murder in the second degree, and robbery, and 
sentenced to sixteen 3'ears confinement in the Western Penitentiary. 

An incident arising out of this trial is of uncommon interest. Judge Camp- 
bell was holding court at Mercer in the fall of 1862. At the supper table one 
evening he noticed a girl who seemed to watch him anxiously. Her face was 
somewhat familiar to the judge, but he could not identify her. He soon dis- 
covered, through Sheriff Leach, that the girl was Lucetta Major, and that she 
had traveled all the way from Michigan to interview one of the attorneys who 
had taken part in the Logue trial, and inform him that the gang to which 
Logue belonged, and with whom she was connected in some manner, were 
plotting to kidnap the son of Governor Curtin, then attending school in Union 
county, and extort Logue's pardon as a ransom. The Major girl had been 
actuated in this revelation by fear of Logue, against whom she had testified. 
It appears that he had made dire threats against her, and she dreaded that if 
released he would carry them out. Judge Campbell gave little credence to the 
story, aware of the light character of the girl, but on returning he met his former 
partner, Lamberton, at Franklin, and communicated it to him. Lamberton 
kept it to himself a few days, and then advised with Arnold Plumer, ex-State 



The Bench and Bar. 401 

treasurer. Plumer counseled him to notify the governor, saying, " If anything 
happens to that boy you'll never forgive yourself for not telling Curtin all about 
it." Colonel Lamberton therefore wrote to the governor, giving him all the 
particulars of the story. A few weeks afterwards he chanced to be at Harris- 
burg, and visited Governor Curtin ; as soon as the governor recognized him 
he advanced hastily to meet him, and grasping his hand cordially, exclaimed, 
" Do you know that you have saved my boy ? " On receiving Lamberton's 
letter Governor Curtin had promptly taken precautions for his son's safety, 
and set a detective at work to ascertain the truth of the affair. The officer re- 
ported that a deeply laid plot had really existed, as the girl said, and in all 
probability, were it not for the warning, a loved child would have fallen into 
the hands of these desperadoes. 

After Logue's, the most notable murder trial before the Clarion county 
Oyer and Terminer was that of Commonwealth vs. David L. King. February 
5, 1887, James C. Davis was shot and instantly killed by King in a house of 
ill-repute at St. Petersburg. The tragedy arose out of mutual jealousy in 
regard to their respective claims over the house and its mistress. The trial 
began April 20, and occupied six days. W. D. Moore, esq., of Pittsburgh, 
appeared as senior counsel for the prosecution ; John W. Reed and M. A. K. 
Weidner were attorneys for the prisoner. A verdict of murder in the first 
degree was rendered. Its mysterious character, and the delicate questions of 
fact and medical jurisprudence involved, made this one of Clarion county's 
celebrated cases. Fifteen murder trials have occurred in Clarion county. 
Seven of these resulted in acquittal ; in two a verdict of murder in the first 
degree was rendered, but in one case, a new trial being granted, the verdict 
was changed to the second degree, making in all three convictions in that 
degree. There was one verdict of voluntary and one of involuntary man- 
slaughter ; the latter was reversed on technical grounds by the Supreme Court. 

Glenni W. Scofield, of Warren, was appointed in September, 1861, to fill 
the vacancy occasioned by Judge McCalmont's resignation. He held one, the 
September term of court, in Clarion. The judicial year began then in Decem- 
ber, and in that month, 1861, Judge Campbell ascended the bench. After his 
short judicial career, Mr. Scofield was elected to Congress, serving several terms 
there. He was subsequently appointed registrar of the national treasury, and 
finally judge of the Court of Claims, a life office. He resides principally at the 
capital, spending his vacation at his home in Warren. 

The Republican convention nominated William Stewart, of Mercer, for the 
eighteenth district judgeship. His nomination was received with great dissat- 
isfaction by many Republicans, and they looked about for an independent can- 
didate. Campbell, of Clarion, a prominent member of the party, was selected. 
Through the exertions of Charles L. Lamberton, Campbell's law partner, the 
Democrats were induced to refrain from nominating, and to support Campbell, 



402 History of Clarion County. 



and with the united aid of the Democrats and bolting RepubUcans, Judge 
Campbell won, although the district, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Clarion and 
Jefferson, was strongly Republican. A notice of the life of Hon. James Camp- 
bell will be found in another part of this work. 

Hons. P. Clover and J. Kahl were succeeded, in 1861, by Thomas Stewart 
and John McCall, who both served out their terms. In 1866 Hugh Maguire 
and John Keating were elected associates. 

Among the Clarion county attorneys admitted to practice since 1865, are 
the following : 

Joseph H. Patrick was born in 1840, at New Derry, Westmoreland county. 
While he was a child his parents removed to Armstrong county. Mr. Patrick 
graduated from Glade Run Academy, near Dayton, that county. He began 
to teach at the age of sixteen, and at the breaking out of the war was engaged 
in that profession in the South. He came to Clarion in 1862, as principal of 
the public schools there, remaining so for two years. In June, 1863, he began 
the study of law in the office of B. J. Reid ; in July of the same year joined the 
army as a volunteer. December, 1865, he entered the bar, and immediately 
became Major Reid's partner. In 1880 he formed a partnership with his 
brother, Jno. B. Mr. Patrick is ranked as an energetic lawyer; his bounty and 
pension clientage is extensive. 

John T. Hindman, born in Clarion county, 1842. Took a course at Glade 
Run Academy; read law with Corbett and Boggs, was admitted in 1865, and 
entered into partnership with Mr. Corbett. His untimely death at Portsmouth, 
Ohio, in 1876, in returning from a Western trip, which he had taken to benefit 
his health, cut short a promising career. 

William E. Lathy, a son of George W. Lathy, studied with his father, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1866. Shortly before his father's removal he went 
to Tidioute, and finally to Erie, where he served a term as city solicitor. Mr. 
Lathy is now a successful lawyer at Newton, Kansas. 

James T. Maffet, a son of John Maffet, was born on his father's farm in 
Clarion township, February 3, 1837. After graduating at Jefferson College, 
Canonsburg, he went — at the age of twenty- two — to Missouri, and thence 
crossed the plains to California, where he married, taught school, held the posi- 
tion of tax collector, and studied law, but irregularly. In 1870, on the death 
of his sister, he returned home, and after remaining there awhile, started again 
for California, but upon reaching Indiana circumstances induced him to return 
and settle at Brookville. Here he completed his legal studies with George A. 
and W. P. Jenks. He removed to Clarion in 1872, and in the autumn of that 
year formed a partnership with Colonel James B. Knox; his integrity, assiduity, 
and high professional acquirements soon winning deserved recognition. In 
1881, when Mr. Knox was elevated to the judgeship, WilHam H. Ross, esq., 
became Mr. Maffet's partner, the firm being Maffet & Ross. In 1886, Mr. 





J/^^^yf-Tu^ ^crry^f^-^-^^-^ 



The Bench and Bar. 403 



Maffet was elected to Congress from the twenty-fifth district over St. Clair, 
Fusionist. 

Martin Alonzo K. Weidner, born at Earlville, Lancaster county, Pa., in 
July, 1839. Studied at the common school, and began to teach early in life, 
and continued from 1857 to 1862, attending the Millersville Normal School 
during the summer vacations. In 1862 he entered Company B, One Hundred 
and Twenty- second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, on nine months' serv- 
ice. In 1865 he came to Clarion to clerk for Mr. N. Myers. Began to read 
law with Theo. S. Wilson in 1869, and was admitted in November, 1874. 
He immediately entered into partnership with his last preceptor, James Boggs, 
esq. Mr. Weidner has a facile tongue, and a fascinating address; his style is 
more oratorical than that of any of his fellows of the bar. He is about remov- 
ing to Wellington, Kansas, as a means of removing an asthmatic affection. 

John W. Reed is a native of Clarion, having been born there in 1853. He 
taught school three terms at Lineville and Clarion ; studied Blackstone under 
the tutorship of Hon. James Campbell, and was admitted in August, 1875. 
Mr. Reed practiced two years at Brookville, in the office of Hon. A. C. White ; 
returned to Clarion and shortly after became a member of the firm of Wilson, 
Jenks & Reed. In May, 1883, he removed to Grand Forks, Dakota, and 
returned the succeeding year, resuming partnership with Messrs. Wilson and 
Jenks, which partnership continued till January, 1886. In January, 1887, the 
firm of Reed & Wilson was formed (John W. Reed and Harry R. Wilson). Mr. 
Reed is a leader among the younger lawyers. He has successfully grappled 
the large practice thrown upon his shoulders by the retirement of his senior 
partners, and in argument is plain, but earnest and convincing. 

Jasper E. Wood, born in 1842, in Ashland township, Clarion county, fin- 
ished his education at the Edinboro Normal School. At seventeen he had 
become a pedagogue ; between 1869 and 1875 two terms, he filled the office 
of county superintendent; studied under William L. Corbett, and was admitted 
in May, 1877. 

Madison M. Meredith resided at Brookville originally, became a member 
of this bar August 13, 1877, at first practicing at Edenburg, later at Clarion. 
He was the partner of George F. Kribbs for a short time. In 1883 he was 
appointed corporation clerk in the office of the secretary of the Commonwealth 
at Harrisburg, where he still remains. 

Among the young attorneys of talent and rising fame we may mention 
William H. Ross, Samuel K. Clarke, William A. Hindman, Frank R. Hind- 
man, A. B. Reid, F. J. Maftet, H. R. Wilson, G. G. Sloan, and G. F. Kribbs. 

Hon. James Campbell, was succeeded in 1871 by William P. Jenks. 

William Parsons Jenks was born at Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, and 
is the son of Dr. John W. Jenks, of that place. In 1843 he went to Brook- 
ville to read law with his brother, D. B. Jenks, esq., and became an attorney 



404 History of Clarion County. 

in September, 1845. ^^ was elected to the Legislature from Clarion and Jef- 
ferson in 1866, and re-elected in 1867. Judge Jenks is still engaged in the 
practice of law at Brookville, where he has his home, but devotes himself 
almost entirely to the legal management of the estate and business of John E. 
Dubois, which position he received when his brother, George A. Jenks, resigned 
it to become solicitor- general. 

James Sweny and Alexander McCall were chosen associate judges in 1871. 

Christian Brinker and James Sweny were elected in 1876 and served until 
1881. 

TJie Sta7idard Case. — What promised to be a legal contest of extraordinary 
magnitude and national concern was the conspiracy suit against the Standard 
Oil Company, instituted before the court of Clarion county in 1879. The case 
did not reach the stage of actual trial, but the proceedings, so far as they went, 
are of sufficient interest to merit preservation. 

For some time previous there had been mutterings against that great cor- 
poration on the part of oil producers and refiners ; oppressive monopoly and 
merciless " squeezing out " were laid to its charge. As an outcome to this 
hostility, it was determined to prosecute the Standard criminally, and Clarion 
county was selected as the field of the attack. B. B. Campbell, of Parnassus, 
Pa., the president of the Producers' Association, on April 24, 1879, made in- 
formation before Esquire Shanafelt, of Clarion, setting forth that he was 
informed and expected to be able to prove that John D. Rockafeller, William 
Rockafeller, Jabez A. Bostwick, Daniel O'Day, William G. Warden, Charles 
Lockhart, Henry M. Flagler, Jacob J. Vandergrift, Charles Pratt, George W. 
Gisty, and others, on the 17th of October, 1877, and at divers times before 
and after that date, had conspired " to cheat and defraud the citizens of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the public, by confederating together to 
secure a monopoly, and prevent lawful and legitimate competition, and to injure 
the occupation and business of producing and selling crude petroleum, by com- 
pelling the owners and producers thereof to sell the same to the aforesaid de- 
fendants and their confederates below its actual and market value." The next 
section specifies J. A. Vera as one of the victims of this conspiracy. The fol- 
lowing ones complained that the defendants attempted to prevent competition 
in the refining of petroleum by extorting rebates from various railroads ; that 
they had confederated to deprive the Pennsylvania and Allegheny Valley rail- 
roads of their petroleum traffic; and lastly, that the company had corruptly 
conspired to control the petroleum trade in all its branches — producing, buy- 
ing, and selling, storing, transporting, and refining — in the markets of the 
United States, and the entire world. 

Upon an affidavit from District Attorney W. A. Hindman, stating the 
weighty nature of the case, and the distant residences of most of the defend- 
ants, leave was granted to present the indictment to the grand jury at the May 




Jawks Swenv 



The Bench and Bar. 405 



term without a preliminary hearing. The bill, as found, contained seven counts, 
and is in substance an elaboration of the complaints which have been given in 
the affidavit of Campbell. Upon this inquest warrants were issued, and Warden, 
of Philadelphia ; O'Day, of Buffalo ; Vandergrift, of Oil City ; and Lockhart, 
of Pittsburgh, arrested. All but O'Day appeared at Clarion May 27, and 
gave security for their appearance at the August session. O'Day gave bail 
August 1 1. 

Lewis C. Cassidy, of Philadelphia ; A. B. Richmond, of Meadville ; D. T. 
Watson, of Pittsburgh ; S. C. T. Dodd and C. Heydrick, of Franklin ; and as 
local counsel, James Campbell and B. J. Reid, were retained by the Standard. 
George A. Jenks, of Brookville, was senior counsel for the prosecution. He 
was assisted by Roger Sherman, of Titusville, and Knox and Mafifet and Will- 
iam L. Corbett, of Clarion. 

It was conceded by the attorneys on both sides that it would be impossible 
to try the cause at the August term, and that a special session would be nec- 
essary. The defendants, therefore, did not appear when that court met. In 
their absence the president, Judge Jenks, ordered their local attorneys to plead 
for them, and Messrs. Campbell and Reid entered a plea of not guilty. The 
suit was continued till November. In the mean while the defendants obtained 
a rule on the Commonwealth to furnish a bill of particulars, specifying more 
distinctly the offenses and their circumstances ; and pending this, at the argu- 
ment court, October 2, it was mutually agreed to withhold the trial till Decem- 
ber 15. After considerable delay, the desired bill was furnished, but at [the 
November sessions the Standard's attorneys asked for a further postponement, 
on account of its vague and unsatisfactory character. This was refused. 

Monday, December 15, the day set for the commencement of the trial, the 
defendants, who had given bail, and their array of counsel were on the scene, 
as also the representatives of the opposition. On December 11, Judge Jenks 
had been served with a writ, issued from Justice Paxon of the Supreme Court, 
eastern district, staying proceedings till a motion for a certiorari, that is, a 
transfer of jurisdiction in the cause from the District to the Supreme Court, 
could be argued. As a reason it was urged that the amount of prejudice, 
heightened by inflammatory editorials, which existed in and around Clarion 
county, precluded the prospect of a fair trial. To support this, affidavits from 
various parties, and extracts from the hostile press, were produced. 

Judge Jenks in deference to this writ, but imder protest, postponed the 
trial. 

January 8, 1880, after argument before the Supreme Court, a rule was 
issued fixing a date for a final hearing on the certiorari before a full bench ; but 
before this day a compromise was effected, a nolle pros, entered, and the great 
suit ended. 

The Clarion bar was at its best and strongest between 1876 and 1881, when 

42 



4o6 History of Clarion County. 

Messrs. Campbell, Reid, Corbett, Knox, Maffet and George A. Jenks, were 
all in the arena, and enjoying the full development and vigor of their powers. 
Its aggregate ability then could scarcely be excelled by any provincial bar in 
the State. 

In 1 88 1 James B. Knox was elected president judge over A. C. White. A 
biographical sketch of Hon. J. B. Knox appears elsewhere. 

Isaac Clover and Charles Weaver were elected to succeed Sweny and Brin- 
ker as associates, in 1881. Judge Clover died in office, 1883. R. D. Newell 
was appointed in his place, but before the next election the operation of 
of the constitution abolishing the office of associate judge in counties which are 
entire districts, went into effect. Hon. Charles Weaver served out his term, 
and was Clarion county's last associate. 

On the death of Judge Knox in December, 1884, William L. Corbett was 
appointed temporary president judge by Governor Pattison. His competitor 
for the honor was B. J. Reid. 

William Lucas Corbett was born on the paternal farm near Clarion, in 1826. 
He was educated at the common schools and Clarion Academy, and at the age 
of eighteen commenced reading law with D. W. Foster, esq. He was admitted 
to practice in February, 1847 ! ^^""^ served as district attorney from 1848-50. 
He was a member of the constitutional convention which formed the constitu- 
tion of 1873. In 1876-78 he represented the thirty-eighth district in the State 
Senate. William L. Corbett ranks deservedly high as a lawyer, especially as a 
forensic lawyer. Forcible in argument, sometimes vehemently so ; his antago- 
nist's armor must be well tried to withstand his hammer-like blows. 

At the election of November, 1885, Judge Corbett was defeated, after a 
sharp contest, by Theo. S. Wilson, the Republican nominee, who took his 
seat January 1886. 

Theophilus Strattan Wilson, the oldest son of Samuel Wilson, was born at 
Strattanville in 1837. He was educated at the Brookville Academy and Al- 
legheny College. For a short time he was engaged in the iron and mercan- 
tile business at Helen Furnace. In 1857 M**- Wilson registered as a law 
student at the office of George W. Lathy, esq., and was admitted to the bar in 
1 86 1. He immediately entered the practice of law at Clarion, and in 1872 united 
with George A. Jenks, of Brookville. The firm enjoyed a lucrative business, 
especially in the collection branch. Mr. Wilson was never conspicuous as a 
pleader, but through an extensive office practice became thoroughly conver- 
sant with the many ramifications of the legal science, and since his elevation 
to judicial honors, has given promise by his systematic methods, his concise 
and generally lucid diction, and his dignified bearing, that the traditional in- 
tegrity and learning of the Clarion bench shall find in him no unworthy guardian. 

A. A. Carlisle, of the Clarion Jacksonian, May 15, 1886, through his attor- 
ney, C. Heydrick, esq., of Franklin, made application at Philadelphia before 



The Bench and Bar. 407 



Lewis C. Cassidy, attorney-general, for a writ of quo warranto on Hon. Theo. 
S. Wilson, alleging at the same time the use of corrupt means in securing his 
election, and producing several affidavits to support the specific charges of bri- 
bery. The hearing was fixed for June 17, and in the absence of Cassidy took 
place before his deputy, Mr. Snodgrass, at Harrisburg. The complainant was 
represented by Messrs. Heydrick and D. F. Patterson, of Pittsburgh. Coun- 
ter affidavits, denying all the accusations, were presented by the defense, and 
Judge Wilson's side argued by George A. Jenks, B. J. Reid, Lyman D. Gil- 
bert, and C. Z. Gordon, esqs. On January 16, 1887, two days before the close 
of Governor Pattison's administration, Attorney-General Cassidy announced 
that the writ was refused. 

History of the Eighteenth District. — By act of May 21, 1840, Clarion 
county was added to the eighteenth judicial district, then embracing Potter, 
McKean, and Jefferson, and known as the Wild Cat District. Elk county was 
added by the act of April 18, 1843. By act of April 5, 1849, the eighteenth 
judicial district was made to consist of the counties of Venango, Clarion, Jef- 
ferson, Elk, and Forest (but no courts were held in Forest county until 1857). 
Elk county w^as transferred to the fourth district by the act of April 15, 185 1. 
Clearfield county was added to this district by the act of April 5, 1852. By 
the act of April 9, 1853, Clearfield was transferred to the twenty-fifth district, 
and Mercer county added to the eighteenth, which remained thus, consisting of 
Mercer, Venango. Clarion, Jefferson, and Forest, until Mercer and Venango 
were created into a separate district by the act of April 12, 1866. Forest 
county was transferred to the thirty-seventh district by the general apportion- 
ment act of 9th of April, 1874, leaving the eighteenth district consisting of 
Clarion and Jefferson counties. The census of 1880 showed that Clarion had 
more than 40,000 inhabitants, and was, therefore, by the constitutional pro- 
vision, entitled to be declared a separate judicial district. Accordingly on the 
7th of August, 1883, it was enacted that the eighteenth judicial district should 
consist of the county of Clarion, " to which the county of Jefferson is hereby 
attached, and shall have one judge learned in the law." In consequence of 
the constitutional provision and this enactment, no associate judges are to be 
elected in this county. 

Below is given a complete list, up to the present date, of all attorneys resi- 
dent in Clarion county, together with place of practice, and year of admission 
to the bar of Clarion county: 

Admitted in 1840, Jacob K. Boyd, Jacques W. Johnson, David B. Hays, 
Alfred Gilmore, Jesse G. Clark, James Campbell, Clarion ; 1841, George W. 
Lathy, D. W. Foster, John L. Thompson, Thomas Sutton, Thomas M. Jolly, 
Clarion; 1842, Parker C. Purviance, Clarion; 1844, G. W. Carskadden, Clarion; 
1845, J- S. McCalmont, Clarion; 1846, Amos Myers, Clarion; 1847, William 
Shaw, William L. Corbett, Clarion; 1848, James Boggs, Clarion ; 1850, Robert 



4o8 History of Clarion County. 

Sutton, Clarion; 1853, A. S. Barber, W. W. Barr, J. B. Knox, C. L. Lamber- 
ton, B. J. Reid, Clarion; 1854, Paul Carnyun (Huntington county). Clarion; 
1857, Reynolds Laughlin, Callensburg; 1858, David Lawson, Clarion; 1859, 
John F. Craig, New Bethlehem ; i860, James Craig, William H. Fetzer, Clarion ; 
1 86 1, James D. Mahon, Theo. S. Wilson, Clarion ; 1862, Wm. Hasson, Clarion ; 
1865, Joseph H. Patrick, J. T. Hindman, Geo. S. Kelly; 1866, William E. 
Lathy, Clarion; 1868, Wm. Kinser, East Brady; 1870, J. McMurray; 1871, 
William H. Frampton, Clarion; 1872, D. S. Herron (Parker), J. S. McKay, 
G. S. Crosby, O. E. Shannon, Charles F. Fay (Crawford county), St. Peters- 
burg; R. B. Bell, West Freedom ; James T. Mafifet, Clarion; 1874, William D. 
Burns, J. B. Patrick, Samuel K. Clarke, M. A. K. Weidner, Clarion ; T. F. 
Ritchey, New Bethlehem; 1875, G. F. Kribbs, John W. Reed, John F. Shana- 
felt. Clarion; 1876, William A. Hindman, A. C. McComb, William H. Ross, 
Frank R. Hindman, James J. Frazier, Clarion ; O. P. Hopper, John F. Gealey, 
W. A. Selby, John F. Selby, Edenburg; H. McSweeney, William A. McCor- 
mick, St. Petersburg ; Harris Finley, Shippenville ; D. E. Brenneman, Elk 
City; 1877, S. M. Crosby, J. W. Walker (Jefferson county), John A. Wilson 
(Venango county), John K. Wilson (Venango county), S. L. McGee, Eden- 
burg; L. E. Johns, Elk City; Rodman F. Pugh, St. Petersburg; O. E. Tay- 
lor (Erie county), Turkey City; Jasper E. Wood, M. M. Meredith, A. B. Reid, 
Clarion; 1878, W. M. Boggs (Washington county), Edenburg; Robert D. 
Campbell, Samuel W. Calvin, Clarion; 1879, Lewis F. Barger, Edenburg; 
1881, James O. Sweny, G. G. Sloan, Clarion; 1883, F. J. Maffet, Clarion; 
1884, Samuel L. Glasgow (Huntingdon county), St. Petersburg; 1886, T. J. 
Van Giesen, Edenburg ; Charles P. Craig, New Bethlehem ; H. R. Wilson, 
Clarion. 

The first deed on the Clarion county records is from Jonathan Mifflin to 
the Bank of Pennsylvania, dated July 30, 1799. It conveys a one-half interest 
in twenty thousand-acre warrants, for one dollar and other considerations. 
The first transaction between Clarion county parties on record, is a deed from 
the county commissioners for borough lot No. 134, in Clarion, to Sophia G. 
Benton; dated December 10, 1840; consideration, $40. 

The first will registered is that of Jacob Edenbun; dated October 31, 1840. 
It is a curious document, both in context and spelling. After providing for 
his debts and funeral expenses, it bequeaths his personal estate and a life inter- 
est in the real to his wife " Margret." Seventy-five dollars is reserved out of 
the former for William Huffman when he reaches twenty-two ; and at the 
death of the testator's wife the realty is to revert to his nephew, Samuel Ed- 
ingburgh, provided he takes good care of her and supplies her with all the 
necessaries of life "that is needful to make her comfortable in this life." He 
appoints his wife executrix, and wills James Watson a piece of ground in ex- 
change for an equal amount off Watson's land. The will is witnessed by Jacob 
Watterson, John Early, and James Watson. 




I^^lM^ 



The Bench and Bar. 409 



County Officers. 

Prothonotary, etc. — James Goe, 1840, re-elected 1843; Hugh A. Thomp- 
son, 1846, re-elected 1849; John H. Boggs, 1852 ; D. B. Long, 1855, re-elected 
1858, died in office July 16, i860; J. W. Long appointed, served to Decem- 
ber, i860; Daniel Delo. i860; Christopher Reichart, 1863, re-elected 1866; 
J. B. Watson, 1869, re-elected 1872 ; Manasseh Arnold, 1875 ; W. W. Green- 
land, 1878, re-elected 1881 ; W. F. CoUner, elected 1884, term expires Janu- 
ary, 1888. 

Register and Recorders. — This office was not separate from the protho- 
notary's till 1850. C. E. Beman, 1852, re-elected 1855 ; John Haslett, 1858, 
resigned in i860; Jacob B. Lyon, i860; T. B. Barber, 1863, re-elected 1866; 
J. W. Long, 1869, re-elected 1872 ; O. E. Nail, 1875, re-elected 1878; S. J. 
Burgoon, 1881, re-elected 1884, term expires January, 1888. 

District Attorneys. — Before 1850 district attorneys were appointed by the 
attorney-general, and styled deputy attorney-generals. Alfred Gilmore was 
appointed deputy attorney-general 1840; John S. McCalmont, 1845 to 1848 ; 
W. L. Corbett, 1848 to 1850; William Shaw, elected district attorney in 1850; 
James Boggs, 1852; W. W. Barr, 1854, re-elected 1857; James Boggs, i860; 
David Lawson, 1863 ; John T. Hindman, 1866 ; W. W. Barr, 1869, re-elected 
1872; David Lawson, 1875; W. A. Hindman, 1878; F. R. Hindman, 1881, 
re-elected 1884. 

Sheriffs. — James Hasson, 1840; Daniel Delo, 1843; Seth Clover, 1846; 
John Klingensmith, 1849; Daniel B. Hamm, 1852; J. S. Turney, 1855; James 
C. Galbreath, 1858 ; S. Scott Jones, 1861 ; C. J. Rhea, 1864; Henry H. Neely, 
1867; Samuel Johnson, 1870; A. H. Beck, 1873; B. B. Dunkle, 1876; W. 
F. Collner, 1879; L M. Shannon, 1882; C. A. Wheelock, 1885, term expires 
January, 1889. 

County Treasurers. — Amos Williams, 1841 ; Benjamin Crisman, 1843; 
Greenberry Wilson, 1845; William T. Alexander, 1847; Daniel Laughner, 
1849; William T. Alexander, 185 i; David Morrell, 1853; John Keatly, 1855; 
William T. Alexander, 1857 ; James T. Burns, 1859; W. W. Barr, 1861 ; Samuel 
Johnson, 1863; Daniel Mercer, 1865; Jeremiah M. Best, 1867; Bernard Ven- 
sel, 1869; Christian Brinker, 1871 ; Andrew Edinger, 1873; J. B. Gwinn, 
1875 ; P. Graham, 1878; Samuel Sharar, 1881 ; J. E. Fisher, 1884, term ex- 
pires January, 1888. 

Connty Commissioners. — Robert Potter, Lindsay C. Pritner, George B- 
Hamilton, provisional commissioners appointed by the governor, 1840; George 
L. Benn, Jacob Miller, and Gideon Richardson, elected 1840; Joseph Young, 
1 841 ; James Kerr, 1842; William Curll, 1843; Hugh Maguire, 1844; Henry 
Sloan, 1845; William Henry, 1846; Stephen D. Burns, 1847; Amos W. Owens, 
1848; Daniel Bostaph, 1849; James T. Burns, 1850; Peter B. Simpson, 1850, 



4IO History of Clarion County. 

re-elected 1851; Daniel Mercer, 1852; James Rankin, 1853; Samuel M. Zinkr 
1854; William Divins, 1855; Daniel Mercer, 1856 ; Christian Seigwarth, 1857; 
Benjamin Miller, 1858; Samuel Kifer, 1859; John McLain, i860; John F. Mc- 
Ginnis, 1861 ; William W. Rankin, 1862; William Frampton, 1863; Adam Black,, 
1864; Isaac Neely, 1865 ; E. W. Haines, 1866; W. A. Henry, 1867; James 
T. Burns, 1868; Valentine Shick, 1869; Isaac Mong, 1870; John Stewart, 
jr., 1871; Christian Breneman, 1872; Levi Shaner, 1873; George T. Henery, 
1874; Samuel D. Sloan, J. T. Burns, and Valentine Phipps, 1875 ; James B. 
Lawson, John Keatly, and John J. Wilson, 1878 ; John Keatly, Aaron Kline, 
and Johnson Wilson, 1881 ; David HefTron, S. A. Bell, and Emanuel Over, 
1884. 

County Auditors. — John Elliott, Joseph C. King, and George Means, elected 
in 1840; John Elliott re-elected 1841 ; William Henry, 1842; Stephen D, 
Burns, 1843; Ephraim Armitage, 1843; Stephen D. Burns re-elected 1844; 
Daniel Bostaph, 1845; Hugh .Kilgore, 1846; Peter B. Simpson, 1847; Rey- 
nolds Laughlin, 1848; Samuel B. Reyner, 1849; William Divins, 1850; John 
G. Fox, 1851; Samuel Winket, 1852; Samuel Johnson, 1853; J. J. Living- 
ston, 1854; William Thompson, 1855; James Martin, 1856; Samuel Garvin, 
1857; Joseph Wood, 1858; Isaac Neely, 1859; George Callihan, i860; Geo. 
Heeter, jr., 1861 ; John Elliott, 1862 ; E. W. Haines, 1863 ; A. K. Page, 1861.; 
H. H. Neely, 1865; William C. Dunkle, 1866; Jeremiah Heeter, 1867; Ste- 
phen Smith, 1867; James McCall, 1868; Stephen Smith re-elected 1869; 
Edward Best, 1870; George Black, 1871; William B. Hamm, 1872; Jacob 
Kribbs, 1873; W. Reed Boyle, 1874; James Russell, H. E Best, and A. L. 
Sigworth, 1875; Jacob Kribbs, W. G. Allen, and A. G. Truitt. 1878, re-elected 
1881 ; H. P. Elliott, W. H. Spangler, and W. L. Johnson, 1884, term expires 
1888. 

County Surveyors. — John H. Groce was appointed in 1841 ; B. J. Reid in 
1845; John K. Maxwell, elected 1850 ; Jesse Teats, 1853 ; Christopher Reichert, 
1856, re-elected 1859; George A. Knight, 1862, re-elected 1865; Samuel 
Conner, 1867, re-elected 1875 and 1880; James M. Owens, appointed 1885 ; 
I. J. Keck, elected 1886. 

Coroners. — John Reed elected 1840; James Potter, jr., 1843 ; John S. Mc- 
Pherson, 1846; WilHam F. Keever, 1849; Joli'i B. Loomis, 1852; John Vensel,. 
1855 ; Jeremiah Whitman, 1858; Dr. C. Klotz, 1861 ; William Martin, 1867; 
Robert Blair, 1871 ; Daniel Bostaph, 1873 ; J. J. Green, 1876 ; A. R. Cyphert,. 
1879; J. D. O'Donnel, 1882; William T. Alexander, 1885. 

Jury Commissioners. — Aaron Kline and Thomas L. Burns, elected 1867; 
Thomas A. Brinkley and William Davis, 1870 ; Daniel Dele and William Kelly, 
1873; John McLain and William Kelly, 1876; William Turney and W. A. 
Forkum, 1879; P. M. Dunkle and Jesse F. Gardner, 1882 ; C. F". Near and J. 
N. McCain, 1885. 




^SrA^i^^i^- 



Schools. 411 

CHAPTER XLI. 

SCHOOLS. 

First Schools — Free Schools — The County Superintendency — Superintendent Orr — The 
First Institutes — Superintendent Magonagle — Superintendent Walker — Superintendent Kelly 
— Superintendent Wood — Superintendent Davis — Superintendent Anderson — Superintendent 
MciSTutt — Parochial Schools. 

THE early schools of the county have been adverted to in other parts of 
this volume, and we shall endeavor to avoid repetitions. 

The first settlers were sturdy and industrious pioneers, but they brought 
with them from their former homes ideas of progress and culture, and within 
a year from the time the first community was fairly settled in the new forest 
home, a school-house was erected, and in 1803 Gabriel Glenn was duly installed 
therein as teacher. 

This was within the territory now embraced in Clarion township. Other 
settlements followed, and with equal promptitude school-house and place of wor- 
ship were provided, sometimes in the same building, though not unfrequently 
the school was held in the house of some settler, where the children of the 
community could learn the rudiments of an English education. 

Schools were established in the territory now included in the townships of 
Beaver, Elk, Farmington, Licking, Limestone, Maidson, Monroe, Paint, and 
Toby between 1805 and 181 5. The first school-house in Richland township 
was erected about 18 17 or 18 18. The Shields school, near Smithland, and the 
Ardery school, near the head of Leatherwood Creek, Porter township, were 
built about 18 18 or 1820. 

Among the teachers during these early years were William Kelly, Wifliam 
Hopkins, John Cochran, Henry Black, William McGinnis, James Stuart, Mat- 
thew Philips, Daniel Delo, Hugh Kilgore, Robert N. Craig, Peter B. Simpson, 
John Gilleland, David Hays, Mr. McElwaine, Daniel Boyd, Thomas Thomp- 
son, David Conver, Miss King, and J. J. Livingston. Some of these belong to 
a somewhat later period, and Mr. Livingston is the only one still alive. 

The early schools were supported by voluntary subscription, but practically 
all the children in each community enjoyed the benefits of school wherever 
one was established. AH the people were almost equally poor, and the class 
distinctions and sectarian prejudices which affected older settlements had 
gained no foothold here up to the time of the enactment of the common school 
law in 1834. There was in consequence less marked opposition to the law in 
this new section of the State than in the southern and eastern counties ; how- 
ever, several townships, either through indifference, or, in rare cases, through 
active opposition, failed to accept the provisions of the act for some years. 



412 History of Clarion County. 

Richland township accepted the provisions of the school law at the first elec- 
tion after its passage. Captain Henry Neely, Benjamin Junkin, John Alsbach, 
James Ritchey, Henry Gilger, and James Say were the first directors. Charles 
H. Haas, John Cochran, John F. Conver, and William McGinnis were among 
the first teachers under the new system in that township. 

In Toby township David Lawson and George Means were ardent advocates 
of the public school system, and were members of the first board of directors. 
Mr. Lawson had been one of the earliest supporters of schools in his neigh- 
borhood, and contributed both time and of his means to support them. 

Redbank township, then including Porter, accepted the new law in March, 
1836, while Beaver tardily waited until 1839, before falling into line. 

Although Clarion county was erected in 1839, yet the reports made to the 
State department, up to and including 1842, still embraced the several town- 
ships of this county with those of Armstrong and Venango. The reports from 
these counties for 1842 exhibit all the districts as having accepted the provisions 
of the public school law, or "free school law," as it was then usually termed, 
and as being in operation under the law ; but in 1844 Beaver, Paint, and Pine 
Grove townships and Clarion borough were reported as non-accepting districts. 
The average length of the term in the county, in 1844, was four months; the 
average salary of male teachers was $14.39, ^"^^ of female teachers, $7.30. 
The number of schools was seventy-four. In 1850 the number of schools had 
increased to 119, but a decrease in length of term to three and one-half months 
was reported, while the teachers' salaries had risen to $16.90 and $8.26 for 
males and females respectively. " Boarding round " was universal in those 
days, and when we consider the scarcity of money and the low wages paid in 
other occupations, the teachers' salaries of that period do not compare unfavor- 
ably with the amount paid them at the present time. 

In some districts teachers were paid in grain, and the miller was made col- 
lector, taking from the cereals brought to the mill by farmers, in addition to 
the customary toll, an amount equal in value to the tax levied for school pur- 
poses on the property of each citizen. 

The State appropriated $200,000 for the support of the schools in 1836, 
and in 1837 the appropriation was increased to $700,000 — only $300,000 less 
than was appropriated fifty years later, although the population of our Com- 
monwealth has increased more than threefold, and its material wealth many 
fold, since that year. In 1838 the appropriation was less than the preceding 
year, though it still amounted to one dollar for each taxable, while for 1885 
and 1886 it was only eighty-four and a half cents per taxable. 

Progress was slow, in fact almost imperceptible, until 1854, when the act 
establishing the county superintendency was passed by the Legislature. Un- 
fortunately, few records remain to show the growth of the school system of 
our county, until the county superintendency made it possible to obtain full 
and more accurate reports from the several districts. 



Schools. 413 

The office of county superintendent was unpopular over the entire State, 
and while the people of Clarion county were less obtrusive in their opposition 
than those of other counties, yet there was a strong undercurrent of feeling 
hostile toward the new office, which found vent in unreasonable complaints 
against the person who filled it, and manifested itself in the beggarly salary 
voted the first officials by the conventions electing them. This feeling con- 
tinued until a comparatively recent period. 

Rev. Robert W. Orr was elected the first county superintendent of Clarion 
county on the first Monday of June, 1854. Mr. Orr was born January 18, 
1808, near Greenville, Clarion county, and lived on a farm until he was twenty 
years of age. He entered Jefferson College in 1829, and graduated in 1833, 
taking l\\Q first Jwnor. He united with the Presbyterian Church the year be- 
fore he graduated, and determined to devote himself to the ministry. He took 
the usual three years' course at the Western Theological Seminary, in Alle- 
gheny, and spent one session in Princeton Seminary. In 1837 he was ordained 
as an evangelist by the Presbytery of Bedford, and the same year set sail with 
his young wife (whom he had married three months before) for Singapore. 
For over three and one-half years he remained in this mission field, when fail- 
ing health compelled him to return to his native land, which he reached in 
July, 1 84 1. 

He was principal of Clarion Academy from the spring of 1842 to 1844. 
The latter year he became a member of the faculty in Jefferson College and 
continued a member until 1852, when, his health again failing, he resigned. 

When elected county superintendent, a salary of $300 a year was voted 
him. Although the salaries of county superintendents were paid directly out 
of the State treasury, and were not an added burden to the tax- payers, yet the 
convention voted a mere pittance to this excellent man, to administer our 
school affairs, while the directors of Lancaster county, more wise, voted their 
superintendent a salary of $1,500 a year. 

In his first report (1854) Mr. Orr states that "in the greater part of the 
county, schools of one kind or other are enjoyed from four to eight months in 
the year." The statistical reports for several years show an average of only 
three months public school. He also mentions as the greatest obstacle, in the 
way of carrying out efficiently the common school system, a want of qualified 
teachers. He reiterates this assertion in succeeding reports. 

In the superintendent's report for 1855 he mentions as obstacles, in the way 
of progress in the schools, lack of interest on the part of the people, and too 
low an appreciation of the value of education ; want of uniformity of text- 
books; wretched condition of school-houses; no school apparatus (some houses 
had not even a black-board) ; want of well-qualified teachers. " The most 
hopeful sign of all is that the idea is beginning to prevail .... that the com- 
mon schools ought to be greatly improved, and that the qualifications of the 
teachers imist be elevateds -^3 



414 History of Clarion County. 

Only sixty teachers attended the pubhc examinations to supply one hun- 
dred and fifty schools. Others afterwards visited the superintendent's house 
for private examination, and detained him until near Christmas from visiting 
schools. 

The first teachers' institute held in Clarion county met in the Clarion 
Academy on Wednesday, the 25 th of December, 1855. D. R. Craig was called 
to the chair, and R. P. Reyner was appointed secretary. We find such names 
as David Kirk, B. J. Reid, James Craig, James Speer, L. Guthrie, and R. Sut- 
ton among the active members. Hon. J. S. McCalmont, Amos Myers, esq,, 
and Rev. John McAuley gave evening addresses. A constitution was adopted, 
officers for the ensuing year were elected and installed : president. Superintend- 
ent Orr; recording secretary, B. J. Reid, esq.; corresponding secretary, Rob- 
ert Sutton, esq.; treasurer, Samuel C. Allison. 

The institute was in session two days and one evening. Other citizens be- 
side teachers were active participants in the exercises of these institutes. It 
was resolved that the next meeting be held on the third Tuesday of the follow- 
ing October, and continue in session three days. On some account the organ- 
ization failed to meet its appointment, and we have no account of another insti- 
tute until January 26, 1857. During the early part of the winter of 1856 the 
superintendent held educational meetings throughout the county, lectured 
on the art of teaching and invited the teachers to give their experience. These 
meetings were instrumental in awakening a strong educational sentiment. 

Among the members of the institute held in 1857, we note in addition to 
those who attended the first institute, such familiar names as J. W. Porter, M. 
L. Boyer, J. T. Maffet, S. K. Travis, J. H. Mehrten, James S. McGarrah, 
Thomas E. Thomas, Miss H. J. Wilson, Miss M. A. Guthrie, Miss M. J. Clover, 
and Miss H. A. Keatley. Rev. Mr. Boyle delivered an evening address. The 
exercises of the institute were conducted with spirit, mostly by members of the 
institute. 

J. G. Magonagle, who had been acting as deputy during the illness of Su- 
perintendent Orr, presided at this meeting. 

Superintendent Orr died in Mechanicsville, Clarion county, near the place 
of his birth, March 30, 1857, of consumption. J. G. Magonagle was commis- 
sioned county superintendent on the 6th of the following April. He was 
elected to serve during the ensuing term of three years, at the triennial con- 
vention which met on the 4th of May, 1857. The new superintendent, while 
acting as deputy, held meetings throughout the county, and endeavored to 
organize educational associations in the several districts ; few, however, out- 
lived the presence of the deputy. One at Clarion and one at Strattanville were 
kept in successful operation during the session of the winter schools. 

On the first Monday of September, a convention of directors met in Clarion 
for the purpose of recommending a uniform series of text-books to be used 



Schools. 415 

throughout the county. J. R. Strattan was chairman of this convention. Os- 
good's Readers, Clark's Grammars, Ray's Arithmetics and Algebras, and 
Monteith's and McNalley's Geographies were recommended " to such boards 
•of directors as have not adopted a regular series, and to such as have another 
series, the adoption of this one as soon as practicable." Wright's Analytical 
Orthography was especially recommended to the consideration of teachers. 
Osgood's Readers and Spellers and Ray's Arithmetics were used in most of 
the districts throughout the county for many years, and our county has never 
since those years enjoyed so nearly a uniformity of text-books. 

At the call of Superintendent Magonagle, about thirty teachers assembled 
at Strattan vile on the 14th of October, 1857, for a drill of two weeks. This 
was carried on harmoniously and successfully. The school was closed on the 
26th, and the county institute opened on the 27th of October. Near fifty 
teachers attended the institute, and the sessions were continued until the close 
■of the week. The exercises throughout were spirited and interesting. R. Sut- 
ton, of Clarion, addressed the association on Wednesday evening. Miss H. A. 
Keatley read an essay on Physical Culture the following evening. The day 
sessions were devoted chiefly to lectures on the branches taught in the schools. 
Mr. Meredith and a committee of ladies, on behalf the Normal class, presented 
to the county superintendent a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. 

During the last days of the following January a teacher's institute held a 
session for three days at Callensburg. Hon. R. Laughlin moved a resolution 
to call "a county convention of teachers, directors, friends and enemies of the 
common school system to take into consideration the necessity and utility of 
establishing a county normal school." Twenty-nine years later this idea ma- 
terialized in the form of a State Normal School located in the county. Super- 
intendent Magonagle, like his predecessor in the office, held that the pressing 
need of our schools was well- qualified teachers, and, with commendable zeal 
and energy, he set about to supply the need. We find him again at Callens- 
burg the 5th of the following October, conducting a normal institute for a 
period of five weeks. State Superintendent Henry C. Hickok visited this insti- 
tute, and addressed the public on several occasions, infusing new hfe into the 
school system of the county. 

About fifty teachers were in attendance. Professor Thickstun, of Mead- 
ville, A. Myers, Rev. J. E. Chapin, and R. Sutton were among the helpers. 
During the last week of the Normal, the Educational Association held a ses- 
sion of five days. A third convention for the year met at Shippenville, and 
held a session of four days. 

The annual institute of 1859, met at Strattanville on October 24. The 
exercises were varied and did not differ in any essential particular from those 
of the institutes of the present day, except that the teachers participated 
more largely. William P. Jenks, of Brookville, was one of the evening lect- 
urers. 



41 6 History of Clarion County. 



This was the year of the June frosts, and some hesitation was manifested on 
the part of a number of school boards as to the propriety of opening the 
schools at all during the year. Finally, all but four, viz.: Curlsville, Highland, 
Knox, and Washington, opened the schools for at least four months. The 
principal of the Clarion borough schools received fifty dollars per month salary 
during this year of general scarcity and hardship, and the teacher of the ad- 
vanced room in the Rimersburg schools received thirty dollars per month, 
while these two districts, together with Licking and Piney each had a six 
months' term. It occurs to one that not much progress has been made since 
then in the matter of teachers' wages and length of term, when we consider the 
increase of wages in other vocations. 

In October, i860, the county institute was held at Clarion. About forty 
teachers were in attendance. Deputy Superintendent Bates and ex-Superin- 
tendent Hickok rendered efficient aid as instructors at this institute. 

Superintendent Magonagle was re-elected in May of this year, and his 
salary was fixed at $500 a year. He continued to display the same energy 
and efficiency that had characterized his labors during his first term. But we 
come now to a period in the history of our schools when the war-cloud is 
darkening the horizon, and they must inevitably suffer from the impending 
storm. Our county superintendent is a patriot as well as a zealous educator, 
and now when his country needs men to go forth and do battle for her cause, 
he is one of the first to offer his services. On the 23d of September, 1861, he 
is mustered into her service as first lieutenant of Company F, Sixty-third Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regiment joins the Army of the Potomac, 
participates in the Peninsular campaign, and on the 21st day of June, 1862, 
Lieutenant John G. Magonagle dies from disease engendered in the miasmatic 
swamps of Virginia, after having participated in the battle of Fair Oaks a few 
weeks before. 

For a short time after Superintendent Magonagle entered the army, David 
Latshavv, of Perry township, acted as deputy superintendent, but C. S. Walker, 
A. M., of Shippenville, was appointed to succeed Superintendent Magonagle 
from November i, 1861, until June, 1863. 

The civil war bore heavily upon the people, and the schools suffered in 
consequence from short terms and low teachers' salaries. Hitherto a majority 
of the teachers were males, but many young men enlisted a soldiers, and for 
the first time in the history of our schools the female teachers outnumbered 
the males, and they have held a majority ever since. 

During the winter of 1862-3 fourteen district institutes were held regularly 
(semi-monthly) throughout the county. In many cases two districts would 
unite for this purpose, and the whole number of teachers in attendance was 
one hundred and thirty out of a total of one hundred and seventy engaged in 
the schools. 



Schools. 417 

Most of the institutes were regularly attended by directors, who took part 
in the exercises. The secretaries of the school boards of Madison, Piney, and 
Washington townships acted as district superintendents with good results. 
The following year eighteen secretaries acted as district superintendents, and 
received one dollar a day for their services in visiting the schools. Superin- 
tendent G. S. Kelly, who was commissioned August i, 1863, commends this 
feature of school management, and states that he noted marked improvement 
in the schools that were regularly visited by the district superintendents. 

Twenty districts organized district associations, and two county institutes 
of nearly a week's duration each, were held during the year. Mill Creek 
township and Mount Pleasant, Ind., district did not open schools this year. 

Several school boards appropriated portions of their school funds to the 
payment of bounties to volunteers, to be credited to those districts, in order to 
fill their quota for troops required by the government in prosecuting the war. 
In this way conscription was avoided for a time, but low wages of teachers and 
poor schools resulted. Money was borrowed to pay bounties and the school 
funds were pledged to repay the debts thus contracted. Several years elapsed 
before these debts were liquidated, and a much longer period was required to 
remedy the injury done the schools. • 

In 1867 an act became a law requiring the county superintendent to hold 
an institute of at least five days annually, and providing for expenses for in- 
structors, lecturers, apparatus, books, and stationery for carrying on the work 
of the institute. From this time the annual institute has been planted on a 
firm basis, and much good has resulted to the schools through the instruction 
gained by the teachers in attendance upon its sessions. 

Superintendent J. E. Wood was commissioned in June, 1869. During his 
term the schools partially recovered from the effects of the Civil War, the in- 
stitutes grew in interest and were attended by nearl)^ all the teachers in the 
county. Hon. J. P. Wickersham, State superintendent, was present one day 
at the institute held in 1871. All the institutes held by Superintendent Wood 
were well managed and were productive of much enthusiasm in the ranks of 
tlie teachers. 

The six years' administration of Superintendent Wood was an era, first, of 
recovery, and later, of marked educational growth. When Mr. Wood assumed 
the duties of the office, there were 171 schools in the county, ten of which were 
graded ; when he retired, in 1865, the schools numbered 194, twenty-one being 
graded. During this period the oil industry was developed in the county, and 
the population was largely increased. In the eager pursuit of wealth, the in- 
terests of the schools were somewhat neglected, and education scarcely kept 
pace with the material growth of the county. A faithful superintendent, sus- 
tained by a few earnest teachers and directors, did much to mitigate adverse 
influences. New and more commodious school buildings were erected, the 



41 8 History of Clarion County. 

qualifications of teachers were advanced, and frequent visits of the schools by 
the superintendent had the effect to inspire a more friendly feeling toward the 
superintendency. 

In June, 1875, A. J. Davis was commissioned county superintendent. He 
was twice recommissioned, serving eight years, or all but the last year of his 
third term. The year 1876 brought the International Centennial Exhibition, 
held in Philadelphia. The State superintendent of public instruction, J. P. 
Wickersham, issued a call to the schools to prepare manuscript and other 
school work for exhibition. The Clarion Collegiate Institute at Rimersburg 
and the Foxburg public schools forwarded some work, which was placed in the 
Pennsylvania building for educational exhibits. Few other districts in the 
State, outside the large cities, had any school work on exhibition. 

A county teachers' association was organized at Rimersburg on September 
14, 1876, and P. S. Dunkle, principal of West Freedom Academy, was elected 
first president. This association has been maintained, with some modifications 
as to the organization, to the present time. Meetings have been held almost 
every month when the schools were in session, and occasionally during vaca- 
tion, in different parts of the county. Public sentiment has been enlisted in 
favor of the schools, and principles and methods of teaching have been dis- 
cussed at the meetings of the association. 

A teachers' reading circle was recommended by the county institute, which 
met in 1878, and a course of professional reading was adopted. Page's "Theory 
and Practice of Teaching " was adopted as a text-book for the first year's course. 
The following year a new book was selected, and the plan has been followed 
in a general way during all the years that have followed to the present time. 
The examinations in " Theory of Teaching " have been based each year on the 
course of professional reading, pursued by the teachers during that year. The 
results have been satisfactory. A better knowledge of principles, and better 
methods of teaching, together with a more adequate conception of the dignity 
and responsibility of the teacher's position, are among the benefits that have 
followed. Before this course was adopted, scarcely twenty works on teaching 
could be found in the libraries of the teachers in the entire county. Five years 
after, more than one thousand volumes of professional works were known to 
have been purchased by our teachers, and more gratifying still to the mind of 
the educator, these books were studiously read by a majority of the purchasers. 

This was probably the first county organization of teachers for professional 
reading ever formed in the United States. A graded course of study for 
pupils was outlined the same year. 

The first exposition of school work at the county fair in Clarion county was 
held in 1879. "Children's day" occurred on the second day of the fair, on 
Septemter 24th, and on that day several hundred school children, representing 
almost every district in the county, formed in line on the main street of Clarion 



Schools. 419 

and filed into the fair grounds, where they spent the afternoon pleasantly. In 
the main building on the grounds were the manuscripts collected from a num- 
ber of schools, also botanical and geological collections made by pupils, together 
with maps, charts, and apparatus devised by teachers and pupils in the county. 

In 1 88 1 a system of graduation for pupils in the elementary schools of our 
county was adopted. Fourteen examinations were held that year from March 
to June ; 175 pupils were examined, of whom 106 obtained a satisfactory grade 
and received a diploma. On most occasions, after each examination, occupy- 
ing the whole day, there were evening exercises, and an address by the super- 
intendent ; at the close the diplomas were conferred. These meetings were 
largely attended by teachers, directors, and others. 

Five courses of reading and study beyond the elementary branches were 
subsequently outlined and published, with the object of affording opportunities 
for the young graduates to press beyond the common school course. It was 
thought that by thus directing the energies of these young people into right 
channels of self-advancement, they might be prevented from falling into hab- 
its of idleness and indifference, or into such reading as would lead to vice and 
ruin. Several have since taken one of these courses and passed successful ex- 
aminations in the same. Following out the plan, eleven examinations were 
held in March and April, 1882. Deputy State Superintendent Henry Houck 
was present at six of these, and Hon. E. E. Higbee, Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, attended the other five. One hundred and twenty-four candidates 
were examined this year, of whom sixty-six were found qualified to pass. 
Some who failed the preceding year were examined again this year and were 
rewarded for their perseverance. The graduates held a meeting at the county 
institute in 1 881, and formed an organization by electing officers. They lis- 
tened to an address by A. L. Wade, of West Virginia, the originator of the grad- 
uating] system for elementary schools. No general meeting of graduates has 
taken place since the first one. 

The two years ending June 1883, were spent by the superintendent in con- 
ducting written examinations in all the schools visited by him, and the manu- 
scripts have been preserved for tabulation of the work done by the pupils, as 
well as for comparison with similar papers, which may at some future time be 
gathered from our schools. 

Superintendent Davis's third term was terminated unexpectedly at the end 
of the second year by his appointment to a position in the Department of Pub- 
lic Instruction at Harrisburg, and J. G. Anderson was'appointed superintend- 
ent for the unexpired term. 

Superintendent Anderson continued the graduating system substantially 
on the plan that had been introduced two years before, and the system is still 
in successful operation. 

At the triennial convention of school directors in May, 1884, C. F. Mc- 



420 History of Clarion County. 

Nutt, a graduate of Edinboro State Normal School, was chosen to the super- 
intendency, and is the present incumbent. Under his efficient administration 
the schools are advancing steadily. Superintendent McNutt is methodical and 
painstaking. He will leave the impress of his own personality upon the schools. 
His is the work of erecting a fitting superstructure upon the foundation laid by 
his predecessors, and he is performing that work with fidelity. 

Arbor Day was established during Superintendent McNutt's first term, and 
trees have been planted by teachers and pupils in Rimersburg, East Brady, 
Brady, Antwerp, St. Petersburg, Foxburg, Salem, Monroe, and other districts. 

Parochial Schools. — There are four parochial schools, under the auspices of 
the Roman Catholic Church, in Clarion county; one at Clarion, in charge of 
Sisters of St. Benedict, with about eighty-two children in attendance ; one at 
Vogelbacher, Knox township, Benedictine nuns in charge; ninety-five chil- 
dren ; one at St. Nicholas, Limestone township, Sisters of Mercy ; eighty chil- 
dren ; and one at St. Mary's, Farmington township, Benedictine Sisters ; sev- 
enty children. 

The history of the academies of the county is given in the local history of 
the townships and boroughs, and will not be repeated here. 



CHAPTER XLH. 

CHURCHES. 

Presbyterian Church. 

THERE are twenty-two churches of this denomination in Clarion county, 
with a membership of 1,667. These churches are attached to the Clarion 
Presbytery, embracing the counties of Clarion, Elk, and Jefferson, and the parts 
of Forest and Venango counties lying east of the Allegheny River. The pres- 
bytery is' included in the Synod of Pennsylvania, which is composed of all the 
presbyteries of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and the presbyteries of Mexico 
and Zacatecas, old Mexico, and all are under the jurisdiction of the General As- 
sembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, consist- 
ing of twenty-six synods and about 661,800 members. 

The first Presbyterian Churches in Clarion county were Licking and New 
Rehoboth ; the former is in Monroe township, and the latter in Clarion town- 
ship. Both churches are said to have been organized in 1802. Rev. John 
McPherrin preached probably the first sermon that was delivered in all this 
section, and it is known that he organized New Rehoboth Church in 1802. 
He probably organized Licking about the same time. 



Churches. 421 

Their first pastor was the Rev. Robert McGarrough, having been sent as a li- 
centiate of Redstone Presbytery in the spring of 1804. He began his labors in 
these churches in June of the same year, but was not ordained and installed 
until 1807. Coming to this wilderness, carrying his family and all his worldly 
goods on a pack-horse, he occupied a rude cabin built of round logs, twelve or 
fifteen feet square, for some years, in the midst of the forest, where woodland 
paths served for roads, and where neighbors were sparsely scattered over the 
hills and valleys of his extended field of labor. He supported himself largely 
by cultivating a small patch of cleared land during week days, while on the 
Sabbath he ministered to the spiritual wants of his little band of Christians 
until 1822, when his relation as pastor of these churches was dissolved. Dur- 
ing this period Mr. McGarrough organized Concord Church in Perry township 
in 1807, Richland about 18 16; Callensburg Church was organized about 1825, 
He continued his labors at Concord and Callensburg until 1839, shortly before 
his death. The three first named were the earliest churches of any denomina- 
tion organized within the limits of this county. Rev. John Core, Rev. James 
Montgomery, Rev. David McCay, Rev. William McMichael, Rev. John Glenn 
and Rev. E. D. Barrett were prominent among the ministers who served the 
Presbyterian churches in this county prior to 1850. 

The Associate Presbyterian Church.^ 

About the year 1802 some members of the Associate Church settled in 
what is now Clarion county, and were supplied by Rev. John Dicky. The 
county being thinly settled, divine services were held at the houses of mem- 
bers, some living near Cherry Run, and others on Licking. In a few years a 
log school-house was built on Cherry Run, and the members used it as a place 
of meeting. 

In 1808 a congregation was organized, and designated as the Associate 
Congregation of Cherry Run. Hon. Joseph Rankin and Clemens Davidson 
were chosen ruling elders, and Rev. Mr. Dicky preached as a " supply " until 
1830, when Rev. James McCarrell took charge. 

In 1832 the place of meeting was changed to Rimersburg, where a log 
building was erected for a meeting-house. This building remained until 185 i, 
when the present house of worship was built. 

Mr. McCarrell remained pastor of the congregation until 1837, when he 
was released. In July, 1838, Rev. John McAuley was ordained, and installed 
pastor of the congregation. He continued in this relation until August, 1867. 
After spending the years of hi^ life in ministerial labors, principally in Clarion 
county, he died at Sligo, Pa., on the i6th of August, 1883, in the seventy-sev- 
enth year of his age. 

The Presbytery of Clarion was organized on the 4th of July, 1849, ^^^ con- 

1 By Rev. Robert Bruce. 
44 



422 History of Clarion County. 

sisted of four ministers, viz.: Revs. John Hindman, John Tod, John McAuley, 
and John Telford. 

The congregations within the Hmits of this county are Cherry Run, at Rim- 
ersburg, Hermon, near Smithland, and Upper Piney, in the vicinity of Me- 
chanicsville. The last has no congregational organization at present. The old 
building in which services were held is still standing, and is known as the " Se- 
ceder Church." 

Rev. Robert Bruce has been pastor of the congregation at Rimbersburg 
since 1875, and of the congregation of Hermon since 1877. Both these con- 
gregations are under the care of Clarion Presbytery, subordinate to the Synod 
of North America. 

Baptist Church. ^ 

Rev. William Shadrach is the oldest living Baptist minister of Western 
Pennsylvania. Almost sixty years ago he was associated with Deacon Abra- 
ham Shallenberger, father of J. Lloyd, of Clarion borough, at Mount Pleasant, 
Pa. Afterwards Dr. Shadrach was intimately associated with the ministers and 
members of the Clarion Association. 

He was with the body when it was divided, and when the Indiana Associa- 
tion was formed. 

In 1838 the undivided association met in Brookville ; in 1839 with Zion 
Church, now Reidsburgh. Amos Williams, Enoch Hastings, and William 
King are the first moderators, all men of sterling character. Thomas Wilson, 
Samuel Miles, and Thomas E. Thomas are among the pioneer ministers, the 
last named, father of Dr. B. H. Thomas, now of Clarion county, and for more 
than thirty years an active minister. Some of these early preachers had piety 
and power, although not favored with a classical education. Men living now 
speak of Thomas E. Thomas as a wonderful preacher. The grandson of this 
same man, with collegiate and theological training, is pastor of a church in 
Cleveland, Ohio. 

There are seven Baptist churches in Clarion county, with an aggregate 
membership of nearly six hundred. The estimated value of church property 
is $20,000. These churches belong to the Clarion Association, embracing a 
part of Jefferson, Armstrong, and Butler counties. The association comprises 
nineteen churches and 1,500 members. 

The State Association, made up from these local bodies, meets once a year. 
The National gathering, made up from the States of the Union, convenes once 
a year to transact business that directly interests 257,200 regular Baptists in the 
United States. 

1 By J. L. S. 



Churches. 423 

The Reformed Church.^ 

Among the early settlers of what is now Clarion county were emigrants, 
not only from Germany and Switzerland, but also from Lehigh, Berks, Bucks, 
Montgomery, Lancaster, and other eastern counties. A large portion of these 
were confirmed members of the Reformed Church. Rev. John William Weber 
the pioneer Reformed minister in Western Pennsylvania, who, in 1783, came 
to Westmoreland county, and later was the first regular minister of any kind 
in Pittsburgh, in the early years of this century occasionally visited the 
scattered members of the Reformed Church in Armstrong, Butler, Venango, 
and other counties, conducted services, baptized the children, and held com- 
munions. As he was then already nearly eighty years of age, the labor and 
exposure of these missionary journeys were too great for him. As early as 
18 1 3 requests were sent from Western Pennsylvania to the synod of the Re- 
formed Church for a young minister or ministers to be sent out to assist the 
aged pastor. In response to the request, in 181 5 Henry Hublistor and Will- 
iam Weinel, licentiates of the synod, were sent to Westmoreland and adjacent 
counties, the latter visiting the territory now in Clarion county. This led to 
the demand for more ministers in this section. In. response to this call two of 
Rev. Dr. Becker's students, N. P. Hacke and Henry Koch, offered themselves ; 
and in the spring of 18 19 set out on horse-back from Northampton county for 
their long and tedious journey over the mountains. On entering Greensbury, 
Westmoreland county, they were surprised and disheartened to hear only the 
English language spoken on the streets. Mother Drum, a venerable matron 
of Greensbury, however, allayed their fears by assuring them that the surround- 
ing country element was quite German enough to make their labors in that 
language acceptable, and no doubt useful. Student Hacke, then not twenty 
years old, preached in a number of organized congregations in that county, 
and was chosen for their pastor, which holy office he filled for a period of fifty- 
eight years. 

Student Koch traveled northward to Armstrong and Venango counties, 
where he found no organized congregations, but a number of members of the 
Reformed Church, many of them from his native county. Among them were 
the Millers, Mohneys, and Smiths, along Redbank, near Millville ; and the 
Brinkers, Heplers, Hamms, Hilliards, Kasters, Rimers, Edmonds, and Wiants, 
near where Curllsville is now ; north of the Clarion River he found the Atts, 
Switzers, and Thomases, from Switzerland ; and Delos, Berlins, Captain Henry 
Neely, the Ashbaughs, Shoups, Vensels, Beats, and others, from Westmoreland 
county. After a canvass of the field, he and his fellow student, Hacke, returned 
to the East and continued their studies a short time. Mr. Koch presented 
himself before the synod, which met in the city of Lancaster September 5, 18 19, 

1 By Rev. J. F. Wiant. 



424 History of Clarion County. 

as a candidate for license and ordination. As there were no regular organized 
congregations here to extend a call, it is recorded in the minutes of synod that 
" communications were received from Venango and adjacent counties request- 
ing that a young man named Koch be admitted to the ministry." He was 
accordingly licensed and ordained to preach the gospel on September g, 1819. 
In the fall of the same year he pitched his tent in what is now Clarion county* 
and began his labor of love and self-denial among the scattered German-speak- 
ing inhabitants. 

One of the first persons he baptized, if not the first, north of the Clarion 
River, is still living. Her name is Mrs. Mary Fisher {nee Switzer), who was 
baptized December 5, 18 19. 

The St. Paul's Reformed congregation, in Beaver township, was organized 
in 1820. The first baptisms recorded in this church are Samuel, son of John 
and Margaret Smith ; Elizabeth, daughter of John and Rosanna Sigworth ; 
George, son of George and Elizabeth Berlin ; and Hiram, son of Henry and 
Barbara Neely. 

About this time the St. John's congregation, now Curllsville, was organized. 
At both these places there were log school-houses, in which worship was held 
in winter. During summer services were held in the open air. Mr. Koch's 
field of labor, in addition to what is now Clarion county, extended over parts 
of Jefferson, Armstrong, Butler, and Venango counties, a territory cut every 
here and there with streams, many of them wide and deep, too, over which 
there were no bridges. The difficulties he had to encounter can easily be in- 
ferred. The work he accomplished may be hinted at by giving some of his 
statistical reports recorded in the minutes of synod. In 1822 he reported 102 
baptisms, 187 communicants, and 6 deaths. In 1825 he reported 4 congre- 
gations, 102 baptized, 39 confirmed, 210 communicants, 5 deaths, and 2 schools. 
From these and other known facts it is safe to infer that during his pastorate 
of over a quarter of a century he baptized at least from i,8oo to 2,500 persons, 
and confirmed many hundreds, in addition to the other official duties of his 
ministry. He also supplied, in a large measure, the membership of the Lutheran 
Church, who were in an early day visited and supplied by a minister of their 
own church from a distance. 

Ecclesiastical Meetings. — Of the eight original classes of the Reformed 
Church the first regular meetings held in 1820, Western Pennsylvania was 
one. In 1836 this classis was given permission to unite with the synod of 
Ohio and adjacent States. The name of the classis was then changed to that 
of the First or Eastern District of Ohio Synod. At a meeting of the Ohio 
Synod in Canton, O., in 1842, in was ordered that the first district be divided 
into two classes, known as the Westmoreland and Erie classes ; Clarion was 
made a part of the former. The first meeting of this division, by appointment 
of synod, was held at St. Johns, near Mount Pleasant, Pa., May 28 to 31, 



Churches. 425 

1843. At a meeting held in Armstrong county in 1845, Rev. Koch was 
present and earnestly requested that classes should meet in his charge, which 
was finally agreed to, and St. John's Church was fixed as the place of meet- 
ing in 1846; but before the meeting he was taken from the church militant 
to the church triumphant. In 1850 the synod of Ohio granted the pastors 
and charges north of the Kiskiminetas River, and belonging to the Westmore- 
land classis, permission to organize a new division to be called the Clarion 
Classis. 

A Few Crises. — When St. John's Church was about to be rebuilt a sort of 
a union was formed by the Reformed and Lutherans. At the laying of the 
corner-stone of the new church a constitution, formed by the unionists, pro- 
hibiting any one to be stated as pastor in this house who is unable to preach 
in German and English, created some excitement when it was read. Rev. 
Koch, the faithful servant, who had stood by his flock so long, and endured so 
many hardships in the service there, had to leave with tears in his eyes. He 
did not consider himself competent to officiate in the English language. As . 
the congregation was unable to support a minister alone, for a short time the 
members were as sheep without a shepherd. This led in the beginning of 1848 
to the organization of Jerusalem Congregation, Rimersburg, and also a few years 
later led to the organization of the Salem Congregation in Limestone township. 
Thus the wrath of man was made to praise God in the establishing of new con- 
gregations. During the pastorates of Hoffman, Leberman, and Wolff, the 
transition from the German to the English language set in with great force in 
this section. And as is generally the case in every new movement, there were 
extremists on the side of progress, as also on the side of conservation ; and the 
extremists on either side do not generally sympathize with the other side. 
Only those who have passed through such a crisis can fully appreciate what is 
here so briefly referred to. Some of the old German-speaking people honestly 
believed that the perpetuation of true religion depended on the use of the 
mother-tongue, while many of the progressives went to the extreme in insist- 
ing that all would be lost to the cause of Christianity if the English alone was 
not used. In some instances on both sides there were bitter prejudices, false 
pride, and narrowness of judgment and other things, that for these pages shall 
-be left nameless. 

Another matter in the Reformed Church was also bitterly contested. It 
was whether the catechetical or emotional systems should prevail in the church. 
Rev. Leberman, who was an earnest advocate of the former system, was espe- 
cially the subject of much bitter criticism and gross misrepresentation. It is 
necessary to remind the reader that forty years have very much softened the 
sharp points between the two systems, and that to form a proper judgment the 
times in which these things occurred must be considered. 

Hojfvian, Leberman, and Wolff. — Rev. Henry Hoffman, who came to be 
an assistant of Rev. Koch, after the death of the latter became regular pastor 



426 History of Clarion County. 

of the charge. He served the organized congregations about two years, during^ 
which time he organized the Salem congregation in Salem township (1846). 
In the year 1847 ^^^ reported in his charge 450 members, seventy-five bap- 
tisms, eighty-eight persons confirmed, and fifteen deaths. Toward the close 
of the year 1847 Rev. L. D. Leberman came to this county and became pas- 
tor of the portion lying south of the Clarion River, and Rev. Hoffman remained 
pastor of the portion north of the river, then known as the Petersburg charge, 
serving until 1855. Rev. Leberman organized a number of congregations in 
the southern part of the county. Among them were Mt. Zion, Squirrel Hill, 
and Shannondale, and also some in Jefferson and Armstrong counties. The 
field becoming too large for him to cultivate properly. Rev. George Wolff came 
in the spring of 1848 and took charge of Licking, Salem (in Limestone town- 
ship), and others, which he served until 1853. The increase in the population, 
on account of the many furnaces in the county during these years, added 
greatly to the labors of the ministers. 

Summary. — Four ministers reside in the county, two charges are vacant, 
twelve organized congregations, nine have church buildings — one in process of 
erection, and two are owned jointly by the Reformed and Lutherans. The esti- 
mated value of the church property is $45,000; there are 1,450 confirmed mem- 
bers, and 1,050 baptized unconfirmed members. 

The amount given for benevolent and congregational purposes, exclusive 
of building and repairing churches and parsonages, has, for a (ew years past, 
averaged about $5,000 in this county. 

Protestant Episcopal Church. 1 

" T/ie Memorial Chiircli of Our Father,'' Foxbiirg. — This beautiful little 
church was erected by the surviving members of the Fox family, *' To the 
Glory of God and In Memory of Samuel Mickle Fox, deceased December 23, 
1869; William Logan Fox, deceased April 29, 1880; Sarah Lindley Fox, de- 
ceased June 20, 1882." The names of the founders are Mrs. Samuel M. Fox, 
Mrs. William L. Fox, Miss Hannah Fox, and Mr. Joseph M. Fox. The cor- 
ner-stone was laid July 4, 1881, and the church opened for divine service No- 
vember 26, 1882, by Right Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, D. D., bishop of the 
diocese of Pittsburgh, assisted by the Rev. Henry Purdon, D. D., of Titusville, 
Rev. Harry L. Yewens, of Franklin, and the Rev. Thomas A. Stevenson, rec- 
tor of the parish. 

The rectory was completed and occupied two years later. The archi- 
tecture of the church is Gothic; it is very beautifully finished, and is complete 
in all its appointments. The rectory is a Queen Anne cottage, and is equally 
beautiful it its way. 

The parish is within the jurisdiction of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of 

iBy Rev. E. A. Angell. 



Churches. 427 

Pittsburgh, which embraces twenty-four counties in Pennsylvania, being all that 
portion of the State lying west of the Allegheny Mountains. 

Within this territory are fifty-nine parishes and thirty-four missions, one 
bishop and sixty-two other clergy, 7,298 communicants and 7,200 children in 
the Sunday-schools. The legislative body of the diocese is the convention 
which meets annually, and is composed of all the clergy and three lay deputies 
from each parish. 

The value of church property in this parish is, in round numbers, $40,000 ; 
number of communicants, 47; children in Sunday-school, 80; total number 
of people attending services, about 250. The parish has had three rectors, as 
follows: Rev. Thomas A. Stevenson, 1880-83 \ Rev. Samuel Edson, 1883-85 ; 
Rev. Edmund A. Angell, now (1886) in charge. 

Evangelical Association.^ 

This church extended her borders into Clarion county about the year 1849, 
and now comprises a membership of nearly five hundred communicants, who 
worship in three separate parishes, and eleven church edifices. These are situ- 
ated in the southwestern, central, northern, and northeastern sections of the 
county. 

This association has camp-meeting grounds at West Millville and Licking- 
ville, where the members from adjacent localities assemble annually, and spend 
one week in public worship. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. ^ 

The early history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clarion county is 
obscure. From the most reliable information to be obtained, it appears that 
the first preaching place and organization of a society of Methodists was at Mr. 
Young's, on the turnpike, two miles east of Clarion. This was thirty years be- 
fore the town of Clarion was thought of About the same time a preaching 
point was established at the house of Mr. Henry Myers, in wliat is called the 
Loop, near the present site of Martin's mill on the Clarion River. The Balti- 
more Conference at that time embraced this territory. We first find recogni- 
tion in the conference appointments as Mahoning Circuit, in 181 2. The other 
places of preaching at this early date are given as Leiser's, John Law.son's, Sto- 
ner's, and Harold's. With the organization of the Pittsburgh conference in 
1825, we have the beginning of a tolerably full history. At this time the ter- 
ritory was a part of the Erie District, William Swazie, presiding elder. In 
1826 it was transferred to the Pittsburgh District, Thornton Fleming, presiding 
elder. In 1827 it was transferred to the Erie District, William Swazie, presid- 
ing elder. It so remained with Wilder B. Mack, presiding elder, from 1828 to 
183 1. In 1832 the Meadville District was formed, embracing as part of its ter- 
ritory what is now Clarion county, Zerah H. Coston, presiding elder. In 1833 

1 By Rev. I. A. Smith. 2 By Rev. B. F. Delo. 



428 History of Clarion County. 

it was embraced in Allegheny District, Zerah H. Coston, presiding elder. He 
was succeeded in the presiding eldership by Joshua Monroe, in 1835. In 1836 
the Erie Annual Conference was organized ; in districting the conference this 
territory became part of Meadville District, J. S. Barris, presiding elder ; re- 
appointed in 1837. In order to brevity we give the year, and name of district 
and presiding elder: 1838-9, Brookville Mission District, William Carroll, P. E. ; 
1840-2, Meadville District, John Bain, P. E. ; 1843-4, Franklin District, John 
Robinson, P. E. ; 1845-6, Franklin District, H, N. Stearns, P. E. ; 1847, Frank- 
lin District, W. H. Hunter, P. E. ; 1848-9, Franklin District, E. J. L. Baker, 
P. E. ; 1 850-1, Franklin District, W. F. Wilson, P. E. ; 1852-4, Franklin Dis- 
trict, Moses Hill, P. E. ; 1855-7, Franklin District was divided and Clarion 
District formed, Josiah Flower, P. E. ; 1858-9, Clarion District, J. E. Chapin, 
P. E. ; 1860-3, Clarion District, R. A. Caruthers, P. E. ; 1864-7, Clarion Dis- 
trict, R. H. Hurlburt, P. E. ; 1868-71, Clarion District, O. L. Mead, P. E. ; 
1872, Clarion District, J. R.Lyon, P. E.; 1873-5, Brookville District, J. R. Lyon, 
P. E. ; 1876, Brookville District, B. F. Delo, P. E. ; 1877-9, Clarion District, 
B. F. Delo, P. E. ; 1880-3, Clarion District, P. P. Pinney, P. E. ; 1884-6, Clar- 
ion District, D. Latshaw, who is the present presiding elder. He is a native 
of Clarion county, a son of John Latshaw, late of Perry township. Rev. L. 
taught considerably in the public schools of the county, and was at one time 
acting superintendent of the public schools of the county. Another of this 
list, B. F. Delo, was born in Beaver township, and reared to manhood from his 
twelfth year in the county seat. He learned the " art preservative " with Col- 
onel W. T. Alexander, of Clarion. He is a son of ex-sheriff Daniel Delo. Of 
this list, H. N. Stearns, J. R. Lyon, W. F. Wilson, and B. F. Delo occupied 
the pastorate of the church of Clarion. From the first organization of Meth- 
odism within this territory it has enjoyed a continued growth and prosperity. 
Many of its early accessions were the result of camp-meeting conversions, and 
not a few from interest excited by the doctrinal controversies of forty and fifty 
years ago. A camp-meeting was held about 1826 at a spring now within the 
corporation limits of Clarion, near South Fifth Avenue. 

From the statistics of 1886, reported to the annual conference, we gather 
the following as the strength of Methodism in the county at the present time. 
These figures may be relied on, having been taken from the records immedi- 
ately preceding conference : 

Number of traveling preachers i8 

Number of local preachers 12 

Number of church members 2, 500 

Number of church buildings 39 

Number of parsonages 12 

Number of Sunday-schools 40 

Number of officers and teachers 452 

Number of Sunday-school scholars 3, 109 

Value of church buildings $ 63, 700 

Value of parsonages 11 ,000 

Total value of church property $ 74, 700 



Churches. 429 

Of the ministers having pastoral supervision in Clarion county, four, includ- 
ing the presiding elder, do not reside in the county. 

The church has been blessed with many laymen whose influence and wealth 
have helped largely in developing the resources of the county and in building 
up its interests. During the Civil War no company went out to the front with- 
out her representatives. Her members have taken an active part in the edu- 
cational interests of the people. Although not accomplishing all she projected, 
yet in educational interests she laid the foundation of enduring monuments, 
from which the people of the county will reap lasting benefit. 

Roman Catholic Church. 

Little could be learned of the early organization of the Catholic Church in 
this county. As far back as 1820, the head mission of St. Michael's at Fry- 
burg, then known as Copp's Settlement, is known to have existed. The early 
settlers were John Deitz and Jacob Eisenmann. A fine church edifice took the 
place of the old house of worship one year ago, and the congregation now wor- 
ships in the most stately building in Clarion county. 

St. Nicholas Church comes second in order in date of organization. The 
precise date of the erection of this church is not known, but 1833 or '34 is the 
time generally assigned. The building was a little log house, as were the other 
church structures at this early date of our county's history. The Aarons — 
Joseph, Thomas, Daniel, George and Conrad, Peter Ruffner, Henry Cyphert, 
Philip and Charles Crate, were the pioneer Catholics in this section. 

A small congregation was formed at Clarion about 1841, and a church 
building was erected in 1854, which wa^ dedicated in 1856. 

Congregations now exist at East Brady, Edenburg, North Pine Grove, New- 
Bethlehem, St. Petersburg, Sligo, and Vogelbacher, in addition to those at 
Fryburg, Clarion and St. Nicholas. 

These churches are in the diocese of Erie, comprising the counties of Erie, 
Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Cameron, 
Elk, McKean, Potter, and Warren. Present bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Mullen, 

Lutheran Church. 

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation (Best's, in Beaver township) 
is one of the oldest in the county. As early as 18 16, a log building had been 
erected by the pioneer settlers. In that year a man by the name of Hammer, 
claiming to be a Lutheran minister, desired to preach there. But at that early 
day congregations had to be especially on their guard against irresponsible 
characters — wolves in sheep's clothing — and as he had neither ordination nor 
synodical papers, the church was locked against him, and as an additional pre- 
caution, a log chain was put around the stove. About the same time Rev 

Rupert preached occasionally in Beaver and adjoining settlements. About the 
45 



430 History of Clarion County. 

year i8i8, the Pennsylvania synod sent the Rev. G. A. Richart on an explor- 
ing mission tour through Western and Northwestern Pennsylvania. He com- 
menced his journey in Indiana county, and traveled on horseback over territory 
now embraced in the counties of Armstrong, Clarion, Venango, Crawford and 
Erie, then turning his faithful steed eastward through the northern tier of coun- 
ties, he reached Germantown, Pa., the following year. In 1820, we find him 
af^ain making regular trips on horseback through the northwestern counties^ 
preaching about once a month at St. Paul's, and also at the State road, Lick- 
,*n?. Redbank, and from house to house. This arduous labor he continued for 
a number of years, and by paying special attention to the instruction of the 
young, he succeeded in building up flourishing congregations at all these 
places, and besides laid the foundation for many others. On the eighty-first 
anniversary of his birth, this venerable father preached his last sermon in Kit- 
tanning, Pa. 

He was succeeded in a portion of his field by Rev. David Henry Keyl, 
about 1827, coming from the State of North Carolina. He traveled through 
the counties of Armstrong, Clarion, and Crawford, preaching at various sta- 
tions. He made one of his stopping places and preaching points at the house 
of John Adam Schefler, in Salem township, making his missionary tours every 
four or six weeks. The place of holding religious services in this locality, for 
greater convenience, was changed to the house of William Herrington. This 
house, a log building with the chimney on the outside, the place in which 
was organized the first congregation in Salem township, is still standing near 
the town of Salem, a relic of pioneer house-building, and a memorial of primi- 
tive piety and devotion to the truth of the Gospel. A few years after the 
organization of the congregation here, steps were taken toward the erection of 
a house of worship. A fine location was secured for this purpose, and deeded 
to the church by James Guthrie. The building was completed and dedicated 
in 1838. The Reformed Congregation united with the Lutherans in the erec- 
tion of the church, and occupied it conjointly with the latter for twenty-five 
years. Rev. Keyl continued to preach for the Lutherans until 1840, when, after 
a temporary absence, he returned to Clarion county, and made his home with a 
former friend near Fryburg, where in a few years he departed this life. His 
remains rest in the grave-yard at the site of the old log Lutheran Church, on 
, the State road west of Fryburg. 

After this more laborers entered the field, new congregations were organ- 
ized, and each one, or at least each charge, had an individual history of its own. 

At a meeting of the Western Pennsylvania Synod, in December, 1840, Rev. 
George F. Ehrenfelt was sent to visit Clarion county. He formed a charge 
composed of the following congregations : St. Paul's, St. Peters, Salem, and 
State roads. This is the first pastoral charge in Clarion county, and at pres- 
ent embraces six separate charges. Mr. Ehrenfelt was the first regularly lo- 



Churches. 431 

cated pastor in the county. At present there are nineteen congregations, 
eight charges, and 1,551 members in the Lutheran Church of Clarion county. 

Societies.! 

Patrons of Husbandry. — The first grange in Clarion county was organized 
in 1874. In less than four years there were twelve subordinate granges and a 
Pomona, or county grange, within this county; the number of members was 
about six hundred. In 1879 the patrons organized a mutual fire insurance 
company, insuring only farm property. 

This order has taught the farmers to reduce expenses, both individual and 
corporate, to buy less and produce more, to sell less in bushels and more on 
hoof, to discountenance the credit and mortgage systems, to avoid litigation, 
and politically, to let the office seek the man, and not the man the office. 

Masonic Lodges. — Clarion Lodge, instituted in 1853; Canby Lodge, St. 
Petersburg ; Edenburg Lodge, New Bethlehem Lodge. The district deputies 
were R. L. Brown, Robert Thorn, C. L. Lamberton, W. W. Barr, M. M. Mere- 
dith, and William B. Meredith. 

/. 0. O. F. — Clarion Lodge, instituted in 1847; Sligo Lodge first organ- 
ized at Curllsville as Hobah Lodge ; Iron County Lodge, at Rimersburg; Ming 
Lodge, at Strattanville ; West Freedom Lodge, New Bethlehem Lodge, East 
Brady Lodge, Fox Lodge, at Foxburg; Yokohama Lodge, at Lickingville ; 
Callensburgh Lodge, Blair's Corners Lodge, Allegheny Valley Lodge, at West 
Monterey ; Elk City Lodge, Knox Lodge, at Edenburg ; and West Millville 
Lodge ; there is one encampment — Clarion, No. 9 ; Oil Dorado Lodge, at 
Perryville, and Shippenville Lodge are defunct. The district deputy grand 
masters were Enoch Alberson, John L. Sample, R. Rulofifson (fifteen years), 
Charles Kaufman, J. E. Wood (seven years). 

Grand Army of tJie Republic. — There are thirteen posts in the county, viz.: 
"Colonel George Covode," No. 112, Edenburg; "Captain J. B. Loomis," No. 
205, Clarion, "Captain Thompson Core," No. 239, Porter township; "Fox- 
burg," No. 249, Foxburg ; " Colonel William Lemon," No. 260, New Bethle- 
hem ; " E. D. Sharp," No. 267, Rimersburg; "Thomas M. Sedwick," No. 294, 
East Brady; "Adjutant John E. Myers," No. 386, SHgo ; "Major Henry 
Wetter," No. 391, Strattanville; "Lookout," No. 425, St. Petersburg; "Amos 
Kiser," No. 475, Shippenville; " Captain Charles E. Patton," No. 532, Green- 
ville ; "John C. Pollock," No. 278, West Freedom. The last named post takes' 
the number of " Lucas " Post, Snow Shoe, Centre county, which is defunct. 
There are about four hundred members of the G. A. R. in Clarion county. 

1 By James Elgin. 



432 History of Clarion County. 

CHAPTER XLHI. 
HISTORY OF ASHLAND TOWNSHIP.i 

ASHLAND township was formed from parts of Elk and Richland townships 
in 1856. 

Ashland township is bounded on the north by Venango county ; on the east 
by Elk township; on the south by Beaver and Salem townships; and on the 
west by Salem township and Venango county. 

The greatest length of the township is from north to south, five and one-half 
miles ; average length five miles. The greatest breadth is four and seven- 
eighth miles ; average, four and one-half miles. 

The surface of the township is greatly diversified, as the flow of the 
streams will show. No mountains rear their lofty heads within her limits, but 
the water course of every stream is lined with hills. The southern part is 
comparatively level, but the main part of the township is very hilly, abounding 
in small, beautiful valleys. The one peculiar characteristic of its hills is, none 
are precipitous, but all gently sloping, well rounded knobs. The most elevated 
and beautiful are the Howe and Rhodes hills, which seem like twins. 

In this small scope of land the drainage is effected by two definitely marked 
systems of streams, which seem to be divided by the public road running from 
Mount Pleasant, north and east to the John Martin farm. The northern or 
greater system, draining the north and west, is carried by four streams west 
into the Allegheny River. The principal and most northern is East Sandy 
Creek, which rises in Washington township, and in its southwestern course 
cuts both corners of that arm on the northeast corner of the township, known 
as Shippen land. It then flows across the corner of Venango county, and just 
a short distance up the stream from where it again enters the township, it re- 
ceives the drainage of the northwest through McCogle^^'s Run — since the oil 
excitement known as Cogley Run ; this rises in Elk township, but is formed 
in Ashland, and is carried west into the Allegheny. Little Sandy is the sec- 
ond stream in size, but first in importance, because it drains over half of the 
township. In its western course it receives the water of at least a score of 
smaller streams. Pine and Kolp's Run take their rise in this township. Date 
Run drains the western arm. 

The most productive portion of the township is drained into the Clarion 
River by the headwaters of Beaver and Canoe Creeks. As a whole the town- 
ship is well watered and well drained. 

The pursuits of the people of the township have varied with changing 
times and new industries, but in every case they have returned to the " old 

1 By C. E. Rugh. 



Ashland Township. 435 



reliable " occupation of farming and stock raising. The iron industry once 
stirred her citizens. Twice have the citizens neglected their farms in search of 
wealth through petroleum, but the natural features of the central, southern, 
and western parts make farming profitable. There are some very fine farms 
in this part of the township. No pains are spared in limeing and fertilizing. 
A few of the farms that deserve mention are the Armstrong, Howe, Phipps^ 
Rhodes, Hockman, Mongs, Millers, and Kribbs farms. 

Bituminous coal underlies most of the hills. The Shively bank was exten- 
sively worked during both oil excitements. This bank is situated near the 
Stone House. In the few last years a considerable amount of coal has been 
found north of the pike in " Germany." 

The Phipps and Howe limestone banks are w^orked, but these do not sup- 
ply the demands of the township. 

At one time the iron industry was extensively carried on in Ashland. A 
bank on the Phipps farm was extensively worked. The ore was hauled to the 
Black and Hasson furnaces near Shippenville. 

The most extensive bank was opened on the Kutcher farm in 1840. The 
winter of 1841 was one of the most stirring in the history of the township. 
Over sixty teams were employed at one time in hauling the ore to Dempsie's 
furnace. 

The ore on Mr. Kutcher's farm made him one of the wealthiest citizens in 
the township, or in the county, for some time. Four culprits determined on 
relieving him of part of his money. They entered his house, and after beating 
him and his wife till they were almost dead, ransacked the house from cellar 
to loft, emptying every thing. They secured only thirty-five dollars and a 
gun. The gun was afterward found. 

The finding of petroleum in the northern part of the township has, within 
the last three years, given rise to an industry that has made Ashland one of 
the richest townships in the county. The history of the oil development of 
the township is quite broken. M. E. Hess drilled the first well on the Moon 
farm in 1872, and found oil in a paying quantity. Soon after, a few wells were 
drilled on the Kribbs farm, finding a little oil. This was about the time of the 
Edenburg excitement, but there was no general excitement until the finding 
and development of 

The Cogley Oil Field. 1 

The Cogley oil field was named after the McCogley Run in the northern 
part of the township. Acknowledgment is due Mr. George Koch, of East 
Sandy, who furnished the facts concerning the Cogley field. He was also one 
of the prominent men in bringing about the proper development of this field, 

1 This was by no means the most important or productive oil field in the county, but the account 
here given is a fair type of the developments of all oil territories. 



434 History oy Clarion County. 

as the facts will show. We give below the facts and wells that developed the 
field: 

During the summer of 1873, J\Ir. Peter Schreiber, of Oil City, drilled a well 
upon the Strutman farm, finding twenty feet of oil sand and a showing of oil. 
It produced several barrels per day for some time, but was at last abandoned. 
A second well was drilled on the Widican farm, southwest of the Schreiber 
well, finding the oil sand. The third well was drilled on the same line about 
a mile southwest, near the Dunkard Church, finding the oil sand and some oil. 
Two miles west, on the Abby farm, there was a well drilled in which was found 
the oil sand and a better showing for oil. The formation was good, and this 
induced Mr. J. M. Deitrich, a supervisor on the Western Union Telegraph line, 
to make an eftort, in the fall of 1884, to further test that territory, as he 
owned considerable land in that section. He talked with his neighbors 
concerning the possibilities of finding oil on their farms, and the result was that 
"The Cogley Oil Company," consisting of Messrs. Deitrich, Young, Maxwell, 
Berlin, Etzle, and Starr, was formed. This company obtained a number of 
leases, ranging from ten to forty acres at one-eighth ro}-alty, from the farmers. 
In December a well was located on the Berlin farm and the drill started. The 
oil sand was struck January 3, 1885, at a depth of 985 feet, and after drilling 
four feet the hole commenced to fill up with oil. They immediately shut down, 
but resumed w^ork on the 6th, and on the 7th the well made a flow in the pres- 
ence of a number of oil men and farme- y found eighteen feet of pecu- 
Har looking sand. It was dark, soft, fiucu \. n'a fine pebbles, and resembled 
the stray sand of Venango. It differed from any pebble sand heretofore found. 
This well was tubed and started to pump on the 8th of Januar\', and produced 
about eight barrels per da\- for a nionth. It was then torpedoed, after which 
it produced twent}^ barrels. 

The territory was not rated high, nor held first-class, on account of the 
thin, dark-colored sand, but the Kahle Brothers, Young Farm Oil Company, 
and the McKeever Compan)- started their drills on the Young farm. 

Barber soon started on the Deitrich farm, and Patterson & Ledom com- 
menced on the Berlin farm. 

The Kahle Brothers and Young Farm Oil Company both struck the oil 
sand on March 12. The Kahle well produced sixty barrels per day, and the 
Young Farm Oil Company's well produced fift\-five barrels. 

The ^IcKeever well was finished on March 24, and produced fifty barrels 
per day. All these wells were close together, and did little in defining the 
field. 

Patterson & Ledom finished a thirty-barrel well April i, which widened the 
field to the west a quarter of a mile. Barber's location being close to Cogley 
No. I, was considered a prime location, but, to the surprise of all, came in on 
the 8th of April, after torpedoing, at twelve barrels per day. 



Ashland Township. 435 



May 1 6, Wood & Company's well, on the Young farm, came in doing- 
thirty barrels. May 30, Booth & White's well was finished, and produced 
thirty barrels per day. This widened the field to the south. June I, Howe & 
Company struck a ten-barrel well on the Kennemuth farm. May 2, Yonkers 
& Deitrich struck an eight-barrel well on the Deitrich farm. These wells were 
on the southwest end of the belt as then developed, which led many to believe 
that the field was light in that direction, but Matison & Colaron, Stayley & 
McDonald, Wood & McEntire, and Urquhart & Levens on the Young farm, 
and J. B. Smithman on the Fisher farm, all struck good wells, and June 6, 
Koch & Co. struck a fifty-barrel well on the Young farm ; June 7, Fertig & 
Henne finished up a one hundred and twenty-barrel well on the Rickenbrode 
farm ; Urquhart & Levens drilled three wells on the Young farm, doing one 
hundred barrels ; Roess Brothers, on the same farm, struck two wells doing sixty 
barrels ; Crawford & Brother's well, on the Strutman farm, came in doing sixty 
barrels; Fertig & Henne struck a sixty-barrel well on the Gibbs farm; and 
these caused the town of Cogley City to be built on the Young and Strutman 
farms. 

June 10, 1885, Koch Brothers & Goettel struck a well on the M. P. Hess 
farm that produced one hundred and fifty-five barrels per day. This well was 
located one mile southwest of the Young farm, in the territory that before was 
considered dry or very light. It was a wild-cat well, and the best that has yet 
been found in the Cogley field. It was visited by hundreds of people. Gil- 
lespie & Peters struck a fifty-barrel well on the same farm July 15 ; August 11, 
J. B. Smithman struck a seventy-five-barrel well on the Ben Hess farm ; Urqu- 
hart & Levens struck a fifty-barrel well on the M. P. Hess farm, and a seventy- five 
barrel well on the Henel lot August 12. On the 14th of August Koch and 
Goettel, No. 2, on the M, P. Hess farm, came in doing thirty barrels per day, and 
in one week after it was struck, fourteen wells were under way on the adjoining 
farms. North of the M. P. Hess farm, on the Deitrich place, Holt & Morrison 
found a fifty-barrel well July 17; July 17, Stayley & McDonald struck a sev- 
enty-five-barrel well, and Koch, Swatzfager & Co. a sixty-barrel well on the 
same farm; August 21, Koch Oil Co. struck a sixty-barrel well on the Will 
Hess farm ; August 14, Hunter & Co. struck a thirty-five-barrel well on the 
Beals farm, one mile southwest of the M. P. Hess farm ; Shaffer & Co. struck 
a twenty-barrel well on the Miller farm, two miles southwest. The full length, 
or nearly so, was now developed, and it was sure territory within the belt lim- 
its. January, 1886, operations began to decHne on account of the full develop- 
ment of the territory. No dry wells were found inside of the limits of the 
field. The oil is of a superior quahty and has received a good premium, ranging 
from seven to fourteen cents. 

During November, 1886, the field produced 5,416 barrels per day, and the 
wells do not decline as fast as those in other pebble territory. This field is 



436 History of Clarion County. 

1,400 rods long and 300 rods wide, containing about 2,625 acres. The north- 
ern end is the wider, but the southern end proved the most prohfic, and at- 
tracted the most attention. 

The oil sand is soft, well filled with fine pebbles ; the drilling is hard, and 
cost fifty cents a foot at the opening of the field, but soon advanced to sixty- 
cents a foot. Most of the drilling was done at this price. 

An idea of the position and thickness of the strata may be had from the 
complete record of the well of Koch & Brothers, on the John Young farm, fin- 
ished July 16, 1885, producing fifty barrels per day: 

Name of Strata. Depth feet. Thickness feet. 

1 Conductor .. 12 

2 Coal 12 2 

3 Black slate 14 2 

4 Homewood sand i6 214 

5 Slate 230 40 

6 Sand 270 15 

7 Red sand ; 285 5 

8 Slate and shell 290 64 

9 Salt-water sand 354 80 

Cased at 427 feet. 

10 First sand ; 760 40 

Red sand 800 10 

Gas sand Sio 20 

Slate 830 63 

Red rock 893 55 

Slate 948 12 

Boulder 960 20 

Soft slate 980 28 

Third sand 1,008 19 

Slate 1,027 6 

Depth 1 ,033 

The first settlers purchased their farms from Huidekooper, Bingham Land 
Company, Bear, or Wright, these iiaving bought land from the Holland Land 
Company. 

The facts concerning the history of the early settlers are quite as uncertain 
as most legendary history, but will be given as related by their favored de- 
scendants. 

Thomas Washington Mays was one of the earliest settlers. He purchased 
some land from Huidekooper, upon which he settled in 1804. His son, Will- 
iam Mays, in company with his brother, carrying their provisions, and seed 
corn and beans upon their backs, drove their cattle from Westmoreland county, 
through the wilderness, to the land now known as the Hockman farm. The 
family did not arrive as soon as anticipated, and they were compelled to use 
their seed corn and beans for food. This scanty supply was soon consumed, 
and they were compelled to leave their cattle to go in search of food. They 
had the good fortune to find the home of an old Westmoreland acquaintance 
in the person of Henry Best, on Beaver Creek. Their hunger was soon re- 
lieved, and with heavy loads but light hearts they started back to their new 



Ashland Township. 437 



home. On their way home they were pursued by a pack of wolves that 
seemed as hungry as they had been. These wolves gave them no little uneasi- 
ness. The family at last arrived, and a rude house was hastily erected for their 
shelter. This was the first building within the limits of the township. Mr. 
Mays also planted the first fruit tree in the township, which still stands by the 
corner of Mr. Hockman's house. The tree is about six feet in circumference, 
and has borne fruit for over eighty successive summers, and is still fruitful. The 
title to Mr. Mays's farm was not clear, and " the land was bought out from in 
under him," as it was then expressed. He then moved on to the land now 
known as the Starr farm, where he died. 

In the early part of the year after Mays settled, a man by the name of Sam- 
uel Fry settled on the farm now known as the Knight farm. In the same year 
Mr. Harold purchased the land now owned by Robert Armstrong. 

In 1806, Nathan Phipps, from Westmoreland county, settled on the farm now 
owned by Nathan Phipps, the third. Soon after Mr. Phipps's arrival in these 
parts Nathan Phipps, jr. was born, he being the first child born in the township. 
Mr. Barnhart Martin settled upon the Martin farm in 1807. ^^r. Martin was 
born October 12, 1786, in Germany, near the Rhine, but was educated in 
France. He was a man of letters, and esteemed very highly by all the old 
settlers. He was their counselor. in all affairs, and was the first justice of the 
peace, holding that ofifice till his death, which occurred February, 1866. 

In 1809 Mr. Robert Armstrong settled on the farm now owned by his son, 
the youngest of his twelve children, to whom acknowledgment is due for the 
interest he has taken in the history of tlie township. Robert Armstrong, sr., 
was a native of Ireland. He was born near Innishillen, August 2, 1782. 
Emigrating to America in 1795, he married Miss Sarah Harold May 8, 1808. 
He died August 4, 1854. Sarah Harold was born in Blacklick township, In- 
diana county, Pa., September 2, 1784, died April 22, 1865. 

One year after their marriage they moved to Ashland township, where 
they remained during their lives. Soon after arriving he turned his horses out 
to pasture and they went back to Westmoreland county, where they had come 
from. Among the many incidents of interest that are found in Mr. Arm- 
strong's history, the following deserve mention : One quiet evening as he was 
preparing his fuel for the night, for in those times " we had to work at night 
to make both ends meet," they said, a squad of Indians, twelve adults with 
two or three papooses, were seen advancing up the hill towards the house. 
With the courage of a pioneer father he held a firm grasp upon his ax, and 
taking the sober second thought he chopped away in an unconcerned manner, 
looking up to show the red men that he knew they were coming. When the 
Indians came up to him he laid down his ax, and offered each one his hand of 
friendship, which they kindly accepted. By signs he led them into the house, 
and ordered Mrs. Armstrong to get them the best supper within her means, 

4G 



438 History of Clarion County. 

which she hastily did. Tiie Indians were very bold, and searched every 
corner, and on finding a bottle, some of them asked for ' um ;' others asked for 
'white man's yum,' wanting 'firewater,' or rum. Mr. Armstrong, to show 
that he trusted them, and wanted to be on friendly terms with them, put his 
first born babe, which is always the dearest baby in the world, in the lap of 
the one he thought the leader. This gave Mrs. Armstrong such uneasiness 
that slie could hardly proceed with the supper. The chief played a few min- 
utes with the baby, but soon laid it on the floor. Each of these victories gave 
the Armstrongs pleasure, but their very souls were filled with an aching uncer- 
tainty, and such an anxiety, that they never forgot that night. After finishing 
their supper the Indians passed on, leaving the Armstrongs to rejoice over this 
first visit from the natives. The Indians frequently passed along the little 
brook below their house, but they were never molested by them. 

Mr. George Berlin settled on the farm now owned by his son, William, in 
'1810. Mr. Berlin was born September 12, 1782, in Little York, York county, 
Pa. He was a blacksmith by trade. All the people within a radius of ten 
miles came to his shop for their work to be done, yet he had tiriie to farm. 
He broke the land with a shear plow, himself acting as horse, while his wife 
held the plow. 

The first carding-machine in this section of the country was owned by Mr. 
Berlin. It was run by horse-power. Wool was brought from sixteen miles 
around to be carded, which fact leads us to judge that it was the first carding- 
machine in the county. Mr. Berlin kept tavern also, and the Susquehanna and 
Waterford Turnpike was graded past his tavern in 18 18. Mrs. Berlin baked 
every day to supply the men working on this road. This is well remembered 
by his oldest son, Jesse, who said he had to chop bake-wood. 

Messrs. Joseph Kutcher, Henry Neely, Henry Swab, Henry Mong, John 
Miller, and others, also settled soon after those mentioned above. The history 
of the trials and hardships borne by these early settlers is the same story told 
of all pioneer fathers, with the names changed. 

The need of a grist-mill was the source of most of their inconvenience, but 
sometimes they had nothing to grind if they had had a mill. Some of these 
early settlers lived six weeks on milk and potatoes. Salt was a precious thing 
to them. It cost four dollars per bushel, and had to be packed from " east of 
the mountains." They manufactured their sugar and most of their cloth. 
Calico cost fifty cents per yard. They had no wagons, but hauled everything 
on " pin sleds." They tramped or flailed their grain out and cleaned it in a 
sheet. 

In all wars in which the United States have been engaged, Ashland town- 
ship has furnished her full share of brave and gallant troops, and was especially 
well represented in the War of 18 12. On a quiet afternoon in July the citizens 
of the township that were fit were summoned to be ready the next morning 



Ashland Township. 439 



for the march to Lake Erie. This draft came right in harvest, and was a try- 
ing time for them to leave everything to their wives. But Hke true patriots 
they started for the lake and arrived there before Perry's famous battle. They 
returned some time in the winter, and were drafted again in the spring and 
marched toward the northern boundary of the United States. They took part 
in the battle of Lundy's Lane. All returned safe and sound, and found their 
families in good condition. 

The first mail received in Ashland township was carried and distributed by 
Dr. Powell. He carried it from Franklin, and after leaving the house of 
Thomas Mays, he saw or passed no other building till he reached Franklin. 
There was no road and he followed a path through the wilderness. 

The first post-office in the township was established at Kossuth, and opened 
up by Mr. Ed. Heeter. It is now kept by James Lamberton, and is a fourth- 
class office; but Mr. Smith, postmaster during the oil excitement, says that 
during the greatest excitement he canceled stamps to the amount of $300 per 
day. This same oil excitement caused a second office of the township to be 
established at Fern City, under the name of Fern Post-office, September 12, 

1885. The office was first kept by William Hockman. He resigned in April, 

1886, and was succeeded by Mr. J. C. Berlin, the present master. 

The first town in the township was Mt. Pleasant, more commonly called 
Ninevah. 

Cogley Cit}^ was located on the Young and Strutman farms, and like 
most oil towns, had a mushroom growth. The building was begun in May, 
1885, and it soon contained a machine shop, a blacksmith shop, two livery 
stables, eight stores, three hotels, six boarding-houses, and a billiard saloon 
and skating rink. All these did a thriving business, but as soon as Fern City 
began to build, Cogley declined, and by January, 1886, little was left to show 
its location. 

Kossuth was located on the Pike. It was named after the post-office at 
this place. It was built with the hope that it was on the oil belt, and by Jan- 
uary, 1886, it had a population of 400. It contained three hotels, two hard- 
ware stores, one machine shop, one drug store, nine stores, one blacksmith 
shop, two oil offices, five saloons, one billiard saloon, and the post-office. Sev- 
eral wells were drilled near the town. They were all dry and this caused the 
town to decline. At present, January, 1887, there is little more of a town 
than before the oil excitement. 

Fern City is built on the M. P. Hess and Fern farms, and was named after 
the latter. 

June 10, 1885, Koch & Goettell struck the greatest well in this field. It 
produced one hundred and fifty-five barrels per day. This caused a town to 
commence to build. Mong & Hockman's hardware store was the first build- 
ing. One month after they built, the town had a population of three hundred, 



440 History of Clarion County. 

and at the end of the second month the population was six hundred. It then 
contained one hardware store, nine stores, three meat-markets, four hotels, 
seven boarding-houses, one drug- store, one post-office, one harness-shop, one 
livery- stable, two blacksmith shops, five barber- shops, three oil offices, one gas 
office, two news-rooms, one newspaper, and thirteen saloons. 

It was said by those who followed the oil excitement that this was one of 
the wickedest towns ever built. The Sabbath day was made hideous by 
drunken fights. After the drilling was done the town became quite respecta- 
ble. At present, January, 1887, the population is 350. This town will likely 
last as long as the wells in this section produce. 

The first school-house was built on the Armstrong farm some years before 
1820. This house served as church and for all public meetings. The first 
teacher was Thomas Thomson. In 1833 a man by the name of Thomas Barr 
was " keeping school " in this house. He got drunk one day and slept in the 
school-house the after part of the day and in the evening. Some time in the 
night Mr. Armstrong saw the house on fire. He hurried down, expecting to 
find the master burned, but he had crept out and was lying in a fence corner 
near by. Another house was built on the same location, which is still standing. 
On the wall within is written, "Evacuated in 1839." The next school was 
held in the public school-house called the " Shivelie school-house." This was 
the first school under the public school system. Soon after a school was started 
on the Miller farm. These houses were built by the citizens of the district, but 
the teachers were paid out of tax. The first teachers under the public system 
were Mr. Ab. Teats and Mr. Neri Boyer. 

The township at present supports seven schools. 

The first religious meeting w^as a Methodist meeting held in Mr. Robert 
Armstrong's house in 1810. One of the first preachers was a Rev. Bear, from 
the Baltimore Conference. 

The first German Reformed preacher was a Rev. Henry Koch, who was the 
first pastor to preach in the first church in the county for miles around. 

Many congregations were formed in the township, sometimes preaching in 
the open air. The school-houses were used for many years. Prayer-meetings 
were frequently held in private houses. 

Though the people were active in their religious matters, yet there were no 
churches built within the township until about the time of the organization of 
the township. This was an Evangelical Lutheran Church, known as the St. 
Mark's Church. Their first minister was Rev. Witt, who organized a congre- 
gation many years before this church was built. The first pastor to preach in 
the new church was Rev. Bachtle. 

This church was replaced by a magnificent building in 1882. This is one 
of the finest country churches in the county. It has a Sunday-school room, 
that by folding doers can be thrown into the auditorium. It was built through 
the efforts of Rev. J. M. Wouders. 



Beaver Township. 441 



There are besides this church a German Reform Church, an EvangeHst 
Church, and a Dunkard Church. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 
HISTORY OF BEAVER TOW^SHIP.i 

BEAVER township is bounded on the north by Salem, Ashland, and Elk, 
on the east by Elk, Paint, and the Clarion River, which forms the Beaver- 
Piney line, south by the river and Licking township, and west by Richland and 
Salem. It lies in the west central part of the county. Its shape is irregular. 
Its greatest length from east to west is about nine miles ; its greatest width is 
about seven miles. 

The surface of the township is very hilly, but not rough, being broken into 
numerous ridges by many small streams passing through it. The highlands 
are divided into three main ridges, the principal one of which comprises all 
that portion of the township lying between Beaver Creek on the west and 
Canoe Creek on the east. It is in fact a watershed separating the small streams 
which supply these two larger streams. It extends from Ashland township 
line on the north to the Clarion at Canoe Ripple, on the south. This range 
has numerous cross-ridges jutting out from the main elevation, and terminat- 
ing at the creeks which run on either side of it. The second range in elevation 
and area lies " across Canoe," or more definitely speaking, it comprises all that 
portion of the township lying east of Canoe Creek except the small portion ly- 
ing east of Deer Creek. This Canoe ridge extends from the vicinity of Elk 
City southward until it terminates in the Clarion River at Delo's Eddy. The 
portion of the township east of Deer Creek is a high ridge, sloping down from 
the east to that stream. 

The third and last main elevation comprises all that portion of the town- 
ship lying west of Beaver Creek, and forms the watershed between Beaver 
Creek and Turkey Run. The highest part of this elevation is the ridge run- 
ning from the Licking line to the Salem line, and probably the highest point is 
near the store of William Lorah & Son, at Monroeville. The lowlands of the 
township are limited in area, but a few splendid level tracts lie among the hills; 
those in the vicinity of Edenburg and Beaver City being the finest in the town- 
ship. The Clarion River flows along the southeastern edge of the township for 
several miles, striking the township line east of the mouth of Deer Creek, and 
leaving it between the mouth of Canoe and the mouth of Beaver. Deer Creek 

1 By B. M. Price. 



442 History of Clarion County. 

enters the township from Elk township, near the Paint township Hne, and 
empties into the Clarion in the southeastern part of the township. Canoe flows 
out of Ashland township into Beaver immediately northeast of Edenburg, and 
flowing through the township to the southward, it empties into the Clarion at 
Canoe Ripple. Beaver Creek enters the township from Salem township near 
Beaver City. It flows southward and into Licking township about one mile 
west of the mouth of Canoe. These streams with their tributaries furnish good 
water power, good water for stock, and good drainage to carry off the surplus 
rain fall. A portion of the extreme western part of the township is drained 
by a tributary of Turkey Run. 

Originally the land was covered with a heavy growth of oak timber. The 
principal part of the the township has been cleared, though a number of good 
tracts of timber yet remain. Much of the present standing timber, however, 
is of second growth ; the original forests having been cut off for charcoal. 

The lands lying west of Canoe Creek produce fine crops of wheat, corn, 
and oats. This more than ordinary yield of grain is not due to the natural fer- 
tility of the soil, but rather to the energy of the thrifty land owners, who have 
made a special effort to fertilize their farms. East of this creek are some good 
farms ;. the enterprising land owners on that side having many more difficulties 
to contend with in procuring fertilizers than their more favored neighbors to 
the west of them. 

The principal productions of Beaver are the usual farm products, petroleum, 
coal, ore, limestone, and lumber. In early days when the iron industry was 
the principal one of the county, large quantities of iron ore were mined. When 
the iron excitement died away the people generally gave their attention to 
farming, but little progress was marked for a number of years. In 1865 the 
production of oil at Deer Creek introduced a new element into the commerce 
of the township. But as the field was soon abandoned, this element had little 
influence on the wealth or progress of the people, till the developments in the 
western part of the township, which began in 1872. The excitement ran high 
for about six years ; probably being at its zenith in 1877. The production 
was large. Many land owners became wealthy from the oil produced on their 
farms. At present the yield of oil is somewhat limited. Since the oil excite- 
ment has subsided the farmers seem to vie with each other in the improvement 
of their lands. 

As a general thing the breeding of first-class cattle has received little at- 
tention. There are some worthy exceptions to this general condition. Cyrus 
Neely, Israel Neely, W. J. Ramsey, and a few others, have made much im- 
provement in the cattle of the township. Eli Ritts has some fine cattle on his 
farm occupied by Peter Price. The horse stock has received much more at- 
tention. Probably no township of the county has a better grade of draft- 
horses than Beaver. George Berlin, Jacob Graff, Levi Berlin, and others, have 
done much to improve the grade of horses. 



Beaver Township. 443 



History and Early Settlements. — Beaver township was a part of Richland 
township, Venango county, previous to the formation of Clarion county. The 
original Beaver township, at the organization of Clarion county, included the 
present Beaver township, also part of the present townships of Ashland, Elk, 
and Salem, with a population of i,6ii. In 1880 the township, lessened in 
area, had a population of 3,585. The population of the township during the 
oil excitement probably exceeded 5,000. The first settlement within the limits 
of the township was made in 1801 by Henry Best and Harold Best. These 
two pioneers left their homes in Westmoreland county to seek a new home 
farther west, and after several days' travel they reached a place which seemed 
to suit them, and they stopped and spent the night where John G. Snyder's 
barn now stands. Having looked the country over they concluded to settle 
there, and at once proceeded to erect a cabin. The place of location was near 
the site of the Stone Church. Not knowing who owned the land whereon 
they had located, each of the brothers proceeded to take possession of a tract 
for himself. Harold's cabin stood about where the Stone House now stands, 
"which is occupied by Henry Best, son of Harold. This son is now in his 87th 
year. The other brother, Henry, built his cabin at the head of the little valley 
northeast from the present residence of Michael Best. The following year the 
men returned to Westmoreland for their families, which they at once brought 
to their new homes. Soon after this another brother, William, came and pur- 
chased the tract upon which Henry had built. 

At this time there was no mill nearer than at Oil Creek, or at Bear Creek, 
and Henry looked around for a suitable place to erect a mill. He selected a 
site near the place where the dam of the present George Best mill now is. 
The prospect of having a mill was received with so much favor by the settlers 
far and near that men came many miles to help build it. About this time two 
settlements were made at or near the mouth of Deer Creek, one by Joseph 
Brown and the other by John Orr. It is possible that these settlements ante- 
dated the settlements made by the Bests, but a memorandum in possession of 
Captain R. Laughlin, of Callensburg, only shows positive proof that the Deer 
Creek settlement was made as early as in 1802, at the latest. The memoran- 
dum is as follows : 

" Memorandum — Robert Brown. 

" A Memorandum of A Bargin Between John Laughlin and Robt. Brown 
Sheweth that I, the Said Brown Doth hearby Sell unto the Said Laughlin A 
Pice or persel of Land containing Eight-Hundred Acres Lying on the waters 
of Stump Creek with two small improvements in the Names of Joseph Brown 
& John Orr — Bearing Date October 30th 1802, which I Do Ensure to be the 
first upon the Land it Being for the sum of one Hundred Dollars to me in 
hand paid which I am to pay Back if not vacant with Interest and reasonable 



444 History of Clarion County. 

pay for his Trouble as witness my hand and Seal the i8th Day of January 
1803. 

"Atst Jno Leard. Robert Brown, [Seal] " 

A man named Ritchey made a settlement south of Blair's Corners on the 
land now owned by the Garis brothers, Wiles and Gilbert, at an early date. 
Ritchey died and his widow sold the improvement to a Mr. Knight, an early 
settler, and the ancestor of the families of that name now in the township. 

The Becks and the Armstrongs first settled the northern portion of the 
township. 

Henry Myers settled in 181 5 on the property now known as the Myers 
Mill property, near Blair's Corners. He built the saw-mill in 18 15, and the 
grist-mill in 181 7, and took up his residence in the upstairs of the last-named 
structure. This mill is now run by Joseph Myers, a son of its builder. Here 
may be seen the toll-box that did service in the old Alum Rock mill from 1811 
to 18 17, and which has done service for seventy-six years. 

In 181- a man named Raines settled the land now owned by Cyrus Neely, 
Israel Neely, and Leonard Mong. John Neely, father of Cyrus, Israel, John, 
and Frank Neely of this township, bought the Raines property, and then set- 
tled the farm which George Texter now owns. 

The first settler east of Canoe was James McKisson, on the Regina Alt- 
man farm. 

Furnaces. — There were four furnaces in the township — Jefferson, Eagle, 
Beaver, and Tippecanoe. Beaver was the first. It was erected in 1837 by 
Leonard & Sample. Jefterson was erected in 1839 by Plummer & Co. Eagle 
was erected by Curll, Kribbs & Co., and Tippecanoe by Black & Maxwell. 
Jefferson was called the " Quaking Asp Furnace." Being in a hurry to get the 
furnace in blast the stack was surrounded by a temporary wall of quaking asp 
poles filled in with clay. The iron from these furnaces was boated to Pittsburgh 
on the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers. 

Grist-mills. — Henry Best's grist-mill erected, in 1806, was the first in the 
township. A short distance below it on the same stream (Beaver Creek) 
Henry Myers built his mill in 1817, and later the mill known as the StuU mill 
was built, still farther down. Henry Best's mill going into decay, a new one 
was erected, which is now owned by his son, George Best. 

Saw-mills. — The first saw-mill was the one now owned by Joseph Myers, 
which he runs in connection with his grist-mill. It was erected in 18 15 by 
Henry Myers. The old saw- mill at the mouth of Canoe was owned by George 
Delo. Later James D. Shaw carried on business at that point. At present 
George W. Whitehill carries on boat-building there in connection with the mill, 
which he repaired upon gaining possession of it. At an early date a small mill 
was built down the stream from Myers's mill, where the pump station now is, 
and another near the site of the George Best mill. Near Edenburg, on the 



Beaver Township. 445 



Whitehill farm, is a saw-mill on Canoe, which has been in operation many- 
years. 

Other Industries. — Early in the history of the township Henry Myers built 
an oil mill near the station at Blair's Corners, on the P. & W. Railroad. The 
mill was for the manufacturing of flax-seed oil, and was run a long time. 

Reuben Fowles had the first wagon- shop in the township, near the old 
Fowles homestead. Other tradesmen followed. George Texter, sr., built a 
wagon-shop in 1824 where he now lives, being the oldest native workman in 
the township. 

During the oil excitement an extensive carriage manufactory was erected 
at Jefferson City by a Mr. Delo. It was the largest establishment of the kind 
in the township. Many others came with the oil excitement, but the only- 
establishment that survived the reaction is the manufactory of O. J. Crum at 
Monroeville, which, at present, is putting out first-class work. 

The shops incident to the excitement, such as machine-shops, boiler-shops, 
tank-shops, etc., have disappeared, with one exception, that of the machine- 
shop of Irvin Magee at Monroeville, vdiich shop yet does a great deal of work. 

As was noted under early settlements a man named Raines settled the I. S. 
Neely farm and other lands. His cabin was built about six rods west of the 
spot where I. S. Neely's house now stands, which spot is marked by two wal- 
nut trees. 

In 1 82 1 John Neely came from Westmoreland county and bought Raines 
out. Soon after this John Neely wounded himself with an ax. The cut was 
so severe that Mr. Neely had to return to Westmoreland to receive treatment 
from a doctor, under whose care he was kept for a year. He then came back 
to his land that he had bought of Raines. His wound had somewhat disabled 
him for hard work, so he bought his father's stills and erected the first still- 
house built in Beaver township. It stood below the spring, where E. J. Neely's 
barn now stands. It is noticeable that of John Neely's nine sons, brought up 
in and about the distillery, not one of them is addicted to the use of liquor, 
and only three use tobacco. After the still-house was built C. Kribbs built one 
near Edenburg, and a man named Armstrong built another not far from 
Kribbs's. 

A few years ago George Knaell erected a jelly factory at Mongtown. 
Many bushels of apples are here made into jelly by this new enterprise. 

The earliest blacksmiths of Beaver township were a man named Silvis, who 
worked in a shop near the present site of Hunter's barn at Beaver City ; and 
a man named T. Lynn, who worked at the mouth of Canoe. After these 
came Henry Sterner, Samuel More, John Lorah, O. J. Crum, Samuel Stoner, 
John Cope, and others. 

Mr. Coulter, at Jefferson, works in the old Delo carriage manufactory, 
and for many years David Kline had a shop at Mt. Joy ; and Henry Sterner 

47 



446 History of Clarion County. 

was the first blacksmith to work at Monroe. John Beck, sr., once had a shop 
on the John Beck farm, near Edenburg. At an early day John Cherry, sr.,. 
erected a gunsmith shop where the present shop of John Cherry now stands. 
For many years this iwas the only gun-shop within forty miles. Here Mr. 
Silvis often came to do blacksmithing. 

Oil Wells. — The oil excitement began in Beaver in 1872. In 1865 there 
had been five wells drilled at the mouth of Deer Creek, called the Pocahontas, 
the Brazil, the Coal Run, the Whitehill, and the Packer. All of these wells 
had some oil, the first being struck at a depth of about 313 feet. The oil was 
of good quality, amber colored. The production was small, though the Poca- 
hontas started off at a daily production of thirty barrels. The field was soon 
abandoned, as the wells were " wet holes," that is, not cased, and as the water 
was plenty, it soon drowned out the oil. 

In 1872 the first wells to strike oil were on the George Berlin, the George 
Texter, and the Eli Ritts farms, in the western part of the township. The oil 
here found was the third sand, or green oil. Developments soon extended 
eastward through the township, and soon almost the entire portion lying west 
of Canoe from the Ashland and Salem lines toward the river to Wentling's 
Corners was covered with a forest of derricks. The total number of wells 
drilled in the township is unknown to the writer, but it must have reached 
eight hundred. Some of the wells were large producers and the total yield 
was enormous. Pump stations were erected at Forest Home, Slambang, Jef- 
ferson, and Blair's Corners to accommodate the field, which was soon covered 
with a net-work of pipe laid by the United Pipe Line Company and other 
transportation corporations. The production of the township has greatly de- 
creased, but still is quite valuable. An oil refinery was once in operation near 
the residence of William J. Ramsey, below Monroe. It was frozen out by 
larger corporations. 

Towns. — Previous to the excitement the villages of the township were 
small. Edenburg was the largest. The developments in and around that 
town soon increased its population and business till it became a borough. 
Monroeville, a small cross-roads village,-soon became a booming oil town, and 
Blair's Corners increased considerably, but being on the edge of the belt, it 
never became very important. Jefferson City, Wentling's Corners, Beaver 
City, Forest Home, Fullerton, Mongtown, Moyer's Corners, Mehrtena and 
Slambang sprang up almost in a day, and for a few years " boomed," but 
when the reaction came, the most of these towns disappeared, some leaving 
not even a sign to mark the spot where they once stood. Monroeville, now 
called Monroe, Wentling's Corners, and Blair's Corners are the only remaining 
towns of importance. The larger of these oil towns were bad places, especially 
Jefferson City. 

The deviltry incident to the growth and decay of these towns was inesti- 



Beaver Township. 447 



■mable, and to write what could at this late day be set down would fill a vol- 
ume. But these scenes of unnatural and spasmodic uprising of little cities had 
a brighter side. The influx of population foreign to our soil brought with it 
many of the best people of this and other States, who devoted their money to 
the development of the wealth of the township, while their influence was ex- 
erted to improve their social and moral surroundings. 

At Monroe, the present business houses consist of Lorah & Son and A. J. 
Dearolph, in general merchandise ; S. F. Weiser, shoe store and shop ; Wm. 
Henton, drug store; O. J. Crum, carriage manufactory; Charles McCafferty, 
furniture and undertaking. Here also are located Dr. J. F. Summerville and 
Dr. B. Richter, and John Lorah, justice of the'peace. Here also is the machine- 
shop of Irvin Magee. At Blair's Corners J. P. Lutz has a general store; John 
Long, a hotel ; and Samuel Stoner, a blacksmith shop ; and Mr. Fisher, a 
wagon-making shop. At Wentling's Corners, Mr. Deitrich has a store ; Mr. 
Thomas Wentling, a store; John Cope, a blacksmith shop; and Robert Taylor, 
a hotel. Isaac Mong, justice of the peace, is located here. At Jefferson Fur- 
nace, Blair's Corners, and Forest Home the pump stations are still in use. At 
the Beck farm John Beck still has a grocery, and John Mehrten a store at 
Mehrtena. 

Schools and Churches. — In 18 14 a building was erected where the Stone 
Church now stands. It was a church and school-house combined. Soon after 
this building was erected another was built near the present site of Cyrus 
Neely's brick house. After that a school-house, known as the " Buckwheat 
Academy," was erected near Wentling's Corners, on the Jerry Best farm, and 
the next school-house was built where Edenburg now stands. 

During the excitement in oil times the township sustained eighteen schools. 
Since the floating population has gone out of the township, four of these 
schools have been abandoned. 

After the church building at the Stone Church others were erected through- 
out the township. The first, known as the Emmanuel Church, stood near the 
site of the one-time town of Beaver City. It was abandoned in oil times and 
the Beaver City church was erected. The Mount Joy Church stands on the 
ridge above Canoe Ripple. The Evangelical Lutherans erected a church at 
Blair's Corners in 1875. The Monroe St. Mark's Reformed Church was built 
in 1876. The Brown Church, in Monroe, was built by the Presbyterians 
about the same time. One time there was a church at Jefferson Furnace. 
The only resident minister in the township is Rev. J. F. Wiant, of Monroe, 
who succeeded Rev. Henry Hoffman, the first pastor of St. Mark's. 

Recollections, Notes, etc. — The township at various times has had various 
lodges of different benevolent orders. At Monroe the Royal Templars, the 
Knights of Honor, and the Knights and Ladies of Honor have had lodges. 
At Blair's the I. O. O. F. had a lodge which is thriving. Beaver City and 



448 History of Clarion County. 

Jefferson each had a lodge of the A. O. U. W.; the latter lodge has been 
moved to Wentling's Corners. Monroe K. of H. survives. 

Monroe Academy was established about i88o, by Rev. S. W. Wilt. It 
afterward fell into the hands of W. A. Beer. Since 1882 it has not been in 
operation. The Knights of Honor having purchased the academy building, it 
is now used for a public hall and lodge-room. In 1881 W. A. Beer and J. E. 
Reicherd began the publication of Common Sense, an educational semi- 
monthly. This ofifice was in Monroe. It suspended in 1882. 

Mr. Beer, during his residence in Monroe, was nominated for the Pennsyl- 
vania House of Representatives, to which office he was elected by a large 
vote. 

While a resident of Monroe Mr. Beer had charge of the Monroe Academy, 
and taught the public school during the term of 1881-2. His school work 
was earnest and aggressive. His pupils rallied to his standard with a will. 
The school not only made rapid strides forward, but during that term it pro- 
cured a bell worth twenty-two dollars, a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, a 
twenty-five dollar tellurian globe, and some maps, and blackboards. The 
pupils and citizens recognized in this teacher a character strong in its own 
individuality, and it left its impression upon the community. The school has 
kept on accummulating apparatus and aids, and now has an organ, a set of 
encyclopedias, and other helps; besides, a number of the students of 188 1-2 
have since become teachers of good repute. 

Forest Home was the headquarters of the United Pipe Lines, superin- 
tended by Major J. B, Maitland, a gentleman of superior business abilities. 
This town was a sort of an educational center. The people built a school 
building ; helped pay a teacher, and gave a great deal of attention to reading 
and study. This school has lately been abandoned. The first store in the 
township was opened by Abram Allebach, near where C. W. Wiles now lives. 

The crimes and casulties of the township have been quite numerous, but 
we are unable here to give authentic data. 

On the 2d of October, 1885, Mrs. McKisson shot Patrick Forbes, danger- 
ously wounding him. 

Probably the last wolf killed in the township was killed by J. P. Kiser, in 
i860, near the Knight school-house. 

The first post-office was " Myers," kept by Henry Myers in his mill. The 
office was afterward moved to Jefferson furnace, and the name was changed to 
" Jefferson Furnace ; " when it was moved to Blair's Corners through the influ- 
ence of R. F. Blair, the name was again changed and its present name, " Blair's 
Corners," was adopted. A post-office was established at " Knox," and one at 
Tippecanoe called " Canoe." In 1876 the Monroe post-office was established 
with W. C. Sherrick, as postmaster. About the same time an office was estab- 
lished at Jefferson City called " Church," with ¥. Donaldson as postmaster. 



Brady Township. 



449 



This office is now located at Wentling's Corners. When Beaver City was a 
town, its office was called " Kribb's Farm." 

The famous Captain Henry Neely, of Richland township, first located in 
Beaver township near Edenburg's present site. He built his cabin near where 
Mr. Culbertson's house now stands. While living here Captain Neely's brother 
died and was buried on the knoll now the north end of the main street of Eden- 
burg. This was probably the first white man buried in the limits of Beaver 
township. Henry Neely then settled on the flat west of Alum Rock, There 
are men living in Beaver who remember having sowed wheat between Christ- 
mas and New Years, and raised a good crop. 

The first physician to practice in the township was a Dr. Meager. 

The sturdy citizens of this township deserve a more extended notice than 
here given, but space will not permit. The names most familiar throughout 
the township number among them the Becks, Masters, Neelys, Bests, Myerses, 
Texters, Berlins, Delos, Alts, Knights, Kribbses, Bealses, Heeters, Garises, Arm- 
strongs, McKissons, Lorahs, Fritzes, Dearolphs, Foxes, Theisses, Heplers, 
Wentlings, Taylors, Whitehills, Hulingses, Klines, Mongs, Youngs, Bashlines, 
Cherreys, Eichners, Lutzes, and scores of others who have done their share to 
develop the township. 

• On Beaver Creek above Jefferson Furnace are a number of wells that were 
abandoned, which seem to be artesian in their nature, as they now throw out a 
constant stream of water. One of these flowing wells is located at the head of 
the Myers mill dam. From this well Mr. Myers has laid a water line to the 
head of his mill race, and the action of the water keeps the race open during 
the winter, so that here we find a water-mill that can grind the whole year 
round. 

The Pittsburgh and Western Railroad passes through the township. In oil 
times there were station-houses at Ritt's Farm, Blair's Corners, Jefferson and 
Beaver City. Now there is no ticket office in the township. The Emlenton 
and Shippenville road also passed through the township, connecting with the 
present road at Jefferson. It was torn up about eight years ago. 



CHAPTER XLV. 
HISTORY OF BRADY TOWNSHIP.i 

THIS township was christened in honor of Captain Brady, of Indian fame. 
His venturesome career is so familiar to the people of Clarion county that 
an extended recital of his daring deeds is unnecessary. 

1 By L. L. Himes. 



450 History of Clarion County. 

Brady township was formerly a part of Madison. In 1866 the will of the 
people was ascertained by a vote, and the new township of Brady was ordered 
and decreed ; the township to contain all the land lying in the great bend of 
the Allegheny River southwest of Madison, and to be separated therefrom by 
a straight line connecting Catfish and Redbank, passing through the lands of 
the Pittsburgh Coal and Mining Company. 

Brady township is connected to Madison by a very high and narrow strip 
of land, which is quite famous in the early history of the county. On one 
occasion the Indians had captured two whites down the river, and had brought 
them to their camp in the bend and secured them to stakes. Captain Brady 
came up on the Armstrong county side, and from the rocky cliff on that side 
discovered the prisoners. At night he descended the cliff, swam the Alle- 
gheny River, released the prisoners, and with them returned to the opposite 
side of the river and escaped. 

This township contains about one thousand five hundred acres of land, five 
hundred under cultivation, the remainder rough, but valuable on account of 
the great deposits of coal, iron ore, and limestone. The land lying next the 
river is low and level and valuable for farming purposes. The interior is very 
rocky, and contains high elevations with abrupt descent, and cut through by 
deep hollows. 

Early Settlers. — Captain Samuel Brady was not only the first white settler 
in Brady township, but the first in Clarion county. He located near the 
present site of East Brady shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War, 
and lived by hunting and fishing. No marks of improvement were made by 
white settlers until many years after. 

Captain Thomas Phillips was among the first white settlers that made any 
improvement. He located a tract of land where Phillipston (Phillipsburg) now 
stands, and built the first house ever built in this township. The first story 
was a studding frame and the second of hewed logs. About this time Captain 
Brady conveyed to Judge Ross, of Pittsburgh, the Brady tract for defending 
him in the courts for the killing of an Indian. Some time after this Judge 
Ross conveyed to J. M. Cunningham 1 a five hundred-acre tract, joining Phil- 
lipston. Cunningham moved on the land, cleared it up, and divided it into 
smaller tracts, conveyed one hundred acres to W. J. Cresswell, which at 
present is owned by Mr. N. Myres, of Clarion. 

Alexander Giffen was likewise an early settler. He was born in Irvine 
Ayershire, Scotland, March 5, 1809, and came here in 1830, and is to day the 
oldest person living in the township. He has been engaged in the mercantile 
business for a long time. 

Adam McGee was among the early settlers ; he followed the river as a 
pilot, and died at the age of eighty-four years. 

1 See history of East Brady. 



Beaver Township. 451 



While nature has been lavish in mineral deposits in this township, she has 
been niggardly in her gifts of forests. A few ridges of white oak are the only- 
forests to which Brady can lay claim. 

East Brady (see history of) and Phillipston are the only towns of note in 
this township. Phillipston, situated on the Allegheny River, is a thriving vil- 
lage, named after the pioneer, Captain Thomas Phillips. No regular survey 
of lots was ever made, but pieces of land were sold to purchasers as desired. 

The first M. E. Church was built in 1852, and this one was replaced by a 
new one in 1876. 

The first school-house was built in 1852, and the teacher's desk therein was 
successfully occupied by Messrs. Giffin, Martin, Edward and Burns. In those 
good old days they did not have lady teachers. Much of the instruction was 
good and forcible, and laid the foundation for the character of many of the 
present citizens of Phillipston. The old school-house gave way to a new and 
more modern one in 1873, and has been no less fortunate in the character of 
its teachers, but, on the contrary, as the house was a modern improvement, so 
the teachers that have occupied it were modern teachers, and stand high 
among that class in the county. Those especially worthy of mention are the 
following: James Pinks, in 1879; H. S. Lerch, in 1880; Nannie Cochrane, 
1881 and 1883 ; Lizzie Hull, 1882 and 1887; J. G. Conners, 1883; Miss S. H. 
Hosey, 1884; L. A. Cowan, 1885 ; S. G. Hover, 1886. 

The school has ever kept pace with the rapid advancement of the times, and 
has been the means of great good. 

The Green Line tank and repairing shops of the A. V. Railroad, are a val- 
uable part of the town, furnishing employment for a number of men at good 
wages. These shops burned down in 1886, but were immediately rebuilt. 

The only county officer ever elected from Brady township was Mr. Jacob 
Turney, to the office of sheriff, which office he filled with credit to himself and 
to the entire satisfaction of the people. 

The following named persons served in the army during the late civil war : 
Messrs. Andrew Mock, William McCoy, Alexander Giffen. J. W. Gannoe, W. 
S. Gannoe, Henry Templeton. 

In 1879 the firm of Stephenson & Mitchell leased the old Martin farm and 
developed the celebrated Pine Run coal mine, which gives employment to one 
hundred and fifty hands, producing one hundred thousand tons of coal annually, 
and is considered one of the best mines in Western Pennsylvania. 

The Hardscrabble Mines, on lands formerly owned by Brady Bend Iron 
Company, are owned and operated by the Hon. G. A. Grow, and Mr. Hartwell. 
They give employment to over one hundred men and add materially to the 
wealth of the township. The mines owned by the Pittsburgh Coal and Mining 
Company, a few years ago, employed several hundred men, and shipped more 
coal than any other mine along the Allegheny River, but the coal is exhausted 



452 History of Clarion County. 

and the mines abandoned. Brady township has the best railroad facihties of 
any township in the county. The Allegheny Valley Railroad almost encircles 
it, and has been of much benefit, giving an outlet for the great mineral wealth 
of the township. 



E 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

HISTORY OF EAST BRADY BOROUGH.^ 

ARLY History of the Site of East Brady. — Brady's Bend proper is that 
loop or bend in the Allegheny River, commencing just below Catfish, and 
reaching almost to the mouth of Redbank. It embraces a circuit of about 
eight miles by the river, and is less than one mile across its narrowest part. 
The surface is hilly, almost mountainous. The hills rise to the height of seve- 
ral hundred feet, and in many places fronting the river are very rocky and pre- 
cipitous. Those who have been brought up in this neighborhood do not ap- 
preciate the beauty and grandeur of the scenery, and it is also strange that so 
few know of the romantic interest attached to the early history of the place ; 
for here was a favorite camping- place and battle-ground for the dusky deni- 
zens of the primeval forests. The Bend received its name from the famous 
scout and Indian fighter, Captain Samuel Brady. In 1782 Captain Brady pur- 
sued a party of Indians who were on their way north with a number of pris- 
oners taken from Hannahstown, Westmoreland county. After nightfall their 
camp was discovered and Brady appeared and addressed them in their own 
tongue. They supposing it to be another Indian party, gave him full particu- 
lars as to their prisoners, strength of their band, etc. The pursuing party forded 
the river above, went down to the encampment, surrounded and killed the In- 
dians, and rescued the prisoners. Among these prisoners were the father and 
aunt of the late Peter Henry, of this place, then children of ten and twelve 
years of age. 

East Brady, the second largest town in the county, is situated in this bend in 
the Allegheny River, at a point opposite to what was formerly known as " The 
Great Western." The main portion of the town lies in a valley, but a number 
of houses are built on the surrounding hills. Some of the most picturesque 
scenery of the Allegheny may be viewed from the town. The sides of the 
hills are covered with trees, shrubs, and projecting rocks. These combined 
form one of nature's grandest displays. It is the half-way point between the 
cities of Pittsburgh and Oil City, which makes it an important railroad station. 

1 By Miss Clara Campbell. 



East Brady Borough. 453 

It is also the starting-point of the trains of the Low Grade division of the Alle- 
gheny Valley Railroad, and is always thronged with trains arriving from or 
starting for that route. Its religious, educational, and mining interests are 
quite extensive and will be treated of under their proper heads. The popula- 
tion, composed principally of the laboring classes, in 1880, numbered over fif- 
teen hundred. 

Name, Early Settlements. — During the days of the prosperity of the iron 
works, boats stopped at this side of the river, at what was then called Cunning- 
ham's Landing. Nothing was here at this time except the farm-house of J. 
M. Cunningham, and a few other buildings occupied by men who toiled among 
the farmers or kept the ferry leading to Brady's Bend. As the town is on the 
east side of the river, it has since received the name of East Brady. The rea- 
sons that the town is built where it is are, first, the necessity of homes for the 
employees of the Brady's Bend Iron Company, who could not be provided for 
on the west side of the river ; second, the building of the Allegheny Valley 
Railroad through this section of country. The land upon which the town is 
built was all formerly owned by J. M. Cunningham, esq., and by the iron com- 
pany. Mr. Cunningham was born April 21, 1820, at a point opposite Kittan- 
ning, Armstrong county. He first came here in 1854 and built the house in 
which he still lives, and which now stands on the outskirts of the town. Al- 
though having undergone repairs several times, it presents very much the same 
appearance that it did over thirty years ago. He is the father of five children, 
one son and four daughters, all of whom are living. Mr. Cunningham opened 
a hardware store in 1867, and still does quite an extensive business in that line. 
The town, as it now appears, is of comparatively recent origin, having sprung 
up within the past twenty years. A house was built where the Round House 
now stands in 1853 ; in 1854 the large house facing the river, known in later 
days as "The Temperance Hotel," (the only one in the town) was built and 
occupied by M. Sedvvick. About the same time another was built, near this, 
and used as the residence of the ferryman, Thomas Horton, for many years. 
The town was regularly laid off in lots in 1866. The first house built after this 
was by P. McKenna, near where the St. Cloud Hotel now is. The growth of 
the town was very rapid, and when, in 1867, the railroad was completed to 
this point, quite a little village was here. The first engine, No. 17, came up 
the road June 25, 1867, and great was the excitement among the pioneers 
when they saw the huge monster steaming up the iron track. The report had 
gone forth that it might be expected on that day, and the country people from 
far and near flocked to see it. Ones who were present say that there was none 
of the " small boy curiosity " exhibited on the occasion, but that the fathers of 
the town kept at a respectable distance from their distinguished visitor. The 
road did not extend further than this point till in 1869, when the line was com- 
pleted from Pittsburgh to Oil City. The post-office was established in the 

48 



454 History of Clarion County. 

year 1867. In 1869 a bridge was built across the Allegheny here. It was 
the property of the Brady's Bend Iron Company. For several years it was 
unsafe for travel, and in 1884 it fell. It has been replaced by an iron one, 
owned by the citizens of the town. The first store was that of J. M. Brown, 
opened in 1867. It was soon followed by that of J. C. Wallace & Company. 
A planing-mill was started, small coal mines were opened, doctors took up 
their residences here, churches and school-houses were built, secret societies 
were organized, and the interests and population of the town steadily increased. 
It reached its height of prosperity before the closing of the iron works, and 
since then has grown very little. It owes its present standing to the railroad 
and two large coal mines, which now give employment to the majority of the 
population of the place. 

Coal Mines. — The Brady's Bend Mining Company opened the first large 
mine in 1878, just above the town, under the direction of Hon. G. A. Grow. 
In just ninety days after the work began the men went inside and began taking 
out the coal, at the price of eighty cents per ton. The mine has ever since 
given employment to a large number of men, one hundred and sixty being 
the most engaged at one time. C. F. Hartwell, of Oil City, is general man- 
ager, and George Henry, esq., has the contract under him of taking out the 
coal. Large quantities of coal are shipped daily to northern markets. 

Pine Run Mines were opened by Messrs. Stephenson and Mitchell, the 
following year, '79. They were located on land leased from what was in 
earlier days known as the " Martin farm." Work began here July 3, and by 
August 27 (thirty days), the mines were ready for inside work. Looking after 
their interests themselves, the proprietors of these mines have spared nothing 
to make and keep everything in the best working order, and the mines have 
been very productive. The highest number of men employed at a time was one 
hundred and forty. 

Strikes. — The employees of the mines have a number of times become dis- 
satisfied, either with the price paid or the manner of weighing the coal, and 
have gone out on strikes. Sometimes the strikes lasted only a few weeks ; 
other times for months. They have always been compelled to come to the 
companies' terms. They have gained nothing, but have lost their time, injured 
the business of their employers by not furnishing coal to fill their contracts, and 
have at times become charges upon the public. 

Schools. — Soon after the first settlement of the town a small school-house 
was built, and a public school opened under the management of H. M. Burns, 
now a minister in the Erie M. E. Conference. In 1872 the town had become 
so populous that a larger building was necessary. A substantial one, contain- 
ing four rooms, was erected at a cost of $4,700. This school at first was not 
a success, but when, in 1876, Prof T. W. Orr, a graduate of Edinboro, took 
charge, it began to improve. By his interest and untiring zeal, he soon got 



East Brady Borough. 455 

the school into better habits of study and recitation. He was principal for four 
years, and at the end of that period the school stood among the best, if not the 
very best in the county. In 1883 the number of grades was increased to five. 
In the past five years the school has given ten teachers to the county, all of 
whom are doing good, earnest, faithful work in behalf of the rising generation. 
For a number of years all the teachers except the principal have come out of 
the school. The principal has charge of the highest grade. The present in- 
cumbent, Prof L. L. Himes, has occupied the position four years. He is a 
man of large experience in school work, having had control of the New Beth- 
lehem schools for nine years previous to his coming here. The professor is 
also one of the leading educators of the county, and well deseives the esteem 
in which he is held by the people of East Brady. 

Oil and Gas. — This is an important shipping point of the oil territory sur- 
rounding the town. The oil is stored in large tanks and sent out when required. 
Several wells have been drilled in and about the town, but only one of these 
has proved of any value. Within the past year two natural gas wells have 
been put down, and an abundant supply of gas obtained. The " Caloric Gas 
Company " was formed by citizens of the town, and pipes are being laid, and 
the town fast becoming supplied with it for fuel and light. 

Cliurches. — The first church built was intended as a union house of worship. 
This was soon after the settlement of the town. For some time it was used as 
such, but as the United Presbyterians were the only people that sustained a 
minister, it soon came to be under the exclusive direction of its members. Its 
membership was always small, and within the past {&\\ years it has ceased to hold 
services at all. Shortly after this the other Protestant denominations formed 
societies ; the Methodists early in '68, and the Presbyterians shortly after. 

Methodist Episcopal. — Up to 1876 the membership of this church did not 
number over twenty-five. In the fall of this year, Rev. J. Boyd Espy came 
here as pastor, taking up his residence in the town. During the winter of '']6 
and ''jj, under special services directed by him, more than one hundred and 
fifty were converted and added to the church. From this date it became 
the leading church of the town. Its meetings had been held in a store-room, 
fitted up for that purpose. In the same year, 1877, a large two-story church 
edifice was erected at a cost of $5,000. In 1885, under the labors of Rev. J. 
C. McDonald, more than one hundred were again brought into the church. 
Francis Murphy, the world-famous temperance lecturer, united with this church 
in 1880, and held membership for several years. Prof E. O. Excell, the now 
national-famed singer, was among the first members of the organization. It 
is the only one of the churches that holds regular Sabbath morning and even- 
ing services. The membership now is almost two hundred. 

Presbyterian. — This church was early formed, the first organization taking 
place in the old school-house. It continued in a prosperous condition for 



45^ History of Clarion County. 

many years, under the efficient pastorate of Rev. T. S. Negley. In 1880 Rev. 
Negley received a call to another place. A short time after this the building 
used as a church was destroyed by fire. The people becoming divided, almost 
nothing was done for several years. In 1885, again uniting their forces, they 
built a very beautiful little church, costing them about $3,500. Since then 
they have held services half time. Their minister. Rev. B. F. Williams, is a 
rising young man, and is highly esteemed by his people. Membership now is 
eighty-five. 

Baptist. — This was the last of the churches to become established in the 
town. Their first organization was in 1882, with seventeen members. They 
at once went to work and constructed a church, costing $3,000, which was 
dedicated the following year, 1883. Its people are noted for the cheerfulness 
and promptness with which they support the gospel. Rev. T. J. Collins has 
been in charge of the church for the past three years, and is an earnest worker 
for the master. 

St. Eusebiiiss Roniaii CatJiolic Church was built in 1877. -^^ its comple- 
tion the first pastor was settled in the town. Previous to this all members of 
this church attended at Brady's Bend. The church building is valued at $3,- 
400, and the residence of the priest — Father Brady — at $1,500. The mem- 
bership consists of forty-five families, embracing about three hundred persons. 

Physicians. — The Drs. Wallace, residing at Brady's Bend, first practiced 
here for several years before establishing an office. Drs. R. S. and J. A. then 
opened an office and drug store in the town. Dr. J. A. removed to Bradford 
some years since, but R. S. still attends to a large practice here and in neigh- 
boring towns, besides being railroad doctor on a section of the A. V. R. R. 
Dr. R. Robinson, a graduate of Jefferson College, class of '62, came here in 
December, 1870, and began jDrofessional service. He has ever since kept 
quite an extended line of visits. Dr. F. X. Felix was early in the town. For 
some years he was away, but returned and continued to practice medicine here 
until his death in 1878. 

L, C. Longwell, dentist, came to town in 1871, and still remains the only 
one in his profession. 

Banks. — The present bank began business in December, 1878, under rather 
unfavorable circumstances. The Citizens' Savings Bank having failed to meet 
its demands, closed the previous May. This had a tendency to make the peo- 
ple a little cautious about trusting their money to the keeping of the new bank, 
which is a branch of the National Bank of Kittanning. The business here is 
conducted under the direction of J. W. Hill, Esq., who is cashier and general 
manager. 

Fires. — East Brady has been visited at different times by fire. The two larg- 
est are of recent date, the first of them occurring October 27, 1882. The fire 
broke out at 6 o'clock, P. M., in the store of D. Carmody. How, is not cer- 



East Brady Borough. 457 



tainly known, but it is supposed to have caught from the explosion of a lamp 
in an upstairs room. The family were all below, and the fire had made such 
headway before it was discovered that, with no better preventatives than the 
town then possessed, nothing could be done to stop its spreading very rapidly. 
Buildings on either side quickly took fire, and it continued to spread until a 
crossing was reached broad enough to prevent its onward march of destruc- 
tion. Thirteen buildings in all were burned. Some of the most important of 
these were the Presbyterian church, the drug- store of Dr. R. Robinson, a 
large three-story block belonging to Mr. Hertwick, used for a meat market, 
lodge rooms, and private dwellings, and the millinery store and residence of 
Mrs. M. I. Scott. Much property was destroyed, also many household goods 
were greatly damaged. As is usual in cases of this kind, little presence of mind 
was exhibited by the persons willing to aid. The bedding and wearing ap- 
parel were carefully carried down stairs, while the looking-glasses, bedsteads, 
wash-stands, &c., were thrown from the windows. The estimated loss by fire 
was $25,000. Second fire, June 3, 1883. Scarcely had the people become 
settled again, when another great fire broke out. Dr. Robinson had almost 
completed a new building on the site of the one destroyed by the previous 
fire, and it was with great difficulty that it was prevented from taking fire 
again. The livery stable in which the fire started adjoined his building. Car- 
pets were thrown over it and kept wet during all the time the fire raged. This 
fire began just where the last stopped, and burned an entire square. Its further 
progress was prevented by a large brick block. It is supposed to have been 
an incendiary fire. The fire, which was discovered by the policeman about 
1 1:30 o'clock P. M., on a Sabbath evening, continued till morning. The Central 
House, a large four-story building, the best hotel of the town, was among the 
burned. A more picturesque sight than the burning of this house is not often 
seen. The fire seemed to blaze from all the windows at the same time, then 
it fell. The residence of Mr. Stephenson, the store of the Pine Run Mining 
Company, the bank, the East Brady House, and the home of Mrs. Martha 
Wallace, were among the property destroyed by this fire. The goods from 
the stores were carried into the street, and men, women and children might be 
seen making their way hurriedly towards the bridge, carrying suspicious-look- 
ing packages. The loss was fully as great or perhaps greater than that caused 
by the first fire. Most of the places destroyed have been rebuilt, some, per- 
haps, not so substantially as before. The stand of Dr. Robinson is the best of 
the new buildings. The " Pioneer Drug Store " is always ready to attend to 
customers. Mr. Hertwick has a fine new building on the burnt district. The 
Central House, though not rebuilt, was moved into a large brick building 
formerly used as a store, and the house, having undergone many improve- 
ments, is still the leading hotel of the town. Its old site is occupied by the 
store of the Klein Brothers. 



458 History of Clarion County. 

Fire Department and Companies. — The hook and ladder was purchased 
by some of the careful citizens of the town, Messrs. McCafiferty, Weiseman, 
Riston, and Wahl, before either of the foregoing fires took place, but could 
not be used to great advantage in such large fires. The hook and ladder, 
with the building in which it is kept, cost them $1,300. 

After the second fire, the community at large began to think it was time 
to do something to prevent such ravages in the future. An effort was made, 
funds raised, and two extinguishers and a fire-bell purchased. Fire companies 
were organized, fires were built on the outskirts of the town and the strength 
of the engines and working abilities of the companies fully tested. 

At present three companies are sustained; the "Peerless," with Dr. Robin- 
son as foreman ; the "Jumbo," William Cunningham, foreman, and the "Hook 
and Ladder," William Pollard, jr., foreman. These companies are always on 
the alert, and a very few sounds from the fire-bell are sufficient to arouse 
them and start them on the fire-track. Although they have been called out 
a number of times when unnecessary, they never fail to respond, and deserve 
praise for the manly spirit shown at all times. Their work is entirely gratuit- 
ous. They have so far succeeded in extinguishing all fires that have broken 
out. 

TJie Press. — The first newspaper published in the town was the Indepen- 
dent, by Colonel Samuel Young, in 1869. This was in the prosperous days 
of the town, and was made a live sheet by its enterprising editor. It suc- 
cumbed in about five years, and shortly after the same gentleman sent out a 
small sheet, the Advertiser, which lived but a few months. The town was 
then without a paper until 1879, when C. M. Riley commenced the publica- 
tion of a huge blanket sheet, the Argus. This died after a brief three weeks' 
career. In 1881 F. A. Tozer started the East Brady Times, and continued 
to send it forth for about three years. Rev. J. W. Martin was next on the list 
of newspaper adventurers. He issued the first number of the Church Index 
in December, 1883. It was a small monthly, devoted to the church interests 
of this place and Rimersburg. In July, 1884, he changed it to a weekly, 
under the name of East Brady Index, continued one year. Hastings and Gra- 
ham began the Review November 27, 1885. In June, 1886, N. E. Graham 
purchased H. L. Hastings's interest and is the present editor and publisher. 
The Review is a successful journal. It is devoted principally to home in- 
terests, and is a credit to the town, as well as to the editor. 



Callensburg Borough. 459 

CHAPTER XLVII. 
HISTORY OF CALLENSBURa BOROUGH. 

CALLENSBURG was laid out in 1826, by Hugh Callen, sr. It was incor- 
porated a borough in 185 i, by act of Assembly. 

Organization of the Borough Government. — At the first election, March 21, 
185 1, the following officers were elected, viz: Chief burgess, J. B. Reynolds; 
assistant burgess, William Elliott, sr. ; town council, Allen Wilson, Abram 
Frampton, W. A. Bowser, A. Kifer, and James H. Shaw; borough constable, 
James Carroll ; high constable, William J. Reynolds ; justice of the peace, 
Abram Frampton ; assessor, John H. Boggs ; street commissioner, Asa Mes- 
senger ; overseers of the poor, J. H. Kernott and T. J. McCamant ; school 
directors, for three years, William A. Bowser, David McKay, and Allen Wilson; 
for two years, John H. Boggs and J. B. Stuart; for one year, H. Redick; judge 
of election, David Guthrie ; inspectors, Henry Alexander and William G. 
Moore; auditors, R. C. Thom (for three years), David Guthrie (for two years), 
and W. J. Reynolds (for one year). 

When the council organized, on the 27th, its first act was to appoint W. F. 
Cartwright secretary, who at once took the oath of office, and entered upon 
his duties in that capacity. At this meeting George Daugherty was appointed 
treasurer, and the amount of his bond fixed at $500. 

The first assessment was made March 27, at the rate of ten mills on the 
dollar, for borough and street purposes. On the loth of April this assessment 
was amended to five mills for road purposes, and three mills cash tax for 
borough purposes. During the existence of the borough the following named 
gentlemen have filled the office of chief burgess of Callensburg: 

Burgesses of Callensburg 1851-1887. — J. B. Reynolds, Samuel Kifer, John 
C. Morrison, David Wilson, R. Laughlin, J. R. Widgeon, R. A. Hunter (dur- 
ing the year. May, 1859, to March, i860, Joseph Alexander acted instead of 
Hunter), Joseph Alexander, R. Laughlin (absent in army most of the time), 
James P. Parker, Peter Mobley, William Moore, Joseph Alexander, John 
Austin, S. D. Meals, M.D., J. P. Shields, M.D., Joseph Alexander, Wihiam 
L. Sedwick, John C. Hilliard, S. D. Myers, R. Laughlin, J. H. Elliott, John 
C. Hilliard, Charles S. Shaw, G. W. Spencer, M. D., John C. Hilliard, A. J. 
Rarer, John Konkle, A. J. Rarer. 

Foundation and Growth of Callensburg. — A quarter of a century elapsed 
from the laying out of the town to its incorporation as a borough. During 
these twenty-five years (1826 to 185 i) much progress had been made in the 
village, as was also the case in the surrounding neighborhood. 

In attempting to chronicle a few of the important events connected with 



46o History of Clarion County. 

the founding and growth of Callensburg, no more just or appropriate topic 
could be selected as the subject of the introductory paragraph than that sturdy, 
honest people, whose name is incorporated in the name of the town. 

TJie Callen Family. — Hugh Callen, the founder of Callensburg, was born 
in Westmoreland county June 5, 1773, of Scotch parents. He was the father 
of nine children, viz., Thomas, John, Sarah, David, Mary, James, Samuel, 
Hugh, jr., and Watson. 

James, now living in Piney township, is the only survivor of these nine. 
The oldest two, Thomas and John, were known throughout Jefferson and Elk 
counties as great hunters, those regions being then an uninhabited wilderness. 
John died near Clarion, Thomas in Jefferson county, Samuel near Reidsburg, 
and Watson at Brockwayville. Sarah was married to Samuel Wilson, and 
Mary to Michael Reichart. Both are now dead. 

Hugh Callen, jr., well known by many persons now living in Callensburg 
and vicinity, was born at the old Callen homestead, "across Licking," in 18 13. 
He died March 17, 1881, aged sixty-eight years. He was a man of sterling 
qualities, of great stability of character, firm in his convictions, a faithful friend, 
and an unpretentious and exemplary Christian. All who knew him respected 
him, and now his memory is revered. 

The Old Poplar. — In 1812, Hugh Callen, sr., bought three hundred acres 
and allowances ; which plot included the greater part of the present site of 
Callensburg. He settled here the same year, building a house south of Lick- 
ing, very near the spot where now stands a large poplar tree. This tree grew 
from a twig used by Mr. Callen as a riding-whip. On his return from church 
at Concord one Sunday he stuck the whip into the ground, and this lone pop- 
lar stands to-day as a monument to the piety of him who planted it. 

Before relating the incidents pertaining to the laying out of the town, its 
building up, and business, it is but fit that this paragraph should close with 
making note of the going out of that life, which, above all others, was so earn- 
estly identified with the first sixteen years of the life of the village that he 
planned. 

Hugh Callen, sr., was not a particularly remarkable man, but, as has been 
observed in these lines, and as will be shown by the following account of the 
laying out of the town, he was a far-sighted, broad-minded, and generous man. 
He was a strong man in a moral sense ; an honorable man in his dealings with 
men ; a Christian and a patriot. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and 
was a United States pensioner for services rendered in that struggle. He was 
called to Clarion in 1842, as a witness on a land case, but he never gave his 
testimony. While eating supper February 10, he was taken sick, and died that 
night (February 10, 1842), in his sixty-ninth year. His remains lie in Callens- 
burg Cemetery. 

Laying out the Town. — In 1826 Judge Gettis made a survey of the Clarion 



Callensburg Borough. 461 

River, then called Toby's Creek, or Stump Creek, with a view to locating the 
Pennsylvania Canal. Knowing that in case the canal were built, several locks 
would be necessary at this point to facilitate the movement of boats, Hugh 
Callen, sr., conceived the idea of building a town. He set to work to lay it 
out. Sidle Lobaugh, then twenty-seven years of age, was a skillful surveyor 
and draughtsman, and he was employed by Mr. Callen to do the work. The 
original plot extended from James H. Shaw's blacksmith shop to the westward 
as far as the lots now occupied by W. A. Hindman & Co. with their dwelling 
and store. Before the town was laid out the hope for the canal had almost 
gone, but Mr. Callen perceived the beauties of the place as well as the richness 
of the soil, and felt that it would be a good town for county trade, even if no 
public works were erected. 

In laying out the town, Mr. Callen reserved three acres whereon to build a 
Presbyterian Church. This plot included the cemetery. The open lot near 
the tanyard, north of Main street, whereon the town spring rises, was excluded 
from the list of "lots for sale." That never- failing fountain of clear, pure water 
is a reminder of Hugh Callen's far-sightedness and public spirit. It was re- 
served for the public good, and to prevent its being purchased by any private 
individual, he deeded it to the town. To-day the spring is open and free to 
every inhabitant of the village, and to every passer-by. 

The first house in the town was erected by John L. Reed, on the lot now 
occupied by Henry Alexander's dwelling house. It was built of logs, and was 
raised by the members of the military company known as the " Washington 
Rangers," after muster on the first Monday of May, 1827. John Colwell sawed 
the logs for the house, and when completed it had four rooms, two downstairs 
and two upstairs. The " Rangers " at that time had an enrollment of one 
hundred and ten men, with John L. Reed, captain, Hugh Kilgore, first lieu- 
tenant, and A. Frampton, second lieutenant. There are now sixty-three dwell- 
ings in the town, sixty-one of which are inhabited. 

Stores. — The second building erected in the town was a dwelling with a tan- 
nery in the basement, built in 1830, near the site of the present tannery of 
Mrs. S. D. Myers. Abram Frampton, an enterprising citizen of the vicinity, 
was the builder and owner. The building fronted on the road which runs from 
Main street at Alexander's store to the bridge. The main floor or dwelling 
part had three rooms. In the south room of the dwelling Mr. Henry Alex- 
ander opened a store in 1831 ; he did business there one year. In 1832 he 
moved his store to the place of George Elliott, sr., where Thomas Elliott now 
lives; he remained there till 1834, when he erected his present store building 
on Main street, and moved into it, where he has conducted a general store and 
drug business ever since — a period of more than half a century; during which 
time he has seen more than a score of merchants in the town rise, flourish, or 
fail and pass away. 

49 



462 History of Clarion County. 

The next store was that of J. B. Reynolds, in the building now owned by- 
Mrs. Gourley, which building stands almost opposite the hotel near the Odd 
Fellows' Hall. This building has since been occupied by Patrick Kearney, with 
a general store, and Henry Rodgers with a drug store. 

In 1848 a Mr. Heslip opened a store on the lot east of the J. H. Elliott 
dwelling. He was succeeded by Joseph Cathers, and later Mrs. E. A. McDowell 
kept a millinery store there. The house occupied by James F. Davis is all that 
remains of these store buildings. 

Levi Redic once kept a grocery on the lot now occupied by James E. Crain, 
near the Dr. Meals property, and in 1 850 Levi Redic with John Wilson began 
to do business at the site now occupied by W. A. Hindman & Co. They were 
succeeded by Henlen & Brewster in 1852. This building was occupied by 
William Moore in 1862. After doing business here a short time, Moore sold 
out to Hilliard & Owen, but re-purchased the store, and was succeeded by J. 
B. Miller about 1866. Mr. Miller carried on an extensive and profitable busi- 
ness till 1878, when he sold out to Bushman & Wakefield, who in a few years 
dissolved partnership by the retirement of Mr. Wakefield. Mr. Bushman car- 
ried on business till 1881, when he sold out to the present owners, W. A. Hind- 
man & Co. 

In 1857 Lowe & Guiher had a store in the house now occupied by J. C. 
Hilliard. 

Dr. W. A. Bowser opened a store in 1853, in the house now occupied by 
Mrs. Sarah Wilson, and about this time Henlen & Brewster built the Elliott 
store building and occupied it. After they closed out, the building was occu- 
pied by Robert Cathers as a store-room, and by William Fenton as a whisky 
storehouse. The building was afterward occupied by J. H. Elliott, T. M. Kier 
& Co., S. Frampton & Co., B. H. Frampton & Co., E. E. Elliott, and last by 
W. A. & D. J. Beer, all of whom did a general merchandise business. A Mr. 
Greer also had a tin-shop in this building. Mr. Moore sold his goods to Peter 
Mobley, who moved them to the Mobley store-room east of the hotel. 

Robert Hunter once had a store where Captain R. Laughlin now lives. A 
Jew, named Wolf Adams, once kept a clothing store in the building now oc- 
cupied by A. J. Rarer as a wagon-shop. The store was robbed, and Adams 
closed out. 

John Stover, a photographer, kept a confectionery and jewelry store for a 
time where Mrs. E. Klingensmith now resides, and for a time north of Main 
street, where the Sedwick cottage how stands. 

Dr. George W. Spencer kept a general assortment of drugs in his building 
now used as his office. He sold out to Madame De Graw, M. D., in 1882. 
The fine residence which Spencer had erected on the same lot in 1879 was 
destroyed by fire in 1883. A controversy ensued relative to insurance money, 
title, etc., and on the recovery of the property by Spencer, he fitted up his 



Callensburg Borough. 463 

office without the drug store. Dr. N. M. Meals set up a drug and toy store 
in the Odd Fellows' Hall building in 1885. 

In 1880 Mr. C. Ebling, who had been in the tinware and hardware trade, 
brought on a general assortment of goods in his dwelling on the next lot west 
of the Hindman property. Since then, with characteristic energy, he has, with 
the assistance of his accomplished wife, increased his business constantly, and 
he now has one of the best assortments of goods in the town. 

In 1885 W. A. Beer built a small store-room on his lot in the extreme east 
end of the town. He began business with a small supply of stationery, cigars 
and tobacco, to which he soon added groceries, boots, shoes, etc. In October, 
1885, he bought out E. E. Elliott, and, in partnership with his brother, D. J. 
Beer, opened up a general store in the Elliott building. 

Shops. — The first wagon- maker's shop was erected by Joseph Alexander 
in 1843. Mr. A. J. Rarer has worked at wagon-making here for twenty-eight 
years. Others who have worked at the same trade were David Payne, George 
D. Schott, John Wilson, and Thomas McCamant. 

Thomas McCamant opened the first blacksmith shop here about 1836 or 
1837. Other smiths were David Edmond, Robert Brown, Wilson McCamant, 
Wilson Colwell, William Stoner, James H. Shaw, Mansel Shaw, and Alvin 
Shaw, besides the smiths in Sedwick's carriage shop, and R. B. Dunkle, who 
is quite apt in that line of work. J. H. Shaw has been the most constant and 
faithful of any smith the town has ever had. He has occupied his present shop 
for about forty years. 

Sedwick's carriage manufactory was built in 1874, and during its existence 
has employed such skilled workmen as C. W. Sedwick, Lewis Dettre, W. A. 
Cartwright, John Parker, W. H. Stoner, H, L. Grayson, William Blair, D. 
A. Young and others; besides, the proprietor, J. S. Sedwick, is able to go 
into any department — blacksmith shop, wood shop, paint room, trimming 
room — and perform any and all kinds of work connected with the business. 
Unfortunately for the town, the proprietor became involved, and for several 
years past the property has been in the hands of an assignee. R. B. Dunkle, 
in the Vv^est end of the town, has erected a good-sized shop where he does 
building and repairing, also deals in factory made rigs, harness, robes, etc. 

In early days John Bell, R. Laughlin, John M. Laughlin, and Robert Bell 
worked at the harness-maker's trade here. Later, Stephen D. Myers, James 
M. French, and William S. Maitland had shops. Mr. French died in 1880, 
and at present Mr. Maitland has a monopoly of the trade. 

The first shoemaker was a man named Day. Since his time, Henry Boyer, 
Isaac Dehart, William Sedwick, John Jack, John L. Reed, William Holmes, 
John Holmes, David Holmes, Al. Cartwright, Clark Rupert, W. F. Krauss, 
and W. A. Varner have worked in the town. The last two have shops here 
now. 



464 History of Clarion County. 

David Guthrie, Andrew Gourley, Asa Say, John Austin, Thomas Dunkle, 
and WilHam L. Dunkle, at various times in the history of the town have been 
engaged in the cabinet-making business and furniture trade. W. L. Dunkle 
has the only furniture establishment now in town. 

Mobley & Ray once had a foundry here, which did good work. Mr, 
George Ray is the only survivor who was interested in this enterprise, and his 
absence prevents a more definite notice of this establishment. 

Churches and Schools. — In 1825 or '26 the people of the vicinity assem- 
bled in the grove where the Presbyterian Church now stands, and had deliv- 
ered to them the first sermon ever heard in this town's limits. The minister 
was Rev. Robert McGarrah. In the summer the people worshiped in the 
grove, and in the winter at the houses of Mr. Callen, Mr. Elliott, and others. 
In 1 83 1 the frame of a building, intended for a church, was erected, but failing 
to get shingles down the Clarion on account of low water, the building stood 
that winter without a roof When the summer came the people felt too poor 
to finish the church, so they enclosed a small room in one corner for a chapel, 
which was also used as the first school-house. In 1838 it was determined to 
build a new church, and the old one was offered for sale. Buyers were scarce, 
but finally Mr. Henry Alexander paid the very liberal price of fifty dollars for 
the old structure, which was torn down and used for fences and outbuildings. 
The present building stands where the first one was started, and is consider- 
ably larger. It was completed in 1838. 

Under many difficulties a Methodist class was established in the public 
school-house, which had been erected in 1838 on the ridge in the northeast- 
ern part of the town. At first their annual contribution to the pay of a min- 
ister was only forty to fifty dollars, consequently they had little preaching, but 
the church grew until it was able to erect a substantial church edifice in the 
west end of the town. It was built about 1850 or 1852. 

The first school-house was built down northeast of the town in 1825, where 
McCamant's first shop was. The present building was erected in 1854, and is 
likely to do good service for a number of years yet. 

Callensburg Academy was incorporated in 1858, and erected of brick in 
i860. In 1883 it was repaired by W. A. Beer, who received a five-year lease 
of it, receiving the proceeds of the lot attached, and all the income from the 
school, in return for the money invested by him. It is mentionable that the 
result at this date (March, 1887), is a net loss to the lessee of about one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars. But the broken windows, plasterless walls, dingy stair- 
way, and dirty hall, which called forth the severe censure of Dr. Higbee, State 
superintendent, when he visited the town in 1882, have given place to a 
pleasant school- room, which has been the resort for many assemblies met for 
educational purposes since the spring of 1883. 

Ministers. — Following Rev. McGarrah in the Presbyterian Church were 



Callensburg Borough. 465 

Rev. John Turbitt, Rev. David McKay, who was chaplain of the One Hundred 
and Third Regiment in the late war, and died on his way home, at Levvistown, 
Pa. His remains were brought home, and lie in the Callensburg Cemetery. 
Rev. Samuel Kinkaid came next. He was killed in his stable by a vicious 
horse, and his remains lie near Rev. McKay's. Then came Rev. James Mc- 
Intire, Rev. T. J. Milford, Rev. Edgar, Rev. J. H. Hawk, and the present pop- 
ular and earnest pastor, Rev. William J. Wilson. 

In the M. E. Church we have the names of Revs. Keller, Whippo, Reeser, 
Moore, and Rev. Carothers, who had the well known controversy with Rev. 
William McMichael ; Revs. Lyon, Crum, Steever, Burton, McEntire, Johnson, 
Sterrett, Hays, Clover, O. M. Sackett, E. M. Kernick, B. F. Delo, J. H. Lav- 
erty, and at present, Rev. E. R. Knapp, under whose ministry during the 
winter of 1886-7 the unprecedented revival was held, whereby about four 
score were taken into the church. 

TeacJiers. — The Callensburg Academy was chartered in 1858, and was 
opened in the common school building May 5, 1858. The first principal was 
Rev. Orr Lawson. After him came a long list of teachers who had control of 
the school, some of whom were gentlemen. of learning and culture, and others 
were men of limited attainments. 

We find the names of J. S. Woodburn, Mr. Sherard, George W. Chalfant, 
J. M. Foster, David Tappan, Rev. O. A. Elliott, T. D. Duncan, J. F. Lobaugh, 
A. J. Davis, G. M. McFarland, A. S. Elhott, Professors Anderson and Storey, 
J. E. Jeffers, W. C. Reicherd, J. H. Barton, and W. A. Beer. 

Many of these teachers are yet living. O. A. Elliott, A. S. Elliott, and J. 
H. Barton are in the ministry. W. C. Reicherd is filling a responsible position 
in a railroad shop office at Roanoke, Va. W. A. Beer still has control of the 
school. 

The brick building was contracted for in 1859 at $1,858. and finished in 
i860. The total cost was $2,000. 

In the public school many of the best teachers of the county have been 
engaged. 

Physicians. — The first doctor in the town was Dr. Beggs. He came here 
from Cherry Run, and soon after died of fever. Reed Goe, M. D., came to 
wait on Dr. Beggs, and remained for some time practicing. After these the 
physicians were Drs. J. B. Stuart, Goe, Cummins, Anderson, Boyd, W. A. 
Bowser, Joseph Eckert, Gardner, Rankin, S. D. Meals, J. P. Shields, N. M. 
Meals, G. W. Spencer, T. M. Jackson, Auley McAuley, and Madame De 
Graw. 

Of these. Dr. S. D. Meals had the longest and most successful term of 
practice. He came here in 1859, and continued in constant practice till a shor 
time before his death, which occurred in 1884. 

Dr. G. W. Spencer and Dr. N. M. Meals are still in practice. Spencer is 
also a dentist. 



466 History of Clarion County. 

The Post-office. — This is one of the most important institutions in our midst. 
It was estabHshed on the 15th of March, 1828, with Sidle Lobaugh as post- 
master. He held the office almost four years. The subsequent appointments 
were as follows : John Galbreath, William Elliott, Henry Alexander, Robert 
A. Hunter, David Guthrie, Henry Alexander, John J. Broadhead, Joseph B. 
Reynolds, George A. Ehiott, jr., W. C. Mobley, Jacob B. Miller, Samuel H. 
Bushman, F. L. Shallenberger, William A. Beer, November 5, 1885. 

The first appointments were made while the office was in Armstrong 
county, and Clarion county having been established in 1839, the title was soon 
after changed to Callensburg, Clarion county, but at what particular date is 
not recorded in the post-office department. 

List of soldiers who resided in Callensburg when they went to the war: 
Captain R. Laughlin, Captain A. H. Alexander, Lieutenant George D. Schott, 
Lieutenant John M. Laughlin, Thomas Dunkle, William Vesey, M. L. Boyer, 
D. R. Frampton, H. C. Frampton, Thomas Gatings, Charles Glaze, Abner 
Harkless, Samuel Hours, William Davis, Reed Beggs, Justus George, Reed 
Goe, Nerval D. Goe, Rev. David McKay, R. C. Thom, George Payne, Joseph 
K. Vaughn, John Konkle, W. C. Mobley, S. H. Keister, Mat. Dunkle, Gazzam 
Stuart, John Williams, P. M. Dunkle, James Burns, Isaac Guiher, Samuel 
Sampsell, James Sampsell, Abram Sampsell, William Elder, David I. Wallace, 
Wilson McCamant. A total of thirty-seven men, or more than ten per cent, 
of the entire population of the village. 

Public Men. — In the early history of the village Henry Alexander was a 
man of prominence, and was appointed census enumerator for Armstrong 
county in 1840. R. Laughlin was a member of the Pennsylvania House of 
Representatives in 185 i and 1852, representing Clarion, Armstrong, and Jeff- 
erson counties. Samuel Kifer was elected county commissioner in 1859. W. 
A. Beer was a member of the House of Representatives in 1883—84, being a 
resident of Monroeville in Beaver township when elected in 1882. He became 
a resident of Callensburg in 1883. 

Miscellaneous Items. — C. W. Sedwick, a workman in Sedwick Carriage 
Manufactory, has invented a scroll saw, which if properly put on the market, 
will rank second to no machine of the kind in use. The village has a brass 
band which has maintained an organization under many difficulties. The I. 
O. O. F., the A. O. U. W., and the E. A. U., all have lodges here to which 
many of the best people of the community belong. 

In 1878 Rev. W. A. Bowyer brought to town a small outfit for a printing 
establishment, and for a short time published a paper in the interest of temper- 
ance. It was called the Calle7isburg Observer. In 1886 Rev. W. J. Wilson 
began the publication of the Callensburg Visitor, which he still issues, the 
printing, however, is done by contract by a foreign establishment. 

Mrs. Kuhns, once a resident of the village, died December 10, 1868, at the 



Clarion Township. 467 



remarkable age of one hundred and four years. Henry Alexander aged 
eighty-six years, at present writing is very active and conducts his store busi- 
ness as if he were nearer middle life. 

The town was the most populous in 1870, having then about four hundred 
inhabitants; there being now not more than two hundred and seventy-five. 



CHAPTER XLVni. 

HISTORY OF CLARION TOWNSHIP.i 

THIS township is located in the eastern part of Clarion county, and is 
bounded on the north by Paint, Highland and Miilcreek townships, on 
the east by Jefferson county, on the south by Limestone township, and on the 
west by Monroe township. It is in length about ten miles, and has an aver- 
age width of about five miles. The portion lying in the northern part and 
bordering on the Clarion River is the most rugged, and presents quite a variety 
of scenery, being in some places very picturesque, while those sections lying 
along what are known as the " Turnpike " and the " Waterson " road, are level 
enough to make beautiful farming land. The soil is, in some parts, quite fer- 
tile, and in others it is rather thin, but is of a nature to bear fertilizing, and can 
be made quite productive. 

The township is well watered by numerous streams and springs. Along a 
good portion of its northern boundary is the Clarion River, while into this flows 
the stream known as Big Mill Creek, which also bounds the township on the north 
and northeast. Little Mill Creek, a branch of Big Mill Creek, bounds it on the 
east, and these three streams are fed by numerous tributaries from the interior 
of the township, the most noted being Douglas's Run, White's Run, which is 
fed by Olive Branch, Trout Run, in the western part of the township ; also 
Brush Run in the southwestern part, which is perhaps the largest stream in the 
township. This last named creek is fed by numerous branches, the chief of 
which are North Branch and Frampton's Run. These and other smaller streams 
form a perfect net-work of fresh water brooks, thus making the township suit- 
able for grazing and agriculture. Along the above-named creeks lie fine sec- 
tions of timber land, especially along Clarion River and Big Mill Creek. The 
trees indigenous to the climate and soil of the township are the different species 
of the oak, maple, hickory, chestnut, pine and hemlock. The forests contain 
trees of finest growth, but the gray old monarchs of the wood are being rapidly 
felled by the woodman's ax, and converted into boards, lumber, and staves, to 

1 By C. S. Hepler. 



468 History of Clarion County. 

be shipped away to other parts. Very Httle timber is used for fuel, as coal, 
which will be noticed more fully hereafter, is so abundant and cheap that the 
custom of burning wood has long since given way to the burning of the "black 
diamonds." 

The vegetable productions of the township are the small grains, such as 
wheat, oats, barley, corn, etc. There are, on an average, about one thousand 
acres of wheat harvested every year. What rye is grown is usually consumed 
as feed for the stock on the farms, and not as breadstuff, consequently very little 
attention is given to its cultivation. Oats are extensively raised. There are 
perhaps twice as many acres of oats raised every year as there are of wheat. 
Corn is as extensively raised as oats, and yields from fifty to sixty bushels to 
the acre. There are two principal grasses grown in this township, viz., clover, 
big and little, and timothy. Of these timothy is the more extensively grown, 
although it is said that clover is a good fertilizer, thereby enriching the soil, 
while timothy impoverishes it. The different kinds of fruit raised in the town- 
ship are apples, peaches, pears, plums, quinces, grapes, etc. The best species 
of apples flourish, and are the most important of all the fruits. Summer, fall, 
and winter varieties grow in abundance. Of peaches there are very few vari- 
eties grown, because the climate is too severe for them to flourish. Pears grow 
in abundance. 

The numerous hills of the township are all underlaid with bituminous coal, 
and many with limestone and iron ore. There are three difierent veins of coal 
— the lower or bottom vein, the middle vein, and the upper or summit vein ; 
the different deposits will each average about three feet in thickness. There 
are in operation at present about thirteen mines, in which are broken about 
six hundred bushels every day. This coal seils at the mines for from one to 
four cents per bushel, according to quality. It is delivered a distance of five 
miles for seven cents a bushel. Next to coal in importance is limestone. This 
is found in great abundance in the southwestern part of the township. The 
quarries on the farms belonging respectively to Messrs. S. M. Pierce and D. 
Conner, are especially worthy of notice. 

Horses, cattle, sheep, and swine are the principal animals found in Clarion 
township. There are many and fine breeds of horses represented, those known 
as the Engli.sh draught and the Clydesdale being the most popular, from the 
fact that they are large and strong, thus being well adapted to heavy w^ork, 
which is much more requisite in this section than mere roadsters. 

At present writing, herds of Jerseys Guernseys, Alderneys, and the cele- 
brated Shorthorn breed may be seen grazing on the beautiful hillslopes, or ru- 
minating beneath the boughs of some stately shade-tree. Sheep are perhaps 
the best paying animals reared on the farm. Many breeds are represented in 
this township, but the breed known as the Southdown is perhaps the best 
adapted to the climate, and produces the most wool. 




■'^^^., 



C. Leeper. 



Clarion Township. 469 



Swine are extensively raised, and furnish the chief article of meat diet. The 
Berkshire is the most popular. 

Within the limits of this township there are four flouring-mills, several saw 
and shingle-mills, and one or two stave-mills. The flouring-mills are situated, 
one in the eastern part of the township on Little Mill Creek, and belongs to J. 
B. Jones, of Corsica, Jefferson county. Pa.; two in the northern part of the 
township on Big Mill Creek, and are respectively known as the Dean grist-mill 
and the Spangler mill ; the other one is in the southwestern part of the town- 
ship on Brush Run, and is now owned by a Mr. Shingeldecker, who recently 
purchased it from Mr. Cover. These are not merchant-mills, but grind only 
the grain taken there for that purpose by the farmers. As they are supported 
by people from neighboring townships as well as by those of Clarion, they all 
are enabled to do a good business. They run by water power, and in seasons 
of protracted drought do little work. The saw and shingle-mills are all situ- 
ated in the north and northeastern part of the township, on Mill Creek and 
tributaries. The stave-mills are employed in sawing barrel-staves, which are 
all shipped away, there being no cooperage in Clarion county. 

The only village not incorporated, within the limits of the township, is situ- 
ated near the southern boundary, and is called Mechanicsville, or Frampton P. 
O. At present it contains a dry goods and grocery store, belonging to and 
kept by Mr. J. P. Kahle, a hotel known as the McCullough House, a black- 
smith shop, a post-office, which has a daily mail, and is kept by Mr. Ed. M. 
Mclntire; a wagon shop, and office of the justice of the peace, A. J. Framp- 
ton, esq., also several private residences. The post-office was so named in honor 
of William Frampton, esq., one of the oldest settlers of the place, and father 
of the present justice. 

Education in Clarion township is given fair attention, there being within 
its borders ten public schools. In the early history of the township schools 
were established and fostered. Judge Peter Clover gives the following de- 
scription of one of the first buildings erected within the present limits of the 
township for school purposes : " It was built of round logs, and about eight 
feet high, and with five corners, one of which was part of the chimney as far 
up as the mantel-board, and from that to the square it had four corners, and 
roofed with clap-boards, and logs laid crosswise to hold on the boards. The 
building was chinked, as they called it, between the logs, and then daubed 
with clay, or mud mortar. The fire-place was a large back- wall of stone, and 
the chimney was built out of small poles and clay as high as it was required. 
The floor was laid with hewed puncheons ; the upper floor was laid with the 
same kind, and covered with earth to keep out the cold. The seats were made 
of long slabs, round side down, and about high enough to prevent the chil- 
dren's feet from touching the floor. The writing desks were made by putting 
sticks in the wall, said sticks having hooks on the ends, and a board lafd 

50 



470 History of Clarion County. 

across these. These boards were placed at an angle of about forty-five 
degrees. Instead of windows, a piece of log was taken out, and sticks put 
across, over which oiled paper was fastened in order to let in light." In such 
houses did the youth receive their education, being instructed by masters of 
Scotch-Irish descent, whose pronunciation was rather broad for good Eng- 
lish. The first schools were supported by subscription, at the rate of about 
five or six dollars per year for each scholar. The teachers always boarded 
around among the patrons of the schools. The text-books were the United 
States Speller, and the scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments for a 
reader. The Western Calculator was the work on mathematics, and the stu- 
dent who worked to the double rule of three was considered a graduate in 
arithmetic. But the world is progressing. The schools are no longer sup- 
ported by subscription, but by public money. There are used in the schools 
at present the most approved series of text-books. Young men and women 
especially trained to teach are the instructors. True, there are some poor 
school-houses in the township, and we must say that there are none as good 
as they ought to be, or even might be. Patent furniture has been placed in a 
few of the school-houses, while others are funished with mere benches. The 
minimum length of the school term is five months,^ while the number of children 
of school age will probably reach five hundred. The township has within its 
present limits, three religious denominations, with as many houses of worship. 
The first church building erected in whatsis now known as Clarion township 
was built on land bordering on Brush Run, in the southwestern part of the 
township. The building was erected on land donated by the Rev. McGarrah, 
of sacred memory, and was situated in the midst of a burial ground. This 
burial ground was the only place of interment for many miles around. Occa- 
sionally a body is laid to rest there even yet, but the fence that once enclosed 
the sacred spot has crumbled into ruin, and many of the beautiful white grave- 
stones that marked the places where dear ones rest, awaiting the dawn of 
resurrection morn, are leveled with the dust. In this old grave-yard lie buried 
many of the first settlers, who will be noticed hereafter. The name of this 
first church was Rehoboth, and Rev. McGarrah was the first pastor. The 
denomination was Presbyterian. It is said that this good old man was very 
highly educated, and mighty in prayer ; but his speech was slow, and it often 
took him three hours to deliver a sermon. He used no notes while preaching, 
and his sermons were delivered with great earnestness. It is related that he 
often became so earnest while delivering discourses, that great drops of tears 
would fall from his eyes to the floor. I am told that he often preached more 
eloquently by his tears than by the power of his voice. No trace of this old 
church remains, but a new Rehoboth church, situated about one mile south of 

1 By a late act of the Legislature passed since the above was in type, the minimum school term has 
been increased to six months. 



Clarion Township. 471 



Strattanville, has taken its place. The denomination is Presbyterian, and is 
presided over by the Rev. Britt. The building is a modest frame structure, 
oblong in form, one story high, and has a seating capacity of about four hun- 
dred. Around this church is also a burial ground of about two acres. This 
is the only Presbyterian Church within the limits of the township. The con- 
gregation is composed of quiet, intelligent citizens, and numbers about one 
hundred. Church services are held in the church every other Sunday, and 
Sunday-school on the first day of every week the entire year. 

The second house of worship erected within the township was built near 
the site of old Rehoboth, and is called the Seceder Church. It remains to this 
day, and is sometimes used by the Methodists for church services. It is also 
a frame structure, and can seat about one hundred and fifty persons. The 
Rev. John Lickey was its first pastor. At present the Seceders do not have a 
congregation in this township. There are two M. E. Churches, known as the 
Asbury and Fair Haven churches. Flourishing congregations worship in both, 
and their influence for good is felt far and near. 

The number of inhabitants of the towaiship is about 1,200. The first set- 
tlers of the precinct came from Westmoreland and Centre counties during the 
years 1801 and 1802. The Young, Maffet, Guthrie, Maguire, Potter, Clover, 
and Corbett families were represented among the pioneer settlers. These brave 
people came all the way on horseback, having no road except Indian trails on 
which to travel. They also brought with them on horseback as many personal 
and household effects as possible. They endured all the hardships and priva- 
tions that settlers of a new country usually encounter, there being at first but 
one thing plentiful, and that was game. But the land which they purchased 
and on which they settled was new, and the soil being rich, the wilderness ere 
long was made to blossom as the rose. Farms were laid out, trees felled, houses 
and barns erected, all of which was evidence that these people had sought a 
new section of country which they determined to make theii^ home. The first 
white male child born in Clarion county was born within the present limits of 
this township, in a small house which stood beneath the shade of an old oak 
tree, which stands by the side of the turnpike between Strattanville and Clarion 
boroughs. The name of the child was Thomas Young, and his birth occurred 
in 1802. This child lived, grew, and waxed strong, and his children are among 
the best citizens of the county. The Hon. Hugh Maguire, son of James Ma- 
guire, one of the earliest settlers, is believed to have been the second white 
male child born within the limits of the township. The old gentleman is still 
living, and resides on his farm just east of Strattanville. His father was a scythe 
maker, and made the first scythes manufactured in Clarion county, thus being 
one of the most useful men among the early pioneers. Others who were also 
very useful were Philip Clover, jr., a blacksmith, his being the first shop in the 
township, situated near where the Stone House now stands ; John Corbett, a 



472 History of Clarion County. 

surveyor; John Roll, a cooper; John Love, a weaver; and Philip Clover, sr., 
was a tanner and shoemaker. The remainder of the early settlers all followed 
farming. At that time these brave pioneers were compelled to travel to Kit- 
tanning, Armstrong county, in order to reach the nearest store. This distance 
is thirty- five miles, and the road on which they traveled was a mere pathway 
in the forest. During the first two years of the settlement flour was brought 
from Westmoreland county on horseback. Iron was also packed from this and 
other counties, and cost fifteen cents per pound. Salt cost ten dollars a barrel. 
At that time coffee and tea, luxuries of life, were little used on account of their 
excessive price, tea being four dollars and coffee seventy-five cents per pound. 
As early as l8oo Alexander Guthrie, John Guthrie, Thomas Guthrie, and 
William Maffett, of New Derry, Westmoreland county, Pa., came to this town- 
ship and made settlements. They erected some small cabins, and made other 
improvements, returning to Westmoreland in the fall of i8oo, blazing trees as 
they went, to guide them on their return the following spring. The ancestors 
of the Guthries and Maffetts above named were originally from Scotland, 
whence they fled to Ireland during a period of persecution; shortly after, they 
came to America. Mr. James G. Maffett, of this township, had in his posses- 
sion (and it still remains in possession of the Maffett family) an old music book, 
written by William Maffett, grandsire of the above named William Maffett, in 
1 717, on one page of which is written : 

" Written by Me, By Me. 

" William Maffett, April the 18, 171 7. 

"William Maffett, his musick book." 

John Maffett, father of William Maffett, the author, came to America from 
Ireland, about 1774, as the following certificates will show. The originals of 
these certificates are now in possession of the Hon. J. T. Maffett, of Clarion 
borough. They read as follows : 

" That John Maffett hath lived in the bounds of this congregation from his Infancy, and allways 
behaived himself honestly, soberly and Inoffensively, free of any publick scandal — known to us — is 
certifyed at Drumareth this 12th day of April, 1767. James Birek." 

"These are to certify that John Maffett and his wife Elizabeth have always behaved with strict sobri- 
ety and honesty, and maintained fair moral characters. 

"Given at Dromore, Mar. 19, 1773. Wm. Henry." 

We next find him in what is known as York county, Pa., as the following 
will show : 

" York County — ss. I do hereby certify that John Maffett hath voluntarily taken and subscribed 
the oath of Allegiance and Fidelity, as directed by an Act of General Assembly of Penn'a, passed the 
13th day of June, A. D. 1777. 

" Witness my hand and seal the 27th day of May, Anno Domini, 1778. 

"No. 161. Wm. McClean. [l. s.]" 

A number of the first settlers of this township enlisted in the War of 18 12, 
but all returned home without a wound or a scar. Not so fortunate, however, 
were those brave men of this precinct who enlisted in the great struggle known 
as the Civil War. Many upon setting out for the field of action bade their 



Clarion Township. 473 



friends and relatives farewell for the last time. True, many returned, and those 
yet living, and who reside at present within the limits of the township, have 
organized themselves into a Grand Army Post, with headquarters at Strattan- 
ville, q. V. These living heroes annually decorate the graves of their dead 
comrades with flowers, thus cherishing the memory of those who have gone 
before. The present inhabitants of the township are, generally speaking, a 
sober and industrious people, striving to make their homes pleasant, and pro- 
mote the general welfare of their country. 

The major part of the people are farmers, the remainder every- day labor 
ers, merchants, millers, miners, blacksmiths, carpenters and teachers. The total 
number of farmers in the township is about one hundred and thirty- one. The 
number of laborers, that is, those who work at whatever they can get to do, is 
perhaps twenty or twenty-five. There are two merchants. The millers num- 
ber three or four, while perhaps there are not less than a dozen miners. Those 
who follow the remainder of the occupations above named are not numerous, 
there being but one blacksmith now actively engaged within the limits of the 
township. Many of the resident teachers teach in adjoining townships, and 
some have gone to labor for the time being in neighboring counties. 

An association known as the Clarion District Camp-meeting Association 
has within the limits of the township, and situated one mile north of Strattan- 
ville, an enclosure of about twenty acres of woodland, which is devoted to the 
purpose of holding annual religious gatherings denominated ''camp-meetings." 
Many members of the association have erected fine cottages upon the grounds, 
and other improvements are being made from time to time, so that the grounds 
present quite a respectable appearance. These camp-meetings are held by the 
Methodist Episcopal denomination of Christians, and are always attended by 
large numbers of people. A high board fence surrounds the entire ground. 
An auditorium, with a seating capacity of about one thousand, has been erected, 
and on Sabbaths the hearers usually fill every seat. An endeavor will be made 
to gradually merge this camp-meeting into an assembly, modeled somewhat 
after the great Chautauqua Assembly. 

Clarion TozvnsJiip in 18 16. — The summer of 18 16 is memorable as being 
the coldest summer ever witnessed by the oldest citizens of Clarion township. 
Vegetation grew but little, and what little there was, was destroyed by repeated 
hard frosts. There was but one man in the township that had any corn, and 
that was John Guthrie, now deceased. His corn grew, but did not harden in 
the ear. Mr. Guthrie thought he would endeavor to do what nature failed to 
accomplish, and, accordingly he built a kiln for the purpose of curing it ; but 
one night the kiln accidentally caught fire, and burnt away, consuming corn 
and all. In the words of Paine, "These were times that tried men's souls." 
Famine almost stared the early settlers in the face, but they quailed not. In 
order to secure flour, Messrs. Samuel and John Jones, who have long since 



474 History of Clarion County. 

passed to " that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler ever re- 
turns," together with others of the early settlers, hewed out a canoe on the 
banks of Mill Creek, manufactured five barrels of pine tar, placed the tar in 
the canoe, then " poled " the cargo all the way to Pittsburgh, Pa., a distance 
of one hundred and ten miles. Landing at Pittsburgh, they exchanged their 
five barrels of tar for as many barrels of flour, and then " poled " the flour 
back home in their canoes. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

HISTORY OF CLARION BOROUaH.i 

FEW of the county seats of the Commonwealth arose under circumstances 
similar to those of Clarion. It came into existence on a spot, which, a 
year previous, was destitute of a single occupied habitation ; its origin was 
purely political, the very site having been determined by the commissioners. 
A town erected under such circumstances, with a forced growth we may say, 
is one of the rare exceptions to the rule which makes a rapid rise followed by 
a rapid decline. But its selection as the seat of the law's administration assured 
for it a permanency that will endure as long as the execution of justice remains 
a part of our social existence. 

The land on which the county seat now stands lay on each side of a notably 
level stretch of the turnpike, which had been at times utilized by rural horse- 
men as a racing ground. On either side extended a thicket of pines of medium 
growth, interspersed by some goodly oaks and chestnuts. There was a small 
but abandoned clearing on the old academy lot. The only opening beside 
the turnpike was a path which led ofl' southwardly through the dense under- 
wood to the " old camp ground " on the hillside, north of South street, and east 
of 5 th avenue. 2 

Some time in the fall of 1839 (the date cannot be exactly ascertained, but 
it was probably early in October, soon after the deliver}^ of the deeds), the town 
plot, containing two hundred acres, was surveyed by John Sloan, jr. 

The original bounds of the village — rectangular in form — were, on the 
north, the line of the outlots north of Liberty street and parallel thereto, ex- 
cept an offset fift}^ yards wide, and the length of an outlot, at the western end 
of Liberty street, and another, the width and length of an outlot occurring at 
the corner of P. Slattery's Heirs ; on the east, the western side of 8th avenue; 

1 By George J. Reid. 

2 See " Methodist Church in Clarion countv." 



Clarion Borough. 475 



on the south, a Hne parallel to and .the width of two outlots, or 32 rods back 
of South street ; on the west, beginning at the southwest corner of the Prot- 
estant cemetery, the eastern side of the yet unopened 1st avenue. The 
streets running lengthwise were Liberty, Main, Wood, South ; those crosswise, 
2d East (7th avenue), 1st East (6th ave.), Market (5th ave.), ist West (4th 
ave.), 2d West (3d ave.), and 3d West (2d ave.) Main and Market streets 
were made 80 feet wide; 4th and 6th avenues 70 feet, and all the others 60. 
The alleys are each 20 feet in width. The inlots, 275 in number, measure one- 
fourth an acre each, being 60 feet wide and 180 in length; the outlots, of 
which there were 50, averaged an acre and a half in area. The lineal angle 
of the town is 62 degrees west of north. 

The public sale of lots began October 30, 1839, ^"d continued three days. 
The underbrush had been cleared out and the streets were opened through 
the trees. The commissioners and their crier proceeded along these avenues, 
stopping at each lot and offering it for sale to the highest bidder. Many sales 
were made, a large crowd was present each day, and the bidding was spirited. 
Lots went off at what were considered very good figures for a town in embryo. 
No. 25, now covered by M. Arnold's block, brought the highest price; it was 
purchased by William Jack, of Westmoreland county, for $757.50. No. i, the 
Kribbs corner, opposite, was the next in value, selling to Jonathan Agey for 
$560. The town was named by Commissioners Pritner, Potter, and Hamilton. 

Early in IMay, 1840, people began to arrive and erect houses. The sud- 
den advent of a population, composed chiefly of the mechanics and laborers 
engaged by the jail contractors, prospective merchants, tradesmen, hotel and 
boarding-house keepers, found the place unprepared to shelter them all. 
Those who could not find accommodation at the four houses which I shall 
presently mention, went to Strattanville for the night. After the frames were 
up, rough boards were hastily clapped on, shanty fashion, to answer the demand 
for shelter, and the work of putting on weatherboards, then wrought by hand, 
and requiring much time and labor, was deferred till more pressing wants 
were supplied. People were packed in half-finished houses, windowless, door- 
less, and with the merest modicum of furniture ; everything much as in a new 
oil town so far as " roughing it " amid discomfort, mud and disorder were 
concerned — the comparison extends little farther. 

In 1838 a rather large cabin, having two or three rooms on the ground floor, 
a loft, and with a log stable in the rear, stood on what is now the southwestern 
corner lot at South street and Sixth Avenue, near the spring on South street. 
Traces of the foundation and chimney yet remain. Who built it and when it 
was built, is uncertain, but it probably dated back to camp- meeting times. In 
1838 Philip Clover, sr., put James Brinkley into it to hold possession against 
McFadden and the Kellys who had set up a claim to the land. Brinkley and 
his family occupied it till the winter of 1839, and it gave accommodation to 



4/6 History of Clarion County. 

some of those who attended the sales. It appears then to have been deserted 
until it fell into the hands of William Clark in the spring of 1840. Clark built 
a shed addition to it, to be used as a kitchen and dining-room. Under his 
proprietorship and that of George Lightner, a German, besides the family of 
the host, this house sheltered between fifteen and twenty-five unhappy boarders. 

Samuel Garvin, in the early '30's, had taken down a small frame-house at 
Clugh's Mill, moved it and put it up on a little property he had purchased east 

of the future town. It stood on the lot now belonging to , nearly 

opposite J. E. Wood's residence. Here Mr. Garvin plied his trade of shoe- 
maker, cleared a few fields for cultivation, and occasionally burnt a tar-kiln, and 
boated the product to Pittsburgh. This house and the South street cabin were 
the first houses worthy of the name on the site of Clarion. It is doubtful to 
which belongs the priority ; probably to the former. 

As soon as the county-seat had been located, a Mrs Kate Empy, who had 
lived a short time in Strattanville, and kept a shrewd eye on the prospective 
town, began to erect a frame dwelling just outside of the town limits ; it is now 
the residence of Dr. Strickler. Here she opened a cake and beer shop, and 
entertained many during the sales, realizing in the three days the snug little 
sum of $roo, quite a bonanza for those days. This is the earliest new build- 
ing within the present limits of the borough. Subseqnently, when the town 
actually began, Mrs. Empy sold this property and opened a public-house in a 
more central situation. 

In 1839, before the laying out of the town, Peter Clover built a log house 
of one story and a half, at the west end of Main street, and soon after sold it 
to John R. Clover, who with his family first occupied it It stood where Martin 
Meisinger's dwelling now stands. Amid a number of new buildings that 
sprang up almost simultaneously in May, 1840, it is difficult to ascertain the 
very first one. It was probably Empy's tavern, afterwards the residence of 
Colonel William T. Alexander, now the property of S. Frampton's heirs. The 
first brick house was J. Kerr's block, now owned by J. C. Reid, commenced in 
1840, and completed early in '41 ; the next was McLain's brick building near 
the corner of Third Avenue and Main street, since destroyed by fire. The first 
house on Wood street was Jos. Kelly's, at the corner of Third Avenue, now the 
dwelling of William Forkum. Money did not abound in those days ; none of 
the first comers were wealthy, and the majority were of very limited means. 
As a consequence a great many were compelled to begin at the wrong end in 
building houses, erecting a small building or shed first, back from the street, 
as a rear win g, and leaving the front in expectancy. For the first year or so 
most of the private houses were small, mean structures of this sort, set back 
among the pines and underwood. The uncouth appearance of the infant town 
may be gathered from the following description by an old citizen who arrived 
in August, 1840 : 





7/2^ ^H^-7^^:><i 




/T 



Clarion Borough. 477 



" As I had come one hundred and twenty-five miles to see the place with 
a view of making it my future home, I looked around with considerable inter- 
est. Although disposed to take a favorable view of everything, there was very 
little I could see to fascinate. Previous to the spring of 1840 it had been a 
piece of poor pine wood land, and the only money that had ever been made 
off it had been by John C. Corbett, who some years before had gathered up 
the pine knots on the site of the town and burnt a tar kiln, and realized out of 
it eleven barrels of tar. The main street was the Waterford and Susquehanna 
turnpike, and the sides were occasionally ornamented with piles of half-rotten 
logs that had been cut and piled when the turnpike was made. 

" Quite a number of houses were up along both sides, but if any were finished 
I did not see them. Generally only enough land was cleared on which to set 
the building, and the back end was frequently lost in bushes and brush heaps. 
The town looked to me more like a' camp-meeting than the metropolis of a 
flourishing county. Mr. Clark's hotel (Loomis House) was open for the accom- 
modation of strangers and travelers, and I suppose had a bar for the spiritual 
refreshment of his customers. The house was up, roofed, and partitioned off 
into rooms and apartments, and the outside doors were hung ; but the carpen- 
ters and plasterers were still at work, the painters had not begun yet, and I 
slept my first night in Clarion in a room with a sheet hung up for a door. The 
window sash had not been put in, but there were sheets and garments hung up 
so as to partially shut out the view from the outside. 

" Dr. Ross had introduced me to Jacques W. Johnson, a young lawyer from 
Cumberland Valley — somewhere about Carlisle. He was very polite, and in- 
troduced me to everybody we met. We walked out the west end of the town 
as far as the turn of the road below where the fair ground now is. It was all 
woods with a thick undergrowth of bushes. The Diamond looked hard ; the 
pine trees had been grubbed out, and were lying on the ground with roots pro- 
truding up, some of them ten feet. The masons were building the wall of the 
jail yard ; the foundation was finished and the court-house had not been com- 
menced. A thick growth of young white pine extended all the way from the 
Alexander House to the Loomis House. The streets had generally been cut 
out and the brush burned, but logs and stumps were everywhere. On the west 
end of the town a couple of fields had been cleared south of the turnpike, ex- 
tending back of where the seminary now stands. 

"Living in the town at that time seemed very much like camping out. 
Those who had come to stay were generally young married people, starting in 
the world on small means, and were from all parts of the State, but in their 
primitive way of living soon formed acquaintances, and all were busy getting 
their houses ready for the winter. Thomas Gahagan lived in a little house, 
still standing, east of the nunnery. Two other small, one-story houses were 
occupied between that and 7th avenue — one on Mr. Montgomery's lot and 

51 



478 History of Clarion County. 

one on the A. G. Corbett lot. Samuel M. McCamant had a blacksmith shop 
where the Republican-Gazette office now stands, and the kitchen end of the 
house was up and occupied by him. James McKee lived in the kitchen end 
of J. T. Mafifet's house. The next building that I recollect was the Great 
Western Hotel (D. B. Curll's lot); it was up and roofed, but not far enough, 
along to occupy as a hotel. The next was a frame store-room, back off the 
street on the east side of the Jones House lot. The Jesse D. Porter house was 
up and occupied by a man named Sloan, a cabinet-maker. Between that and 
Dr. Pritner's house he had built a long shop and vvareroom, which long after- 
wards was moved to the rear end of the Jones House and made into a kitchen 
and dining-room. Dr. Pritner was in his house (now the post-office). Lindsay 
C. Pritner was living in a frame house on the east side of the Kribbs block 
lot, and had a store in front of it. In the upper end of the town the settlers 
that I recollect were Andrew Gardner, M. McMurtrie, Wilson S. Packer, 
Joseph Kelly, William Black. Jonatham Frampton was living in the shell of 
a house on the lot now owned by Joseph H. Patrick. Ground was broken for 
the Kerr block, now John C. Reid's. Alexander Reynolds was having the 
house and store built where Captain Alexander now lives. Wilson & Barber 
had a store on where the Arnold block now stands. An old Mrs. Empy had 
the shell of the Colonel Alexander house up and was keeping tavern in it. 
The lot occupied by the Frampton block was covered with a growth of white 
oak timber, and the whole square beyond it was virgin forest." 

Early life in Clarion presented some curious features, necessarily when 
an influx of people from the old and civilized communities came in contact 
with the raw and rude surroundings of an upstart town in the wilderness. For 
some time people were too much engrossed in securing a roof over their heads, 
and comparative comfort, to unite in social intercourse beyond that of an 
every-day character. With the advent of the legal force, mostly pleasure- 
loving younkers with plenty of spare time on their hands, a new element was 
contributed to the life of the place. The hotels became the social head- 
quarters, but the round of gayeties was as circumscribed as the luxuries were 
limited. Card parties were the rule among the gentlemen. Dominoes were 
indulged in by both sexes. Yet, hampered as it was, the spirit of polite and 
social intercourse, centainly less artificial, was perhaps more general in the 
town's society then than it is now. A couple of balls at the Great Western in 
the first winters, which attracted a number from Brookville and Strattanville, 
went far to wrest the palm of social prestige from those older and more aristo- 
cratic neighbors. The new jail, under the regime of Assistant Sheriff Speer 
and his comely daughters, and while yet untainted by the presence of crim- 
inals, enjoyed with the hotels the favor of pleasure seekers. Hither betimes 
the youth of the town gathered and merrily whiled the hours away with games 
and dances. The vacant cells rang with innocent laughter, and the prisoa 



Clarion Borough. 479 



walls and grated windows looked down on the mazes of the cotillion and Vir- 
ginia reel. Some laughable accounts are preserved of the mishaps of the 
beaux in piloting their fair partners through the brush and mud, and over the 
logs, debris, and various obstacles encountered on their return. 

One of the amenities of the early years were the house and barn raisings, 
which were very numerous. No one went round to collect a crowd ; when the 
structure was ready the builder would raise a loud halloo, and every one 
dropped his work, the clattering] of hammers ceased, and all ran to the 
"frolic." While the full complement of workmen were on hand during the 
construction of the court-house and jail, the village was a bustling one. In 
tl:e pleasant evenings the men beguiled the time by throwing the sledge and 
bar, wrestling, and pitching quoits, and Main street was enlivened by the 
throng of on-lookers, and participants in these impromptu sports. 

Intercourse with the outer world was furnished by the stage line over the 
Bellefonte and Meadville turnpike. A daily coach passed through town, one 
day east and the next west, thus bringing the eastern mail every alternate day. 
Prior to 1845 ^^^ Pittsburgh mail was carried on horseback from Freeport to 
Strattanville, and thence brought to Clarion by stage. In July, 1845, James 
McElwaine, of Freeport, established a tri-weekly hack and mail line between 
that point and Clarion. A trip to Pittsburgh in those days was a tedious affair 
of not less than forty-eight hours. 

The post-office was opened in 1840, in the store-room of Wilson & Barber, 
where G. W. Arnold's block now stands ; the building was frame and had a 
portico front. David Wilson was the first postmaster ; he was succeeded by 
John Lyon. Clarion's subsequent postmasters were Seth Clover, Hugh A. 
Thompson, J. N. Hetherington, Miles Beatty, Jesse D. Porter, Miles Beatty 
again, C. C. Brosius, who moved the office to the small brick building adjoin- 
ing the residence of N. Myers; Miller Beatty, and M. M. Kaufman. In 1841 
a voluntary census revealed a population of 714; probably one hundred of 
these were non-resident mechanics and laborers employed on the public build- 
ings ; 1842 saw a disproportionate increase in the town's numbers ; it became 
evident that the new county seat had attracted more than it could support, and 
as a consequence a reactionary exodus in 1842—3 left the town with its normal 
quota of inhabitants. In 1850 Clarion contained 719 souls. Mr. Sherman 
Day, compiler of " Historical Collections of Pennsylvania," visited Clarion in 
1842, and thus flatteringly describes it: " The court-house is an elegant struc- 
ture of brick, surmounted by a cupola, and the county prison is very neatly 
built of sandstone from the neighboring quarries. The land reserved for a 
public square was shaded by a beautiful grove of oaks — part of the original 
forest. But it was compelled to bow to the ax of modern improvement. The 
neatness and good taste which mark both the private and public buildings, and 
a brisk air of enterprise along the street, make a forcible impression upon the 



48o History of Clarion County. 

traveler. There is a spacious academy of brick at the eastern end of the vil- 
lage. Presbyterian and Methodist churches are organized, and the Catholics 
are about organizing, but none have hitherto erected a house of worship." 

The trees and bushes in the public squares were taken out by Lot Curll, 
David Roll, and others, under the direction of the commissioners, in the fall of 
1840 and the spring of 1841. Besides Frampton and Craig's sheds, three small 
temporary frame offices were put up on the Diamond, the prothonotary's and 
John B. Butler's, immediately opposite the court-house, and a shed for the 
commissioners on its southeastern corner. These were removed soon after the 
completion of the court-house. " Gilmore's Row," a group of four humble 
offices, adorned the eastern side of the north square, on the present property of 
J. H. Sweny, esq. The corner building was Gilmore & Thompson's legal shop, 
the next was occupied by the Iron County Democrat ; its neighbor was D. W. 
Foster's law office, and the old election house was sacred to the guardianship 
of the peace in the person of George B. Hamilton, esq. Thomas Sutton had 
a one-story office on the Kribbs corner. 

By an act of April 6, 1841, the village was incorporated as a borough, with 
limits as originally described. The citizens had anticipated the legislative act,, 
and held an election the previous month. Jas. Sloan was chosen burgess ; James 
McKee, high constable; S. M. McMurtrie, borough constable; George B. Ham- 
ilton and Jesse Teats, justices; Edward Derby, Hugh A. Thompson, A. Rich- 
ards, Joseph Shoemaker, J. W. Coulter, town council ; James Goe and John 
Lyon, school directors; the municipality met in one of the rooms of the court- 
house, the general place for all kinds of assemblies. 

Frampton and Craig, the jail contractors, on their arrival here, put up a 
rude shanty near the northwestern corner of the public square, to be used as a 
store for trading with their employees ; this was the first mercantile stand in 
town. The first regular store was opened by John Potter on the east end of 
the Jones House lot. Potter sold dry goods, groceries, and a general assort- 
ment of merchandise. Lindsay Pritner started the next shop on the lot cov- 
ered in part by the annex to the Kribbs block. About the same time Wilson 
and Barber erected a store-room one door west of the Forest House. Not long 
after Lyon and Thompson put in a general stock in the room of the Reynolds 
building, now occupied by J. K. Boggs & Co. The two latter were the lead- 
ing firms during the first two or three years. Myers and Hetherington were 
the first to introduce an extensive line of hardware at their general store, now 
Rankin's. R. and J. McGuffy opened the earliest drug store in a lowly shop,, 
now the office of Hon. W. L. Corbett. John, familiarly known as " Jerusalem " 
Hysung, a German, started a bakery and pastry shop on Kiss's corner in 1841, 
He was a very ingenious man, going into the woods, hewing the timbers, and 
constructing the frame of the house himself Here the leading citizens used to 
gather in the evenings and discuss the news, politics, jumbles and spruce beer. 



I 





■m 




'feK 



Oc-VVyA\CV\^ . 



Clarion Borough. 481 



Hysung's successor was George Wesner, who converted the stand into a restau- 
rant and sort of grocery. It was under this administration that it acquired the 
name of " Brimstone Corner," and for many years the corner faithfully main- 
tained its reputation. Wesner, although unlicensed, dispensed liquors on the 
sly to his regular patrons ; and his stufty little rooms were the scene of many 
a jovial carousal, often ending in a free-for-all fight. 

Drs. James Ross and John T. Pritner, previously of Strattanville, in 1840 
entered into partnership and began practice at Clarion. John H. Boyd, a brother 
of J. K. Boyd, the attorney, was another of the earliest representatives of the 
medical profession, but did not remain long. Dr. E. Greene practiced here a 
short time in 1845. 

In the mechanical arts Thomas Gahagan, Richard Wilson, A. Richards, 
Samuel Whisner, were among the earliest resident carpenters and joiners. Geo. 
Dale was a plasterer. Provines and Hilbruner, west of Wilson and Barber's 
store, had the first tin-shop, starting in April, 1841. William Craig, a brother 
of James M., of Frampton & Craig, had an humble tailoring establishment in 
a shed adjoining their store on the Diamond ; and Robert Wood soon opened 
another shop, advertising an offer of ten dollars per month and board for jour- 
neymen tailors. Thomas Newell was the town's first cobbler ; he was soon fol- 
lowed by Robert Goble and E. W. Everding. J. A. Kerr kept the first sad- 
dlery; Henry Gompers the next; the latter had his shop above Wilson and Bar- 
ber's store. Samuel McCamant, Samuel Holzberry, and Peter Aldinger were 
Clarion's first knights of the anvil. Aldinger had a shop on the former Leo- 
pold Guth property, at Sixth and Wood. Holzberry dressed the tools of the 
stone-masons and mechanics, and clinked the iron in the lot immediately back 
of the jail. " Sam." Holzberry was one of the characters of the early village. 
His helpmate, assisted by himself in spare moments, acted as laundress for the 
workmen, and they might be seen on bright days, pounding away at the soaked 
garments of the " vile mechanicals," after the primitive fashion, with sticks, in 
the vain attempt to extract all the dirt from them. It was one of the regular 
amusements of their patrons to load their pockets with stones and fusillade, with 
hideous racket, the shanty of their tool-dresser and washerman. 

James Sloan and Adam Mooney started chair-making and painting shops 
simultaneously ; the former in a low building on the J. D. Porter lot ; the lat- 
ter two doors east of the Centennial House at the house still standing there. 
Sloan was succeeded by Nichols & Ross, and they by Enoch Alberson, who 
extended the line to general cabinet- making. D. K. Turney in 1842 opened a 
cabinet and chair shop at the corner of Wood street and Third avenue, and Will- 
iam Shaw soon after opened another adjoining the Alexander House. Charles R. 
Waters established Clarion's first foundry on the residence lot of James Boggs,. 
esq. Thomas West and Jesse Love operated a pottery at a very early date on 
the northeast corner of Seventh avenue and Wood street. J. B. Loomis kept 



482 History of Clarion County. 

the first livery stable in the rear of the Great Western ; after him were Charles 
R. Waters and A. Johnson. The original brewery, built about 1845 by a Ger- 
man named Peters, stood near the head of Knapp's Run, on the east end of 
Main street, north side. Mr. Tritsch followed Peters. 

The first barber shop was presided over by Alexander Johnson, a colored 
man, who opened it in 1844, in one of the small frame buildings on Main 
street, where Guth's brick now stands. Johnson had a versatile genius ; in 
connection with the tonsorial shop he ran a regular eating-house, supplying 
oysters, tripe, pigs-feet, etc. Later he went into the livery business. John 
Clark was a hatter, opposite the Porter house, previous to embarking in the 
mercantile business. Miss Rebecca Corse, afterwards Mrs. J. B. Loomis, first 
ministered to feminine fashionable wants as milliner and mantua-maker, at the 
Forest House. John Beck was the first watch-maker ; his shop stood where 
Kaufman's block was afterwards built. In 186- James Brown fitted up an 
humble photograph (tintype) gallery in the upper story of Elss's block. He 
was succeeded by A. Bonnet, he by C. C. Brosius, and finally in 1876, came 
the present artist, Mr. F. M. Lewis. Much of the early work was done by 
traveling daguereotypists who had movable galleries. 

Hotels. — The first pretense at a hostelry was the cabin and its frame wing, 
at South street and Sixth avenue, before mentioned, as appropriated and used 
by William Clark, pending the erection of the Forest House. 

Mrs. Empy's tavern and boarding-house was the first finished hostelry and 
plastered house in the town ; this is now the property of Samuel Frampton's 
heirs, formerly that of William T. Alexander. It was known as the Eagle 
House. Mrs. Empy was succeeded in the management by William D. Louden, 
and he, after a short time, by Joseph G. Shoemaker. In 1843 John S. McPher- 
son, formerly of the Clarion Exchange, took charge of this house ; finally John 
Reed became landlord. It next became the property of William T. Alexander, 
esq , and ceased to be used as a hotel. 

The next hotel thrown open for the accommodation of the public was the 
Forest House, now the Loomis, in August, 1840. The Clarks only managed the 
Forest House a short time before they returned to Brook ville. Robert Barber 
took the place, ran it a year or so, and in 1843 Seth Clover became proprietor- 
In 1845 John B. Loomis purchased the property, and under his management 
the stand attained an excellent reputation. He added the third story. After 
Captain Loomis's death in 186-, the hotel was conducted for some years by 
his widow and sons. 

The Great Western, whose site is occupied by D. B. Curll's block, was 
constructed in 1840-1, by Colonel James W. Coulter, from Butler county, and 
enjoyed with the Forest House the greatest share of patronage. After a short 
lease to H. M. R. Clark, Sheriff D. Delo became next proprietor in 1847, s"<i 

McLain. In 1853 the house was burned down and not rebuilt, Mr. Curll 

buying the property. 



Clarion Borough. 483 



William Alexander and Greenberry Wilson came from Huntingdon county 
in the spring of 1841, and camped out several weeks under some oaks near 
Strickler and Ray's foundry, before finding more fixed accommodations. In 
1 84 1 Mr. Alexander built the rear part of the Alexander, originally known as 
the Union House. In the succeeding spring he erected the brick half; the 
frame end, formerly the residence of Robert Potter, was attached later. Mr. 
Alexander remained as host here till his death in 1866 or '67. Mr. Joseph D. 
Thompson then managed it for three years. Since that time the hotel has 
passed through a number of changes, and was finally destroyed by fire during 
Mr. F. Dietz's administration, in May, 1886. 

The Clarion Exchange, where the McLain dwelling stands, was one of the 
earliest brick buildings, and was put up in 1840 and '41 by Joseph Foster. Its 
first landlords were McPherson and McMurtrie, later McPherson alone. Subse- 
quently Joseph Foster and Andrew Gardner managed it. When D. McLain 
occupied it as a dwelling-house its existence as a hotel ceased. This building 
was burned January, 1878. 

The Oakland, now the Jones House, was built by WilHam Furgeson. At 
first only the rear, the house was subsequently brought to the level of the 
street ; it was two-storied. Mr. Furgeson failing, the property fell into the 
hands of Rev. George Lyon, one of his creditors, and was purchased from him in 
1847, by Mr. H. M. R Clark, who built up a reputation for it as an excellent 
hostelry, and continued proprietor till 1866, being succeeded by ex-Sheriff" S. 
S. Jones. Under Mr. Jones's management it became the leading inn of the 
town ; he added the third story, the rear wing, and erected the present com- 
modious stable ; but these improvements involved Mr. Jones in financial diffi- 
culties, and the stand was finally sold to A. H. Beck. 

Colonel Coulter, after retiring from the Great Western, purchased the upper 
of the Kerr buildings, and opened a general store. In 1876 he converted this 
into a hotel, and erected a third story. Colonel Coulter conducted the house 
till his death in 1882, and afterwards Mrs. Coulter for a while. The Coulter 
House had a number of managers after Mrs. Coulter's death in 1883, and was 
sold to the present proprietor, M. Boyce, in 1885. 

Mr. Nicholas Tritsch, in 1876, built a new front to the dwelling house 
erected by John McPherson, and converted the building into a hotel, the Cen- 
tennial House. After running it a short time, Mr. Herman Sandt became 
proprietor under lease. Since his exit this hotel has been successively con- 
ducted by Mrs. Tritsch, his reUct, Dietz & Markley, Joseph Fasenmyer, Mrs. 
Tritsch again, and the present proprietor is Thomas Fleckenstein. 

Societies. — Besides the political Hickory and Henry Clay clubs, the most 
noteworthy of the old non-secret associations of the town was the Clarion Ly- 
ceum. The Lyceum was a select literary and debating club, formed in De- 
cember, 1843. The first officers were, president, Charles McCrea ; vice-presi- 



484 History of Clarion County. 

dent, James M. Craig ; secretary, Amos Myers ; reviewer, B. J. Reid. They 
met weekly, and the quarterly debates held in the court-room were open to the 
public. This institution, though small in membership, represented no small 
amount of talent and brains. It lived four or five years. 

Women's Christian Temperance Union. The Clarion Union, the first in the 
county, was organized March 14, 1884, with fifty-four members. The original 
members were, president, Mrs. P. P. Pinney ; vice-presidents, Mrs. L. J. Shoe- 
maker, C. Smith, W. H. Mossman, Theo. S. Wilson, James Campbell. Present 
officers: President, Mrs. James Campbell; vice-presidents, Mrs. N. Myers, 
W. I. Reed, Charles Leeper ; recording secretary, Mrs. Clara Coblentz ; cor- 
responding secretary, Mrs. S. Win Wilson ; treasurer, Mrs. J. L. Shallenberger. 
At present the Clarion W. C. T. U. numbers twenty members, its numerical 
strength having been diminished by the organization of the Young Women's 
Christian Temperance Union, May 20, 1886. The Clarion division of the W. 
C. T. U. in 1886, expended $626.40 in the cause of temperance. Meetings 
are held the first Tuesday of each month. 

The county organization took form December 4, 1884, under the auspices of 
Mrs. Frances S. Swift, the State president. Since that time sixteen local 
unions have been established, making seventeen in all. Mrs. J. S. Elder, of 
Clarion, is president ; Mrs. Keeley, Edenburg, corresponding secretary ; Miss 
Finley, Lamartine, recording secretary ; Mrs. N. Myers, Clarion, treasurer. 

The La Coterie Club, a social organization, was chartered December 30, 
1885. It has a suite of pleasant rooms in Kribbs's block. Its active members 
number twenty. President, F. J. Maftet. 

Clarion Athletic Association, organized November, 1885, with John W. 
Reed, president. It rented Kribbs's Hall and fitted it up with a complete set 
of gymnastic apparatus. The membership is about twenty. 

John B. Loomis Post, No. 205, G. A. R., was established in May, 1881, 
with H. Wetter, post commander. There were twenty-eight charter members. 
The present number of members in good standing is forty-five. Present com- 
mander, John B. Patrick. It meets the 2d and 4th Tuesday of each month in 
Arnold's (frame) block. 

Woman's Relief Corps, whose object is to co-operate in the charitable and 
decorative work of the G. A. R., was organized in Clarion February, 1886, 
with fifty-one members. Corps number, 36. Mrs. Nettie Lewis was first 
president, Mrs. Lucy Alexander senior vice-president. The present officers : 
President, Mrs. A. H. Alexander; vice-president, Mrs. Maggie Campbell; 
treasurer, Mrs. J. H. Patrick. The W. R. C. meets semi-monthly in the G. 
A. R. Hall. 

Knights of Labor, Local Assembly 9881 (Local, i. e., not belonging to a 
district, and directly subordinate to the General Assembly) was organized in 
Clarion March 22, 1887, with about fifty members. The officers are not given 
to the public. 




^a. 




Clarion Borough. 485 



I. O. O. F. Clarion Lodge, No. 252, was organized in 1847. 

Clarion Encampment, No. 90, I. O. O. F., exists in connection with the 
above. 

Clarion Lodge (Blue) of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 277, was char- 
tered in 1853, with J. P. Brown, worthy master; Wm. B. Brown, senior warden; 
James E. Johnson, first junior warden. Its present W. M. is A. H. Sarver. 

Clarion Lodge, No. 213, A. O. U. W., was organized by J. E. Fisher, 
March, 1886, with thirty-one charter members. Past- master workman, J. E. 
Fisher ; master workman, Joseph H. Partrick. Meetings every Thursday 
night at G. A. R. Hall. 

The Knights of Maccabees have also an organization here. The Sons of 
Temperance, Artisans' Order of Mutual Protection, and Red Men, secret soci- 
eties, once existed in Clarion, but are now defunct. 

CJinrcJies. — Methodist Episcopal. — The Methodist was the first organized 
denomination in Clarion. In 1840 Mr. John R. Clover formed a society of 
this church here. Strattanville was the name of the circuit of appointments, 
and Mr. R. Peck was the preacher. Still it is supposed Dr. James Goe (the 
first prothonotary) who was a local preacher, first preached for the Methodists 
of Clarion. Before -the jail was finished the house of Mr. Jesse Teats, on Wood 
street, now occupied by Samuel Pickens, and the Thomas school- house, now 
A. G. Corbett's Main street residence, were the places of assembly. In July, 

1 841, the appointment received conference recognition, and H. N. Sterns was 
appointed pastor. A lot was purchased in 1842 from Jno. N. Purviance, for 
$300, and in 1844 a brick structure Avas formally dedicated. The revivals of 

1842, 1850, and 185 1, were marked periods in the history of this church. 
The church was incorporated December 5, 185 1. The trustees named in the 
articles of incorporation are James Goe, John Beck, Miles Beatty, Enoch Al- 
berson, Peter Conver, E. W. Everding, Jno. A. McCloskey, Samuel Whisner, 
George Dale. Present membership 130 communicants. The old building 
has become antiquated and a new church which will cost from $12,000 to 
$16,000 is projected. For this purpose the lot at the corner of Wood street 
and Sixth avenue has been purchased from L. Guth. The following have 
been the pastors of this church since its beginning here: H. N. Sterns, J. 
Graham, J. W. Klock, S. C. Churchill, J. W. Hill, D. H. Jack, J. K. Hallock, 
R. M. Bear, W. F. Wilson, W. F. Day, E. B. Lane, J. R. Lyon, J. T. Boyle, 
N. G. Luke, D. S. Steadman, T. P. Warner, J. J. Bently, T. Graham, R. F. 
Keeler, D. A. Crowell, S. S. Stuntz, W. F. Warren, E. R. Knapp, C. C. Hunt, 
O. M. Sackett, C. Wilson, M. Miller, H. Henderson, W. H. Mossman, C. M. 
Darrow, B. F. Delo, present pastor. 

Presbyterian. — The Presbyterian Church at Clarion was organized in the 
upper story of the jail building. May 15, 1841, by Revs. J. Core and D. Polk, 
the former of Licking church, the latter of Brookville. Sixteen members 

52 



486 History of Clarion County. 

were present ; Hugh A. Thompson, Thomas Sutton, and John Clark were 
installed as presiding elders. In 1844 the church building was completed. 
Rev. James Montgomery had been called to this ministry in February, 1842 ; 
Mr. Montgomery was an exceptionally pious, amiable and scholarly pastor. 
He continued to officiate till January, 1868, when his failing health com- 
pelled him to resign. He died August 10, 1871. The present pastor. Rev. 
James S. Elder, took charge February 28, 1868. Mr. Elder is a native of El- 
der's Ridge, Indiana county, a graduate of Jefferson College, and previous 
to his installation here had filled the pastorate of the Greenville and Corsica 
churches. The present parsonage was secured in 1870. Some valuable im- 
provements and additions to the church property were made of late years. In 
1884 a pipe organ and stained windows were put in, and in the succeeding 
year a water motor was attached to the organ. The membership is 176. In 
connection with this church are the Women's Missionary (Foreign and Do- 
mestic) Society, and the Young Ladies' American Missionary Society, organ- 
ized in 1873, and 1872 ; both are in active existence. For the past year the 
former expended $500 in missionary work. 

Roman Catholic. — St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Church. In 1842 
there was a mere handful of Catholics in the town, and their spiritual wants 
were first ministered to by Rev. Joseph Cody of Sugar Creek, Armstrong 
county, who came once every two or three months, and held divine service in 
the private houses of various members of the church. Subsequently this mis- 
sion was successively supplied by Rev. Fathers Kleineidam, Brown, Gallagher, 
Skopez ; and finally in 1846, P. Hoy was sent out as the first resident pastor. 
Clarion, however, was only the central of a number of outlying missions which 
he attended. Father Hoy becoming enfeebled, his place was taken by Rev. 
Jos. F. Deane, June, 1847. ^^ the early part of 1850 Rev. James Slattery 
succeeded Mr. Deane as pastor here and at the " Wilderness," in Farmington 
township. During this pastorate the church was erected on a lot donated by 
the proprietors of the land at the instance of General Levi G. Clover, and con- 
veyed by the commissioners, January 8, 1841, to Bishop Kenrick, of the See 
•of Philadelphia, in trust for the future congregation. The church property 
was afterwards enlarged by the gift of an adjoining lot by J. C. Reid. Ex- 
clusive of furniture, the cost of the church was $2,500. On Sunday, June 
the 15th, 1856, the structure was dedicated by Right Rev. Josue M. Young, 
of Erie. Father Slattery having gone to the West, the church was attended 
for three or four years by priests from other points, among whom were Revs. 
Ledwith, A. Skopez and Mollinger. The latter was relieved of Clarion in 
August, i860, by Rev. John Koch, as permanent pastor and visitor for the 
Wilderness, Voglebachers, Sligo and other points. Under Fr. Koch's admin- 
istration the church, previously almost bare, was pretty thoroughly furnished 
with pews, organ, bells, etc. Rev. H. A. Deckenbrock, a native of Westphalia, 



Clarion Borough. 487 



Prussia, arrived here September i, 1876. No outside congregation was in- 
cluded in his charge. Under his direction the parsonage was built, the church 
extended, stained glass windows put in, and an elegant new altar purchased. 
An imposing front extension is to be executed in 1888. The congregation 
numbers about five hundred souls. 

Baptist. — The Reidsburg Church, of which Rev. Thomas E. Thomas was 
minister, was the nearest place of worship for the few Baptists of the early town. 
About thirty years ago there was an attempt at Baptist organization here, but 
it proved only partially successful. Amos Myers, Samuel Frampton, C. E. Be- 
man, and Nicholas Shanafelt were its promoters. There was occasional preach- 
ing in the upper story of the bank building by Rev. Wolf, and other for- 
eign clergymen. A Sunday-school was formed which met in the same room. 
In the course of a few j^'ears, on the death and departure of some of the leading 
spirits, the movement died out. In 1875 a reorganization was effected, and in 
1876 a new edifice erected at the cost of $9,000, on a lot donated by Rev. 
Amos Myers. For some years the place could only support a pastor at half 
time. The resident pastors have been Revs. Swigart, Snyder, Shoemaker, and 

A. J. King. The membership is one hundred. 

Schools. — Education received early attention in the infant burgh. The first 
common school — a free one — was opened in the autumn of 1841, in the house 
of its teacher, B. H. Thomas, which stood on the lot now occupied by A. G. 
Corbett's residence on Main street. School was held only during the winter 
term ; the balance of the year the house was used as the temporary academy. 
In 1845 ^ small one-room structure, the "White School House," was built on 
lot No. 21, fronting on South street. It stood near the upper end of the lot, 
and was approached from Fifth avenue. The building is now used as a dwell- 
ing. School was held here till 1867, and then transferred to the academy. 

The academy became dilapidated, unsightly, as well as too small, and after 
a great deal of agitation, the citizens of the town, by popular vote, decided to 
erect a new school -house. On September 6, 1885, the contract for a three- 
storied brick building was awarded to S. S. Wilson, at $15,000. School was 
opened in the winter of 1886, with Prof. Yingling, principal, and all the pupils 
from school No. 2, the engine-house, transferred to the new building. The 
structure is a very creditable one, and the architecture on the whole is pleas- 
ing. It contains ten rooms. 

In 1865 the first Catholic school was held in the sacristy of the church; 
Miss Allebach was its teacher. The front of the school-house was erected in 
1869, and the rear in 1878. Lay instructors were employed till 1876, when the 
Benedictine Sisters took charge of the school, and have remained ever since. 

Clarion Academy was incorporated by an act of Assembly June 12, 1840, 
with Amos Williams, Hugh Maguire, Lindsay C. Pritner, Robert Potter, Geo. 

B. Hamilton, Peter Clover, sr., John H. Groce, William B. Fetzer, and Charles 



488 History of Clarion County. 

Evans, trustees. The treasurer, Judge Evans, received $2,000 as a State ap- 
propriation. Lots Nos. 45 and 46 were purchased from the first regular com- 
missioners for $202.50. Early in 1841 Lyon and Thompson received the build- 
ing contract for $1,800. The building was not completed ready for use till 
January, 1843 5 i" the mean time the sessions were held in B. H. Thomas's 
frame school-house. Beside the ordinary branches, Latin and some of the 
higher mathematics were embraced in the school's curriculum. Rev. Robert 
W. Orr was the first principal; he was succeeded by James V. Reid in 1845. 
In that year the annual State appropriations were discontinued, and the acad- 
emy, unable to support itself, ceased to exist. The building was utilized for 
various purposes; select-school, lodge-rooms, etc., till 1867, when it was con- 
verted to the use of the common schools. 

The Clarion Female Seminary began in 1843, in an humble frame structure 
on Fifth avenue, previously a tailor shop, now the kitchen of the old B. J. Reid 
homestead. Miss Stebbins, a sister-in-law of attorney John B. Butler, was its 
first teacher ; Thomas M. Jolly was president of the board of trustees. The 
institution failed to realize the expectations of its projectors, and after a couple 
of terms the Clarion Female Seminary became a thing of the past. 

Carrier Seminary and the Normal School. 1866 being the centennial year 
of American Methodism, the Erie Conference determined to commemorate it 
by the inauguration of two educational institutions under the patronage of the 
church ; one at Randolph, N. Y., and the other at Clarion, Pa. Rev. R. M. 
Bear was appointed financial agent to solicit donations. The first board of 
trustees was elected by the contributors March 18, 1867, and were George W. 
Arnold, Samuel Wilson, Jacob Black, John Keatly, James Ross, M. D., Hiram 
Carrier, Nathan Carrier, jr., David Lawson, William Young, James B. Knox, 
Hutchman Torrence, John D. Coax, Nathan Myers, Martin Kearney, John R. 
Strattan. The corner-stone was laid June 16, 1868, and the building, a mas- 
sive three-storied brick structure, sixty feet wide by one hundred and ten in 
length, completed in the fall of 1871. The grounds comprised ten acres. The 
total cost, inclusive of furniture, was about $75,000. In the mean time the 
school had been organized in the old academy building. The name Carrier 
Seminary was adopted in honor of the Carrier family, who agreed to donate 
$6,000 for the building. The first term of Carrier Seminary M^as opened Sep- 
tember 10, 1867, with Rev. J. G. Townsend as principal, who remained one 
year. He was succeeded by Rev. S. Stuntz, who remained at the head of the 
school two years; in the fall of 1870 Miss E. J. Haldeman became principal, 
remaining one year. The fall term of 1871 opened in the new building, Prof 
J. J. Steadman, principal. The institution started out prosperously, but after a 
few years a decline set in, from which it never revived. 

In 1874 some of the leading citizens of the borough — stockholders, en- 
deavored to change the Carrier Seminary into a State Normal school, and sue- 



Clarion Borough. 489 



ceeded in having the thirteenth district set apart for Clarion ; but the M. E. 
Conference, on discovering that in the event of the change, the institution 
would pass out of its control, opposed the project, and it consquently fell 
through. 

In the summer of 1886 several teachers succeeded in getting the substan- 
tial citizens of Clarion interested in the design of establishing a Normal School. 
The scheme soon took practical shape ; $40,000 were subscribed, and at the 
session of the Methodist Episcopal Conference, beginning September 15, 1886, 
the transfer of the seminary from that body to the provisional trustees of the 
Clarion State Normal School Association was effected for the consideration of 
$25,000. Ground was immediately broken for the erection of two large dor- 
mitories adjoining the main building; the work was rapidly pushed, and the 
State committee, having examined the structures February 15, 1887, formally 
recommended them the same day, thus perfecting the establishment of the 
school as a State institution. The interior of the seminary building was re- 
modeled and renovated throughout ; the partitions of the third story were 
taken out and the whole converted into a magnificent hall. The ladies' dormi- 
tory consists of two wings, each forty by one hundred and twenty feet, and 
three stories high ; the lower story contains the dining-room, thirty- eight by 
ninety- six feet, and capable of seating 250. The main wing of the boys' build- 
ing, likewise three stories in height, and with seventy rooms, measures forty by 
one hundred and two feet; the annex forty by sixty- four feet. All the build- 
ings are fitted with water, steam, and gas, and in interior arrangements and 
facilities are unsurpassed in the State. About $60,000 has already been ex- 
pended in improvements ; the total cost will exceed $90,000. School opened 
April 12, 1887 with 140 students. Prof A. J. Davis, the principal, is assisted 
by a select faculty of eleven. While of course the art of teaching is made a 
special feature, the school instructs in all the branches of a liberal education ; 
classic, scientific, commercial, the modern languages, music, painting and civil 
engineering. The general management is vested in the principal, subject to 
the State regulations and the supervision of the State superintendent. The 
principal is assisted in maintaining discipline by the teachers and commissary. 
The trustees have an indirect control of the institution, each department being 
entrusted to one of the three committees, viz. : on instruction, on finance, on 
supplies. 

TJic Press. — Clarion's first periodical was the Republican, established by 
William T. Alexander and Robert Barber, on the ruins of a sheet of the same 
name, published at Strattanville for a few months by J. T. McCracken. The 
first number of the Clarion paper, in size 14x21 inches ; a four- column double- 
sheet, was issued in May, 1840. We will let the editor, Colonel Alexander, 
describe its auspices in his own words : " When it was determined to issue the 
first number of the paper, the building intended for the printing-office, 18 x 20 



490 History of Clarion County. 

feet, was still uncompleted and was minus a roof and a floor. It stood upon 
the site now occupied by Schott's meat market, and the old Ramage press, 
which was either the one used by Ben Franklin, or its fac simile, was brought 
from Strattanville and placed upon the ground within the walls of the building. 
The old, worn-out type from Strattanville, with a font of new ones, were laid 
in cases, and the racks stood upon the then open ground, now occupied by 
Klahe's hardware store, with a leafless oak tree and the blue sky for a roof, 
and all ' out of doors ' for elbow room. There was set the first type for the 
first paper printed in Clarion, and the first number was issued from the press 
in the roofless and floorless building above referred to. It required from three 
to five hours each week to tighten its props, retie the platen, renew the leather 
used for springs, and make other necessary repairs about this Ramage press ; 
but for years it served all purposes in working off" the paper, and doing all the 
job work turned out by the office. The subscription list of the paper gradually 
increased from two hundred to five hundred, and its publishers were content 
with the assurance that the country produce taken in exchange would pay for 
boarding, while the cash payments would keep up the stock of paper." 

The Republican (Democratic in politics) found a formidable, but transitory 
rival in the Visitor, imported from Butler by a faction of the Democratic party, 
to support their ticket, which was opposed by the Republican. It was pub- 
lished by Charles McLaughlin, ably edited by one Lindsay, and was a com- 
paratively handsome sheet. After the defeat of all its ticket except the sheriff, 
the Visitor remained long enough to print his official blanks and then de- 
camped. 

The Iron County Democrat was started in September, 1842, by B. J. Reid 
and Samuel Duff", and first saw light on the 27th of that month. It was cre- 
ated by a demand for a non-bolting Democratic organ. The Iron County 
Democrat in size was considerably larger than the Republican ; at its head was 
displayed the legend, " All kinds of marketable produce taken in exchange." 
Reid & Duff" were succeeded by B. J. and J. C. Reid, and in February, 1844, 
the conflicting wings having buried the hatchet, the Republican and Iron County 
Democrat were consolidated under the name of the Clarion Democrat, B. J. 
Reid and William T. Alexander, proprietors and editors ; Captain Barber hav- 
ing in the mean while retired. The old material of the Republican was disposed 
of to start the EmlcjitoJt Gazette, and torture the eyes of the Emlentonians. 

In August, 1845, differences arose between the editors concerning the 
choice of two tickets presented by a disrupted county convention. Neither 
yielding, a deadlock was the result, and the paper suspended publication. The 
difficulty was at length solved by Mr. Reid selling his interest to Alexander, 
and after a break of six weeks the Democrat again appeared, October 1 1, 1845. 
In a few months Colonel Alexander took in Geo. W. Weaver, of Bellefonte, 
and the firm so continued for about seven years ; for a succeeding period of 



Clarion Borough. 491 



ten years Alexander remained sole proprietor. July 10, 1858, the Democrat 
was enlarged from a five to a seven-column sheet, and other typographical 
changes made. Early in June, 1862, James T. Burns, esq., became a partner 
in the paper, but in the following December his interest was purchased by R. 
B. Brown, of Brownsville, Fayette county. In 1864 Mr. Brown became sole 
proprietor. Colonel Alexander retiring after an editorship of twenty-four con- 
secutive years. Mr. Brown introduced the first steam press in the county, for 
the office of the Democrat, in January, 1872. In November, 1877, George F. 
Kribbs became owner and editor of the Democrat, and in September, 1885, 
Mr. W. I. Reed, formerly of Beaver, Pa., was taken into partnership. Under 
the present management the circulation of the Democrat has been much in- 
creased, extensive reforms made in its typographical appearance, and it is now 
one of the most substantial and prosperous country weeklies in Western Penn- 
sylvania. In January, 1887, the old press was replaced by an improved Cot- 
trell & Babcock, with a capacity of 1,500 copies an hour. 

The Democrat Register, the Whig organ, was inaugurated by D. W. Fos- 
ter, esq., and issued its first number April 26, 1843. It was inferior both in 
matter and make-up to the opposition journals. Foster, in 1845, resigned the 
editorial chair to Parker C. Purviance, an attorney from Butler, and later it 
was conducted by his brother-in-law, A. J. Gibson. 

The Register was purchased in 1852 by Colonel Samuel Young, who in- 
fused some life into its columns. In 1856 the sheet was enlarged and its name 
changed to the Independent Baimer. In 1869 C. W. Gilfillan, the Republican 
nominee for Congress in this district, was opposed by Young in the Bamier. 
To get rid of this enemy and have the Republican press unanimous in his 
favor, Gilfillan bought out Young in the fall of 1869, changed the paper's 
name to the Republican, and sent J. T. McCoy, of Franklin, to edit it. Mc- 
Coy, after a few months was succeeded by George O. Morgan, of Meadville. 

In 1 87 1 the Repnblica7i was purchased by Jos. H. Patrick and William S. 
Alexander, who edited it jointly for a few years, when Patrick retired. This 
management, in 1873, procured a steam press. William Alexander continued 
to act as editor till 1876, when a handsome new office was erected, and the 
concern passed into the control of the Republican Printing Company, com- 
posed of William S. Alexander, George W. Arnold, -Theo. S. Wilson ; Mr. 
Alexander, business manager, and W. R. Johns, editor. In 1879 Johns left to 
start the Foxburg Gazette, owned by William L. Fox, and his place was filled 
by A. A. Carlisle, till the consolidation of the Republican and Gazette, Sep- 
tember 9, 1880. Mr. Johns remained editor for three years, and on Septem- 
ber 9, 1883, John B. Patrick, esq., having bought Theo. S. Wilson's interest, 
and leased the others, assumed editorial charge. 

The Independent Democrat, started in 1854, by John S. Maxwell, was a 
short-lived sheet, expiring in about six months. 



492 History of Clarion County. 

A. Cameron Foster, assisted financially by J. B. Watson, esq., in 1872, 
established the Clarion Jacksonian in 1872. 

After some years it was leased by West & Ray ; T. West, editor. Being 
shortly sold at sheriff sale, the paper was purchased by West & Ray, and in 
January, 1881, sold to A. A. Carlisle, who soon after brought it out in a new, 
and much more attractive garb. 

Banks. — Clarion's first financial institution, the First National Bank, was 
chartered January 18, 1865, with a capital of $100,000. William L. Corbett 
was first president, G. W. Arnold, cashier ; the latter has retained that posi- 
tion ever since. The First National occupied the old building now leased by 
Ed. L. Fox, till 1882, when their present elegant fire-proof structure was com- 
pleted. 

The Discount and Deposit Bank was established in 1871, with James 
Campbell, president, and T. B. Barber, cashier, succeeded by N. Myers. Cap- 
ital $100,000. In 1880 the institution was reorganized as the Discount and 
Deposit Bank, limited, and the ofiice was removed to Kribbs's block. Sep- 
tember, 1883, it became the Second National Bank of Clarion. 

Militafy. — Back in the '50's several ineffectual attempts were made in 
Clarion to raise a volunteer militia company. A number of the Perry Infantry 
in 1876 were recruited from Clarion and vicinity, but no home organization 
was reached till November 15, 1878. The Perry township company, first com- 
manded by A. J. Davis, later by O. E. Nail, having disbanded, both those 
gentlemen, on coming here to fill their respective offices, canvassed the forma- 
tion of a military company and brought about the existence of Company G, 
Sixteenth Regiment, N. G. P.; A. H. Beck, first captain ; William S. Alexan- 
der, lieutenant. Captain Beck was succeeded by O. E. Nail ; he by J. J. Fra- 
zier, and on the latter's promotion, M. A. K. Weidner, was elected to the 
command. On Weidner's resignation May 8, 1887, A. J. Davis was chosen 
captain. In 1881 the company was transferred to the Second Brigade, Fif- 
teenth Regiment, and became Company D. It took possession of the present 
armory in the winter of 1878. The strength of the company is fifty-eight. 

The town grew very slowly between 1845 ^"^ 1875 ; in fact the advance- 
ment was scarcely perceptible. The population of the village in i860 did not 
exceed that of 1850, while the census of 1870 showed a falling off of fifteen 
from that of 1850. For the space of twenty-five years, improvements, too, 
were almost at a stand-still. Among the few notable additions in those years 
was the Myers mansion erected by Thomas Sutton about 1845 '■> the Catholic 
Church in 1854; E. Alberson's residence (now J. L. Shallenberger's), about the 
same time; G. W. Arnold's residence and block in 1856; the latter was the 
first three-story residence in the town. 

Five comipanies mustered at the county seat and marched thence away to 
war — Lemon's, Knox's, Reid's, Loomis's, and Mackey's, leaving in the order 





;^:^^^'-^-:^^l-a-^^^^ 




Clarion Borough. 493 



given. In those trying times Main street, the pubHc squares, and the fair 
grounds resounded to the drum, the " spirit-stirring fife," and the martial tread 
of the volunteers in drill and tactics. The panting recruits swept along the 
chief thoroughfare of the village from end to end, marching, counter-marching, 
charging, and toilsomely but heroically performing all the evolutions of the 
drill. Sometimes they were armed with old muskets, oftener with sticks and 
canes. The Fair Ground was used for practice and as a camp. Captain Knox's 
and Reid's companies underwent a three days' drill encampment there, bi- 
vouacking in the sheds. The companies on their departure would assemble in 
front of the court-house, listen to a patriotic address and receive the benedic- 
tion of one of the ministers of the town. Then amid tears and cheers, they 
wheeled down Fifth avenue, and the declivity of the road shut them out from 
view ; some, forever. 

The close of the war was appropriately celebrated by the townspeople. The 
following extract is taken from the issue of April 15, 1865, of the Clarion Demo- 
crat, which, though it was hostile to the war, and bitterly attacked Lincoln's 
policy during its continuance, joined in fehe general rejoicing over the triumph 
of the Union. 

" Clarion Rejoicing Over the Good News. 

" On Monday and Tuesday the news of the surrender of Lee's army was 
received and confirmed. The court-house and church bells were rung, a 
salute fired, and preparations made for holding a meeting. On Tuesday even- 
ing almost every house in Clarion was brilliantly illuminated, and flags dis- 
played in great numbers. A large meeting of ladies and gentlemen was held 
in the court-house; William L. Corbett, esq., was chosen president. Dr. James 
Ross and James Sweeny, esq., vice-presidents, and R. B. Brown and Samuel 
Young, secretaries. The exercises were opened by the audience standing up 
and singing the doxology, ' Praise God from whom all blessings flow, etc.,' and 
prayer by Rev. Graham. Appropriate and patriotic speeches were made by Cor- 
bett, Reid, Graham, Montgomery, Barr, and Myers; Guth's brass band, and a 
company of young ladies and gentlemen accompanied by a melodeon, enlivened 
the occasion by playing and singing patriotic airs. The rejoicing was general 
and heartfelt, and all look forward with great hope to a speedy termination of 
the war, and a return of our brave soldiers to their homes and friends, so that 
all may enjoy the blessings of peace and harmony." 

This intelligence, as well as all war news of importance for two months 
previous, was received by telegraph. The Democrat of February 18, 1865, 
says : " The telegraph office in Clarion is now open, and dispatches can be 
sent to all parts of the country. When we get a railroad through the county, 
we will then be out of the woods." The first office was in one of the front 
rooms of the upper story of the court-house, and there remained for a number 
of years. Mr. Armstrong was the first operator. ^^ 



494 History of Clarion County. 

Early Cycling. — K Democrat of 1869 says: " A couple of velocipedists 
from Meadville, we are informed, attempted to raise a schaol of instruction in 
the art of riding the velocipede, in Clarion, but not meeting with sufficient en- 
couragement, gave up their efforts." Clarion has made wonderful progress in 
rapid locomotion since, as the numerous cycles, of all descriptions, seen on our 
streets testify. 

About 1868 there was a craze among the youth of the town for battles 
with " fire balls," that is, balls of ignited paper, or rags, which could be picked 
up and hastily thrown without burning the fingers. They were only indulged 
in at night, and as the fiery projectiles streamed through the darkness, to and 
fro between the contending lines, the effect was very striking. The sport 
however picturesque, was too dangerous to life and property to be long tole- 
rated. Main street was also the theatre of many a stubborn foot-ball contest. 

Conflagrations. — ^Several times the forest fires, which blasted most of the 
noble timber along the hillside overlooking the river, threatened to wipe the 
county seat out of existence ; and the citizens were compelled to turn out and 
fight the flames. The most severe of these fires was that of 1865. 

Clarion has been singularly blessed in its exemption from epidemics, riots, 
murders, and disastrous storms. Large fires have been exceedingly rare. 
The only ones outside of the court-house, which may be dignified by the name 
of conflagrations, were the fire of March 2, 1874, which destroyed the residence 
and store of N. Myers, and the store of T. C. Wilson, involving a loss of 
$30,000; and that of December 24, 1884, which burnt the store and dwelling 
house of B. H. Frampton, and A. H. Sarver's store, destroying property to 
the amount of $15,000. 

In 1 87 1 the spirit of improvement reawakened, and stimulated by the 
opening of the Clarion oil field and the increased prosperity of the community, 
it has progressed favorably ever since. For the past fifteen years Clarion has 
had a gradual, but healthy and permanent development. In that time the 
value of real estate has doubled. In 1870 Cottage Hill was a collection of 
uninhabited outlots, and there was not a single house fronting on Seventh 
avenue. The years 1875 and 1886 were the leading years in building; in the 
former the aggregate value of improvements, exclusive of the new prison, was 
$72,250 ; the buildings commenced and completed in the latter year represent 
more than $100,000. Among them are Frampton's Block and Opera House, 
the new public school and the Normal School structures. 

A comprehensive ordinance, passed September 6, 1873, enacted a number 
of reforms in town matters, the most notable being that section requiring each 
property holder on Main street to maintain a brick pavement. 

The contract for the water works was awarded August 20, 1875, to P. H. 
Shannon, of Titusville, and completed in November of the same year, at a cost 
of $25,000. At the station two Eclipse pumps force the water to the 2,400 




l2l}ia^Mtf&n^^, 



Clarion Borough. 495 



reservoir on Seminary Hill, a vertical height of 481 feet above the river level. 
The total length of the mains, composed of four and six-inch pipe, is above 
9,000 feet ; average pressure on the mains, forty-three pounds to the square 
inch. Ten Hutchinson fire-plugs were located throughout the town. The 
original officers of the Clarion Gas and Water Company were James Campbell, 
president ; N. Myers, treasurer ; R. D. Campbell, secretary ; R. B. Thomas, 
superintendent. The present officers of the organization are, president, Will- 
iam L. Corbett ; treasurer, N. Myers ; secretary, William H. Ross ; superin- 
tendent, James Knox. 

The fire company was the natural outcome of the water works. It was 
organized December 18, 1875, with A. H. Beck, captain. Major Henry Wet- 
ter's liberality furnished the company with a hook and ladder truck, and it 
thereupon took the name of the Wetter Hose Company. The small hand- 
engine, purchased by the town council the year before, was discarded for 
hydrant power. The services of the company were first called upon in Febru- 
asy, 1876, to quench a blaze at Mrs. Evans's house. John G. Meisinger is 
the present captain. 

The growth of the town, and the public and private improvements which 
1875 saw, made that year an era in its history. 

The engine house and council hall was erected in the spring of 1877, by T. 
C. Wilson, contractor. 

The first railroad train entered Clarion December 4, 1877. The formal 
opening of the Emlenton, Shippenville and Clarion Railroad, on December 24, 
was a gala day for the good people of Clarion. About 400 excursionists, in- 
cluding notable railway officials and editors, were met at Edenburg by a dele- 
gation from the town, and on their arrival escorted to the music of several 
bands to the court-house, where they were addressed by Colonel Knox, and 
others. The guests were then dined, and a return excursion started for Em- 
lenton, the other terminus, where the festivities concluded with a ball. 

The Clarion Light and Heat Company was chartered in December, 1882, 
with a capital stock of $3,600 ; W. W. Greenland, president ; F. M. Arnold, 
treasurer; J. F. Brown, secretary; R. D. Campbell, superintendent. In July 
the stock was increased fivefold. After an ineffectual attempt to revive a 
famous old gasser at Black's Forge, the company struck a fair vein, August, 
1883, near the " Fountain Well," on the river, east of the town, and in No- 
vember, 1883, the people of Clarion began using natural gas. In course of 
time, this supply proving insufficient, a number of fruitless endeavors were 
made to obtain an additional well — five wells in all being drilled. In the 
winter of 1884 the gas was at a very low ebb, and a re-enforcement for the 
next winter was absolutely necessary. On August 25 Stewart & Ogden's 
gas well, near Mechanicsville, was purchased for $1,200 ; 30,000 feet of three 
inch casing purchased, and the gas piped to Clarion, a distance of five miles. 
This well yielded an abundant flow of the serial fuel. 



496 History of Clarion County. 

August, 1886, the Citizens Gas Company, a rival association, struck a 
strong vein of gas near the Stewart & Ogden well. Negotiations resulted 
finally, October 27, 1886, in the union of the two companies, and a reduction 
in rates. The company bears the old name, though controlled by the stock- 
holders of the Citizen's Gas Company. Hon. James Campbell is president ; 
F. M. Arnold, treasurer ; Samuel K. Clarke, secretary ; George Banner, super- 
intendent. The corporation is about to issue their first dividend. There are 
now very few houses in the borough which do not use gas. 

On August 21, 1884, upon the petition of numerous citizens, and the 
recommendation of the grand jury, the borough limits were widely extended. 
The chief aim of this enlargement was to secure the better maintenance of the 
roads leading to the town. The general outline of the present boundary is a 
line embracing the Fair Ground, and thence taking a northeast course across 
the turnpike to the river, a little west of the upper bridge; thence up the river 
to the mouth of Corbett's (or -Knapp's) Run ; thence by a broken line in a 
southeastern course to the east boundary of E. Knapp ; thence through lands 
of W. R, Curll and Samuel Sloan's heirs south to the northern boundary line 
of the Agey farm ; thence a general western line through the Sloan lands to 
their western boundary ; thence by the same north to the railroad ; thence 
along the railroad, west to 5th avenue crossing; thence northeast sixty degrees 
to the 4th avenue extension ; thence by the same to the old southern boun- 
dary line, and along that and the western one to the place of beginning. 

Population, 1870, 709 ; 1880, 1,169; present about 1,800. 



CHAPTER L. 
HISTORY OF CURLLSVILLE BOROUGH.i 

CURLLSVILLE is a somewhat scattered village located in the southwest 
corner of Monroe township, and mainly on the right bank of the Big 
Licking Creek. 

As far as can be learned the first settler here was James Pinks, the pioneer 
merchant of the county, who early in the present century built a log house 
near the creek. 

The town took its name from Mr. William Curll, who by some is regarded 
as the first settler. It appears, however, that Bennsville would have been the 
more fitting name, as the lots were chiefly sold from the Benn farm, which lay 
on the right bank of the creek. Benn, however, lived a little out of town, and 

1 By W. W. Deatrick. 



CURLLSVILLE BOROUGH. 497 



as Curll lived in the town and kept a store there, the place was called after the 

latter 

At an early day CurllsviUe was the only post-office in the southern part of 
the county, according to the statement of Judge Clover in the County Atlas (p 
g) It is probable, however, that the post-office was not in CurllsviUe, but 
about a mile south of the town, where David Stoner, who was remarkable for 
his height, standing about seven feet in his boots, kept a store, and was post- 
master at an early date, and for years after CurllsviUe was laid out. The store- 
house is still standing on the west side of the Watterson road opposite the resi- 
dence of Mr. Thompson. At that time the mail was carried from Greensburg, 
Westmoreland county, to Strattanville, the round trip being made in a week. 
The post-offices on the route in our county then were Maple Grove, near Ri- 
mersburg, at Stoner's, Reidsburg, and Strattanville. 

The village is well suppHed with stores. There are the general stores of 
the Patrick Brothers, L. C. Pritner, and E. M. Lee ; also the millinery estab- 
hshment of Mrs. S. J. Pence. A. W. Hunter carries on an undertaking estab- 
lishment, and manufactures and keeps in stock a good assortment of domestic 
and city- made furniture. 

Among the industries of the town must be mentioned the pottery, operated 

by Mr Hamilton; the brickyard by Thomas Lee ; smithies by John T. 

Snyder and by S. T. Jones, the latter also being engaged in the manufacture 
and repair of buggies and carriages ; and the wagonmaker's shop of E. B. 
Lewis A grist-mill is situated on the right bank of Licking Creek, at the 
eastern end of the town, generally known as the Keystone ; it is driven by 
steam, the water supply for this purpose being drawn from the creek near by. 
The mill was built by Philip Kaster, remodeled by Jeff. Lee and Andrew Lee, 
and is now operated by Messrs. Aites and brother. Before the erection of this 
mill there was a mill on the opposite side of the creek lower down. Near the 
grist-mill is an old saw-mill, which was formerly operated by Jeff T. Lee. 
About 1846 the Keystone Foundry was established by Andrew Lee, Moses 
and Daniel Conrad, and George Keller, some or all of the parties being from 
Huntingdon county. It successively passed into various hands. Kaster s and 
others, and finally J. M. Turney's, under whose management it burned down. 
For some years there was a tannery, originally established and carried on 
by John M. Reynolds, who was also engaged in harness-making and the sad- 

dlery business. 

The public school of the borough is accommodated in a two-story trame, 
weather-boarded building, originally erected by the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and for some time used by them as a lodge hall. 

CJmrches.— Methodist Church.— The town contains two churches. The 
Methodist Church, at present served by Rev. Weldron, is near the edge of the 
village on the Rimersburg road ; it is a neat wooden building, seating over 



498 History of Clarion County. 

three hundred worshipers, and surmounted by a belfry containing a sweet- 
toned bell. The church was erected in 1870. 

Grace Reformed CJiurch. — The other church is known as Grace Reformed 
Church. The building is on the south side of the Brookville road, near the 
center of the village ; it is a wooden building, about thirty-eight by fifty-four 
feet, neatly furnished within, and glistening in its fresh coat of white paint, is a 
conspicuous object as seen by the traveler as he crosses the brow of the hills 
surrounding the town. It is located in a yard of considerable size, in which 
have been planted numbers of trees which promise to afford a grateful shade 
in the near future. The building is equipped with a bell. This church and 
congregation was formerly called " Licking," and also " St. John's. "^ A num- 
ber of Reformed families moved to this section of the country in the beginning 
of the century; the Brinkers among others were here in 1802. Occasionally 
a Reformed minister would visit these people and remain a short time, preach- 
ing the Gospel to them. At that time the church in the east was accustomed 
to send candidates for the ministry on long missionary tours to North Carolina, 
Western Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In this way the people were kept together, 

and had broken to them occasionally the bread of life. Rev. William , 

and Rev. H. E. F. Voight are remembered by some of the most aged among 

the present members. There was also a Rev. Ho , who remained 

here for over a year, and served the people in spiritual things. 

The first settled minister was Rev. Henry Koch, who was pastor from 18 19 
to 1838. Rev. Henry Hoffman, from the Seminary at Mercersburg, took charge 
of a part of the field of labor about 1845. Shortly before this young brother 
reached his destination the old servant of the Lord (Mr. Koch) laid down his 
armor in death on the 7th of August, 1845.- At the end of two years Rev. 
Hoff"man was succeeded by Rev. L. D. Leberman. A year afterward (1849) 
Rev. George Wolfif was called to this field. He remained about five years. 
The next minister was Rev. Nicholas E. Gilds, who began his work here in 
March, 1854. He remained two years. His successor was Rev. Joseph G. 
Shoemaker, who served the charge eighteen years. After him came Rev. John 
Dotterer, July i, 1874. Rev. John M. Evans took charge November i, 1878, 
and Rev. David B. Lady, March i, 1885. The latter is still pastor. There 
were organized out of material belonging to this congregation at different times 
the Salem congregation at Frogtown, Jerusalem congregation at Rimersburg, 
St. Luke's congregation at Squirrel Hill, and Zion's congregation at Mt. Zion, 
two miles northeast of Callensburg. 

The first church was of logs, erected about 18 18. A brick edifice took its 
place in 1841. These buildings were owned jointly by the Reformed and Lu- 
therans. In 1873 the Reformed congregation built the present church at Curlls- 
ville, owned and occupied by them exclusively. At this time the name was 

1 This sketch of the congregation has been largely|prepared by Rev. D. B. Lady. 

2 Clarion Classis Minutes, Vol. i, p. 156. 



Edenburg Borough. 499 



changed from St. John's to Grace. There is also a parsonage, owned by this 
and the neighboring congregations served by the same pastor. This parson- 
age is nearly opposite the church. It has lately been repaired. Services are 
held in the church every alternate Sunday. Sunday-school is held every 
Lord's day during nine months of the year. The membership of the congre- 
gation at present is one hundred and twenty-five. 

Professional Men.— The professional men of the town are Dr. J. T. Rimer 
and Dr. J. A. Brown. Dr. Reichard was for many years the physician in this 
town. Mr. William A. Curll at one time occupied the offices of commissioner 
and associate judge of the county. William Pritner, sr., was one of the first 
commissioners of the county appointed by the governor. 

//oul.—The town contains one hotel, the Sheridan House, a three-storied 
brick edifice, erected in the days when the road through Curllsville was more of 
a thoroughfare than it is now. 

Anti-Horsethief Association.— The Curllsville Anti-Horsethief Association 
requires some mention. The project, which has become so popular in this sec- 
tion of country, was inaugurated by Robert Thome. The Curllsville Associa- 
tion was the first of its kind in the county, and is now about thirty years old. 
During all this time, while horses have been stolen on all sides from persons 
not members of the company, the members of the company have not suft"ered 
except in two instances. One of the animals stolen (?) was Colonel Coulter's 
old family horse, afflicted with all the ailments horseflesh is heir to. This ani- 
mal suddenly disappeared and search failed to reveal its whereabouts. The 
insurance money was paid after quite a long time. The other animal stolen 
was a fine horse belonging to J. M. Turney. It was not recovered, and the 
company promptly paid one hundred dollars to partly compensate for its loss. 
The value of the association thus appears to be rather a preventative of thiev- 
ing (as members have secured remarkable immunity from depredation), rather 
than an efficient detective force in recovering stolen property. 



CHAPTER LI. 

HISTORY OF EDENBURG BOROUGH.i 



THE history of Edenburg dates back to about 1840, at which time J. G. 
Mendenhall purchased from a man named Nefif the premises now known 
as the Mendenhall farm. Later he purchased a part of the Attleberger farm, 
one mile west of the present site of Edenburg. He also owned another farm 



» By M. E. Hess. 



500 History of Clarion County. 

one mile east of his homestead. Possessing these three tracts of about i6o 
acres each, with his dwelhng and barns located on the middle farm, he named 
the place Eden. The beauty of the place can be best understood by study- 
ing the peculiarity of its location. It lies immediately east of one of the high 
ridges that abound in this section, and nestles close under the hill which slopes 
toward Canoe Creek. The ridge curves around here, and thus protects the 
place from the strong winds that blow from the north and west. Here Mr. 
Mendenhall opened a place of entertainment and called it " Eden Inn." Later 
Drake & Richardson opened a country store. After the store opened, a post- 
office was established. The name given it was Knox, by which it is still des- 
ignated. At a still later date Coulter & Patrick kept a store, and they were 
followed by John M. Kurtz, who was followed by P. F. Kribbs. Mr. Kribbs 
opened an extensive general store in 1861. On the discovery of oil in the 
county in 1871, the excitement soon reached Edenburg, by which name the 
place had been known for a number of years. Soon after oil had been struck 
in the lower part of the county, a number of leases were secured by pioneer 
oil men, and operations here began. Among the pioneers we note the names 
of Prentis, Baliett, Hahn, Kribbs, Fertig, Plummer, Gray brothers, Brundred, 
Turner, Wetter, and others. The first well reached the sand in February, 
1873. It was owned by Mr. Brundred, and was dry. It was located on the 
Oelschlager farm. In the following March Jacob Hahn and George Kribbs 
got a small producing well on the Kiser farm. In April Mr. Baliett finished a 
dry hole on the J. I. Best farm. In anticipation of oil being found, some 
buildings had been erected, but developments indicating dry territory, a sort 
of panic took possession of the new-comers, and many of them left. Some 
pulled down their buildings before going. Turner, Kelly, and others stuck to 
the field, and in June, 1873, were rewarded by striking oil in the St. Lawrence 
well, which proved a great producer. This strike was followed by others, and 
the fact soon became known that Edenburg was a paying territory, and the 
town at once began to grow. Building was begun in earnest. The structures, 
however, were of a temporary nature, and very little time was necessary in 
which to put up a house. 

E. W. Northrop was the first physician, William Whitling the first to start 
a drug store, J. D. Wolf the first hardware store, and Harrington & Irving the 
first grocery. In 1874 T. J. Crawford secured the appointment of postmaster. 

Formerly Mr. Mendenhall kept a park of deer, and on the advent of the 
oil excitement he still kept wild geese, but on the arrival of the zvild catters 
the wild geese disappeared. 

Hotels. — An abundance of oil being assured in this vicinity in 1874, hotels 
and saloons were established. The first hotel was erected by Page Maple- 
stone. Robert Orr, of St. Petersburg, secured the Maplestone site by pur- 
chase, and refitted it for the accommodation of the public, naming it the "Ed- 



Edenburg Borough. 501 



enburg House." This hotel was twice swept away by fire, and the present 
house is the third erected on the spot. 

The Bennett House, subsequently built on North Main street, afforded 
good accommodations, and was well patronized in its day. Among others we 
recall the Clarion House, Grand Central, Rialto, Moran, St. Cloud, United 
States, Ross, City, Apollo, and Petroleum Hotels. 

Machine and Boiler Shops. — J. & F. H. Boles's was the most important. 
Sheridan's machine shop was among the first. P. V. Kinnear's, on State street, 
and West Point, back in the field, together with the Novelty Iron Works of 
Smith Brothers, constitute the principal works in this line. Of these, only the 
Novelty Iron Works remain, and continue to manufacture and repair drilling 
tools and other oil well supplies on a large scale. Of boiler repair shops 
remaining at the present time, are Donovan's, Lincoln's, and Townley's, or 
Boiler Jack's. 

Banks. — In the spring of 1876 developments for oil had proved so far suc- 
cessful that it was evident a bank could be profitably conducted in Edenburg. 
Messrs. F. Merrick and G. W. Conley were the first in the field, opening a 
bank and naming it " Edenburg Bank." They had little capital. Indeed it 
did not require much at this time. As soon as opened, capital in abundance, 
came into the bank, and it became a flourishing institution. The deposits ran 
up to hundreds of thousands. Seeking employment for this money, it was 
loaned in large Sums to operators and others. With depression in the price of 
oil and value of oil property, came the day of reckoning. The bank had in- 
vested largely in oil property, some by purchase, and some as security for 
money loaned. After a struggle the managers were compelled to succumb, 
and made an assignment to S. M. Crosby, who unfortunately delayed settle- 
ment, hoping for a profitable turn in the fluctuation of values ; but these con- 
tinued to decline, until financially, on closing the business of the bank, only 
thirteen and a half on the dollar was realized by depositors, leaving about 
$90,000 unpaid. This loss fell heavily on many who were unable to bear it. 

"The Clarion County Bank" was opened about November, 1876, with 
Hon. J. M. Dickey, Hon. C. W. Mackey, E. W. Echols, B. W. Braden, Isaac 
Rummeor, P. R. Gray, O. C. McCormick, J. D. Wolf, and E. G. Crawford as 
stockholders. This- bank has "lived" through fire and flame, and has ac- 
quired a reputation for stability. 

" Huff's Bank" was first opened in Elk City, and on the decline of that 
place, came to Edenburg, to remove still later to Bradford. 

ChiircJies. — Efforts had been made, years before the discovery of oil at 
Edenburg, to organize a Methodist Church at this point, but without success. 
There were a few Winebrennerians in and about the place, and occasionally 
they had services in the school-house. They were the first to erect a church 
edifice, under the leadership of Rev. Vaneman, on land of J. I. Best, on South 

54 



502 History of Clarion County. 

Main street, which was completed in the summer of 1876. Failing to pay the 
indebtedness contracted in building, they sold to the Presbyterians. 

During the summer of 1876 Rev. J. C. Hench preached in Edenburg, and 
at the meeting of the Clarion Presbytery, held early in 1877, Revs. J. S. Elder 
and D. W. Casset were appointed a committee to organize a Presbyterian 
Church in the town. A membership of twenty-eight was secured, and an 
organization effected by electing A. Culberson, John Craighill, Robert Atwell, 
and D. B. Wilhelm, ruling elders, and J. B. Painter, Leroy Mitchell, and Harry 
Craig, trustees. Rev. Mr. Allen was installed pastor September 11, 1877, and 
the church prospered for a season. But the fires that swept the town scat- 
tered the flock ; Rev. Allen resigned his charge for another field, and the pul- 
pit of this church has been irregularly filled by supplies until February i, 
1887, when Rev. H. F. Earseman was installed as pastor. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was in existence in the vicinity of Eden- 
burg since 1832. Services were held as early as 1852 in the school-house, and 
the Edenburg charge was attached to the Shippenville circuit, consisting of 
eleven appointments, embracing a wide stretch of territory. With the advent 
of oil, Rev. E. M. Kernick supplied Turkey City, Salem, Edenburg, Mount 
Joy, and Perry Chapel. On taking charge of the circuit in 1875, Rev. Ker- 
nick found that a liberal subscription had been raised for the erection of a 
church and parsonage at Edenburg. The church was dedicated June 16, 

1876. Seven months later, January 5, 1877, it was burned. Part of the 
pews and furniture and the parsonage were saved. The building had been 
partly insured, and the members proceeded promptly to erect a new church, 
with basement for Sunday-school rooms, class rooms, and heater. The edifice 
was completed the following summer, and was the finest church in the county 
at that time. Dr. Newman presided at the dedicatory services, October 17, 

1877, and G. G. Howe, J. J. Bradley, W. W. Wingard, P. F. Kribbs, E. F. 
Hecter, W. B. Weaver, and M. E. Hess were^appointed trustees. The mem- 
bership numbered 225, and the charge was one of the strongest of the Erie 
Conference. 

The great conflagration of October 13, 1878, swept away this fine church 
and parsonage. They had cost the society almost $10,000, and were insured 
for $5,000. A site for a new church was secured, as was thought, remote from 
danger of fires, and a third church within the space of about three years was 
built. This church had been occupied less than a year, when, during evening 
service January, 1879, it was discovered to be on fire, but this time the flames 
were extinguished after damages to the amount of about one hundred dollars 
had been sustained. 

E. M. Kernick was succeeded by Rev. P. P. Pinney, who served the charge 
three years, and shared with his flock the vicissitudes of the principal fires, in 
one of which he lost, among other property, a valuable library. Mr. Pinney 



Edenburg Borough. 503 



left Edenburg to serve as presiding elder of the Clarion District, and was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. William Martin, he by Rev. W. L. Riley. The next was Rev. 
B. F. Delo, and Rev. J. H. Keely, the present pastor, followed Mr. Delo. 

A Catholic Church was erected on the hill east of the town in 1876. James 
Sheridan, Michael Boyce, Patrick Moran, and Patrick Canning were prominent 
in its establishment. The next year the present edifice was erected. Father 
Smith and Father Mullen were the pastors of this congregation. 

Fires. — In their frequency and extent the several conflagrations that laid 
waste this town, stand without parallel ; and in nearly every case the fire has 
undoubtedly been caused by incendiaries. 

The first fire of considerable magnitude occurred January 13, 1877, on the 
two principal streets, Main and State, which were compactly built with busi- 
ness blocks at that time. The flames were first discovered at eight o'clock in 
the evening, bursting from a gambling den on State street, and were soon 
beyond control. The fire swept the north side of State street from the rail- 
road track to Main, and north on this street several blocks, and was arrested 
by razing buildings, among which was the Wilber livery stable, which became 
noted in subsequent fires. In all, twenty-two buildings were consumed, en- 
tailing a loss of $50,000. At this time Edenburg was experiencing the rapid 
growth of a new oil town, and in a few months the great gap that was made 
by the ravages of the flames was filled with better buildings than before. 

On Saturday afternoon, June 19, 1878, the dreaded cry of j^n' again startled 
the people of Edenburg. This time Pennsylvania avenue was the scene of the 
conflagration. Here many of the successful operators had built comfortable 
homes. A determined effort was made to fight the flames, but to no purpose. 
The wind drove the fire across the street, and pulling down houses was again 
resorted to. By this means the east end of the avenue was saved from de- 
struction. Fifteen residences were consumed this time, valued at about 
$20,000. Following this fire, the only arrest was made in connection with all 
the fires. The daughter of the proprietress of the boarding-house where the 
fire originated was the person suspected, but nothing could be proven against 
her, and she was released. 

Early in October of the same year it became evident that some miscreants 
purposed again to burn the town. Two or three attempts had been made to 
set fire to buildings, but the flames were discovered in time to be extinguished. 
The citizens became alarmed, however, and for protection organized a volun- 
teer watch of one hundred and forty young men, who took turns in guarding 
the town, about six going on duty at a time. Notwithstanding this precau- 
tion, on the night of October 13, 1878, at 3 o'clock A. M., scarcely four months 
having elapsed since the last fire, the tJiird and most destructive fire occurred. 
The flames started in the rear of Wilber's livery stable on Main street. Petro- 
leum had probably been used to start the fire ; the flames spread rapidly, swept 



504 History of Clarion County. 

down State street and northward on Main, enveloping both sides, together with 
Railroad and Ohio streets, and sweeping both sides of the railroad. Little 
could be done towards removing household and other goods. The hillside west 
of the town was strewn with property of all descriptions rescued from the 
flames. Many people barely escaped with their lives. Thirty acres of the 
heart of the town was laid in ashes. Every hotel except one, banks, stores, 
post-office, M. E. Church and parsonage, depot, thirteen oil wells, went up 
together in flames. One hundred and seventy buildings, approximating a loss 
of $400,000, were consumed. So speedily was the first building enveloped 
that it was impossible to get out the horses, and ten were roasted to death. 
The agonizing screams of the poor brutes added to the terrors of the horror. 
The beautiful Sabbath morning disclosed a scene which can never be effaced 
from the minds of any who experienced that hour of distress. Soon the black- 
ened streets and smoldering ruins were thronged with visitors. Men, women, 
and children, victims of the fire, that cold, gray, October morning stood shiv- 
ering, and tearfully contemplating the devastation of their homes. Despair 
was depicted on every countenance, but ere the electric flash had reached the 
outside world, the sister towns of Elk City, Shippenville and St. Petersburg 
opened their stores and with lavish hand, sent in needed supplies. When the 
intelligence reached Oil City, Franklin, and Parker, the hand of charity was 
widely opened in behalf of the stricken town. The first flash of substantial 
sympathy came from E. Hopkins, General Manager of the United Pipe Lines, 
and was addressed to Mayor J. B. Maitland, as follows: "From United Lines 
$500 for immediate relief." W. P. Finley, a member of the Oil City Oil Ex- 
change and a resident of Clarion county, added $500, the contribution of the 
Oil Exchange. Parker Oil Exchange sent $175, and many individual contri- 
butions coming in swelled the cash donations to $1,700. A large amount of 
groceries and provisions was brought in with teams. This stream of sympa- 
thy and aid gave encouragement to the sinking hearts. All were amply pro- 
vided for, and soon the town began to assume an air of life and acitivity. 

The waste places were again filled with business blocks, when on Friday, 
April 19, 1879, only six months after the great conflagration, the incendiaries 
for the fourtJi time applied the torch. This time a portion of the town that 
escaped before was chosen for the sacrifice. Crude oil was poured over the 
floor of a vacant building on the east side of South Main street. This blaze 
burned ten buildings. 

On May 22, 1880, a little more than a year after the last fire, at 9 o'clock, 
P. M., in the United States Hotel near the depot, a light was observed in an 
upper room. The hotel had been vacant for some time, and all the furniture 
had been removed. Soon the whole building was in flames. Many of the 
townspeople were attending the circus then exhibiting on the hillside. The 
flames were soon discovered through the canvass, which was soon torn or 



Edenburg Borough. 505 



ripped to shreds by the excited crowd in their haste to get out This fire 
swept away seventy buildings, including banks, offices, stores, post-office and 
stores. 

Owing to the depressed state of business at this time, many gave up in 
despair and removed from the town, but gradually buildings were erected over 
the burnt district, until it was nearly covered, some of which were barely occu- 
pied when, on the 23d day of August of the same year, the livery stable which 
had figured in other fires, now owned by Wheelock and Moore, was again dis- 
covered to be on fire. Two boys sleeping in the front end of the stable barely 
escaped with their lives, and seven horses perished in the flames. One by 
some means effected his escape. A number of the newly erected buildings 
were burned. This had a discouraging effect upon the people in this part of 
the town, and the space made by the fire was slow in being rebuilt. The citi- 
zens now raised a subscription amounting to $1,200, to which the town coun- 
cil added $300, and with this fund water works have been erected that not 
only reflect credit upon the town, but establish renewed confidence in its future 
prosperity. 

The Press. — J. M. Gifford started the first paper in Edenburg in 1876, un- 
der the title of The Edenburg Daily Herald. This was the first daily pub- 
lished in Clarion county. On the occasion of the fire of January 5, 1877, his 
press-room was hurriedly torn down to prevent the spread of the flames. The 
act proved successful as to stopping the fire, but was disastrous to the printing 
establishment. His office was burned out twice after this event, and in 1880 
Mr. Gifford died of consumption. 

In 1877 Campbell Brothers started a daily called the Oil Times, but closed 
their establishment after running two or three years. 

After the suspension of the Edenburg Herald, Leslie started the Evening 
News, which he subsequently changed to a morning publication under the title 
of Edenbui'g Spirit, which was a diminutive sheet and had a short career. 
Thomas Whittaker and Samuel Tipton issued one edition of 3,000 copies of a 
paper under the suggestive title Catling Gun, when they were summoned to 
appear before the United States Court in Pittsburgh, on the charge of pub- 
lishing an unlawful sheet. These proceedings spiked the Gatling Gun for all 
time. 

Henry Price for years kept a job office, and published a paper under 
various names. At first a daily and later a weekly. Now under the name of 
The Clarion County Observer. 

West and Son published the Clarion County National, a weekly paper de- 
voted to the principles of the National Greenback Labor party. 

Casualties. — The bursting of a bull-wheel on the J. D. Wolf oil well, on 
Main street, resulted in the death of young Heckerthorn, the driller. 

In 1875 a boiler burst on the J. I. Best farm, killing Augustus Wilson and 
Alonzo Goss, two citizens of Edenburg. 



5o6 History of Clarion County. 

O. P. Hopper, a young attorney, while cleaning his revolver on June i8^ 
1877, in a room by himself, accidentally shot himself, dying almost instantly. 

Peter Spargo, postmaster of Edinburg, met with a similar fatal catastrophe 
in the post-office, on March 16, 1885. 

William Groves was burned in a fire which occurred February 21, i 
on Main Street. 



CHAPTER LH. 

HISTORY OF ELK TOWNSHIP.i 

ELK township, taking its name from Elk Creek (now Deer Creek), a stream 
flowing through its midst, was originally organized, in March, 1806, by 
Samuel Dale, John Andrews, and Thomas Beard, commissioners, who about 
that time surveyed and organized all the townships in Venango county. Elk 
then embraced a much larger area than it does now, including a large part of 
Washington, and all but the northwestern corner of Ashland, townships formed 
afterwards, the former in 1843 ai^d the latter in 1856. Its southern boundary 
line, however, was farther north than at present, being the southern line of 
warrants 2738 and 2739 to western boundary of 2324, thence north to the 
northern boundary of that warrant, and west along it and its successive war- 
rants to the eastern limits of Richland township. 

Settlements. — Mr. Growe, with his family, settled in what is now Elk town- 
ship, where Jacob W. Kahle lives now, in 1808. Mr. Hartman and family 
came at the same time and settled on an adjoining farm. These were the first 
settlers in the township. They cleared some land, but never obtained posses- 
sion of it. Mr. Growe remained here several years, sometimes preaching for 
his neighbors on Sunday, and then went to Pittsburgh, where he afterwards 
committed suicide. None of the descendants of either family are living in the 
township at present. 

Gideon Richardson came from the State of New York to Elk township in 
18 12, settling near Elk City (now) with his family, including then and after- 
wards Richard, Charlotte (Hesley), Elizabeth (Jerrard), Caroline (Allen), 
Thomas and Henry. When he first came here he acted as land agent for Hui- 
dekoper and Judge Shippen, but subsequently bought land and improved it. 
He was a member of the first board of commissioners of Clarion county. Sev- 
eral families of his descendants are still living in the township. 

Frederick Black with his family, including William, Jacob, John, Lena 

1 By C. F. McNutt. 



Elk Township. 507 



(Shippen), and Adam came from Maryland and settled at Canoe Riffle in the 
edge of Beaver township in 1815. While here he was killed almost instantly 
when cutting- down a tree. In 1820 Mrs. Black and part of the family came to 
the place where Jacob Black lives now, and here built a dwelling, grist-mill, and 
saw-mill all of logs. Some of the boys, then married, were left at Canoe Riffle 
to attend to the carding-machine and saw-mill, which they had built there in the 
mean time. Mrs. Black in a few years moved to where Paint Creek crosses the 
pike, and in company with her son, Jacob, built Mary Ann Furnace, so named 
in honor of the lady who built it. William Chambers had built a saw-mill here 
in 1820. Jacob Black has been especially active in the development of Elk 
township, having had a controlling interest in two of the furnaces, a grist-mill, 
the turnpike, and two or three saw-mills. He has also been a heavy dealer in 
real estate, and was interested in the oil business during the excitement. 
Adam Black served one term as commissioner of Clarion county. Several of 
the descendants of Frederick Black are living in the township at present, and 
have been closely connected with most of her improvements. 

William Rupert, who had come to Canoe Riffle with Blacks, bought the 
farms now owned by John R. Black and Charles Fisher, from Huidekoper, in 
April, 181 5. The property was afterwards transferred to William Black, who 
cleared part of it and made some improvements. 

In 1 81 7 Peter Kiser came from Westmoreland county and settled in pres- 
ent locality of Elk City. His sons, Daniel and Joseph, own fine farms, and 
are living near there yet. John Kiser, his brother, who had come with him but 
remained only a short time, settled permanently on a farm, in 1820, in the val- 
ley south of Shippenville. His children, Henry, John F., George B., Peggy, 
and Amos, were all born here. Henry, George B., and their father — hearty 
and strong at the age of ninety-two — are living here and near by at present. 
Both Peter and John Kiser followed farming. Some of their descendants are 
farmers, and some have been engaged in the oil business a'nd also in the mer- 
cantile business. 

William Meade came from Crawford county and settled near Shippenville 
in 1821, but soon became tired of pioneer life, sold his place, and left. 

John Shippen, who had come from Lancaster county, built the first store in 
Shippenville, in 1822, near the present site of the Union Hotel. Richard Ship- 
pen, brother of John, became a partner in the store, and in company with Ja- 
cob Black afterwards built Shippenville Furnace. The post-office was estab- 
lished in Shippenville in 1825, and John Shippen was appointed postmaster. 
In 1827 Henry Shippen, then president judge of Crawford and Venango dis- 
trict, built a frame hotel where the Union House now stands. 

David Robinson came from Huntingdon county and settled where Captain 
Phipps now lives, in 1822. He was a potter by trade. Nathaniel Lang and 
Jerry Johnston were early carpenters in the township, and Harry Jenkins was 
a millwright and carpenter. Their families have all left the township. 



5o8 History of Clarion County. 

Jacob Kahle came from Huntingdon county with his family and settled, in 
1826, on the Fryburg road, about two miles north of Shippenville. His sons, 
Jacob W., and Thomas, are farmers, living in the township at present. A 
sketch of the life of John W., another son, is given in connection with his por- 
trait in another place in this history. In 1857, Jacob Kahle, sr., was elected 
associate judge for one term in Clarion county. 

Jos. Berlin, with his family, came to the western side of Elk township, on the 
pike, in 1825. He has been a thrifty farmer, and is living at the same place at 
present. He is over ninety years of age. Valley post-office was established 
at his place in 1870. G. N. Berlin is the present postmaster. James McDowell, 
a farmer, settled near by about the same time. Henry and Francis Swartsfager 
settled in same locality in 1832. They were farmers. Francis and several 
families of the descendants are living here at present. 

Jesse Berlin came from Ashland (now) to Elk township in 1836, and settled 
on the farm now owned by Paul Black. He lived there and farmed until 1877, 
when he moved to Clarion. 

Balthasar Hack, a tailor, came from Franklin county to Shippenville in 
1838. Henry Sloan worked at the tailor trade in Shippenville before Hack 
came. 

William Johnston came from Centre county to Edenburg in 1844, and the 
same summer moved to Elk City, where he lived for seven years. He then 
moved to a farm one mile north of Elk City. His sons operated here for oil 
during the excitement. John Zellers settled in the vicinity of Pitch Pine at an 
early date. 

Among other early settlers that should be mentioned are the Whitehills, 
David and Jacob Mong, Dales, living near Elk City, Hyskell, Thompsons and 
Spades, settling in 1832, Lewis Near, who built the first carding-machine in the 
township, Jos. Eiseman, Snyders, and others. 

Oil Developments. — In 1875 Bradly & Company drilled a well on the John- 
ston farm northwest of Elk City, and about the same time another well was 
drilled on the Jos. Kiser farm. The former produced about fifty barrels per 
day ; the latter was also a good well. At the price of oil at that time, this was 
sufficient to encourage extensive preparations for operating. Work was com- 
menced much in the same manner here as at Edenburg, Turkey City, St. Pe- 
tersburg, and other points along the belt between Elk City and Foxburg, and 
fully described in the local history of those places. 

The best producing wells in Elk territory yielded three hundred barrels per 
day for a short time. Jerusalem No. i, and Johnson[^No. 2, drilled by Bradly 
& Company, and taking their names from the farms on which they were 
located, and a well drilled by Patterson & Leedom, on the Jos. Kiser farm, were 
the best producing wells in this field. Farms owned by Paul Black, A. R. 
Black, Hughlings, Dale, Whitehill, Daniel and Jos. Kiser, Philip Gloss and 





£AyOi^'^ 



Elk Township. 509 



others, were good oil farms. Miller & Aikens, Bradly & Company, and Pat- 
terson & Leedom were extensive operators in this territory. Most of the drill- 
ing was done in 1875—76—77. 

In 1885 it was discovered that a little belt running across the pike through 
Shippenville had not been fully developed. Soon afterwards about thirty wells 
were drilled here, some of which yielded five barrels, others forty and fifty bar- 
rels and one or two gave one hundred barrels per day. In all there have been 
over one thousand wells drilled in Elk township. 

Elk City, named from the township, has been strictly an oil town. It lite- 
rally grew and dwindled away with the excitement. It was built on farms 
owned by Daniel Kiser and Paul Black, nearly all on leased lots. The village 
was commenced in 1875 and reached the zenith of its glory in the winter of 
\Z'j6-']'j, when it had a population of over 3,000. The buildings were of a 
very temporary kind, set on posts, no wall foundations under any of them. 
The Elk City post-office was established here in 1875, and soon rose to the 
rank of presidential appointment, with a salary of $2,000. The postmasters in 
order from the first are J. U. Heiniger, T. B. Galbraith, W. H. Kiser and Will- 
iam Hull, the present incumbent, with a salary of less than $140 a year. In 
1877 there were ten or more hotels, numerous boarding-houses, saloons, and 
stores of all kinds. There was a police force established in Elk City in 1876, but 
this measure seemed to be quite insufficient for the demands, and consequently 
much lawlessness prevailed on the streets, in saloons and other places. At 
present there are here about two dozen houses and a population of less than 
one hundred. The oil excitement left very little wealth in this town. 

Shippenville was named in honor of Judge Henry Shippen, who owned the 
land on which it was built. Most of the early settlers of this village have 
already been mentioned in connection with the early settlers of the township, 
and need not be repeated in this topic. This town has been a business cen- 
ter in the township from the time the first settlements were made until the 
present. The two main roads in the township, the pike, and the road from 
Fryburg to Edenburg cross at this place, thus making Shippenville the favor- 
able location for a central town, though it is near the eastern side of the town- 
ship. 

John King, the first blacksmith in the township, came from Huntingdon 
county, and built a shop near the present site of Woodburn's store in Shippen- 
ville in 1823. Frederick Kahle built the first hotel in the village in 1824, 
having come here two years before with his father-in-law, George Hyskell. 
Judge Henry Shippen built a frame hotel on present site of the Union House 
in 1827. It was at first kept by Dr. Patton. John and Adam Black bought 
the property in 1835 and conducted the hotel in partnership. John became 
sole owner afterwards. At his death it fell to his widow, who still owns it. 

Mr. Dahle is the present landlord. John and Adam Black also kept store in 
55 



5IO History of Clarion County. 

town for several years. The second store here was built by Robert and John 
Patton in 1828. Richard Richardson also had a store here at an early date. 
Other stores of a later date that should be mentioned are J. Shull's furniture 
store, W. N. Wilson's hardware store and harness shop, Kiser's, Woodburn's, 
and William R. Shippen's general store, Jones's and Ehler's grocery, and Dr. 
Isaac Meas's drug store. 

David Hosterman built a tannery in the east end of the town in 1829, and 
Robert Ray built one near by a year or two afterwards. James Hassen, the 
first sheriff of Clarion county, built a grist-mill just west of Shippenville. It 
afterwards became the property of Mr. Baker, who owns it at present, and has 
kept it in running order. 

James Wilkins built a hotel, known at that time as the American House, 
in 185 1, and afterwards sold it to Hugh Carson. In 1863 Jacob Shaffer 
bought it, and changed the name to Shaffer House. In 1884 Shaffer sold it 
to Captain V. Phipps, the present owner and landlord. Shippenville, at 
present, has a population of over 300. 

Organized Societies. — I. O. O. F. of Elk City Lodge, No. 948, was organ- 
ized in Elk City April 11, 1877, where meetings were held every Saturday 
evening until October 2, 1883. Since then lodge meets every Saturday even- 
ing in A. O. U. W. Hall, on Main street, Shippenville. The following are the 
names of the first officers : F. George Smith, noble grand ; S. M. Smith, V. 
G.; W. M. Rogers, secretary; Michael Mayer, assistant secretary; and I. D. 
McDowell, treasurer. 

Mountain Lodge, No. 114, A. O. U. W., was organized July 24, 1877, in 
Elk City, where meetings were held every Tuesday evening until October 2, 
1883, when place of meeting was changed to A. O. U. W. Hall, on Main 
street, Shippenville. Officers are elected every six months. The first set 
elected were H. S. Lynch, P. M. W.; J. F. Duncan, M. W.; George W. Marshall, 
foreman ; John H. Eminger, overseer ; L. D. Thurston, recorder ; J. B. Mait- 
land, financier ; John U. Heiniger, receiver, and George B. Quigley, guide. 

Equitable Aid Union was organized in Shippenville, April 14, 1882. It 
meets in E. A. U. Hall, over W. N. Wilson's hardware store, every Friday 
evening. Officers elected every six months. G. W. Marshall is president and 
Miss Ada Shaw, vice-president. 

Amos Kiser Post, No. 475, G. A. R., was organized in Shippenville, March 
19, 1885, and meets on the second and fourth Saturdays in each month in E. 
A. U. Hall, over Wilson's hardware store, in Shippenville. The first officers 
were as follows : Com., V. Phipps ; sen. vice-com., James Richardson ; jr. 
vice-corn., George F. Kapp ; O. M., G. B. Kiser; serg., A. M. Brenneman ; 
chaplain, Rev. J. M. Wonders; officer of the day, A. M. Thomas; adj., H. J. 
Fisher; officer of the guard, Samuel McCoy; Q. M. S., Jno. M. Kepler; 
serj. maj.; H. S. Lockart. Officers elected annually. V. Phipps, Samuel Mc- 



Elk Township. 511 



Coy, Rev. Wonders, and George B. Kiser have been retained in the offices to 
which they were first elected. 

Amos Kiser, W. R. C, No. 55, was organized in Shippenville October 18, 
1886, and meets in E. A. U. Hall the first and third Mondays of each month. 
Officers at present are Mrs. H. S. Lockart, pres.; Mrs. W. N. Wilson, sen. vice- 
pres. ; Mrs. Jacob Shull, jr. vice-pres. ; and Maggie Black, sec. 

W. C. T. U. of Shippenville was organized May 6, 1886, by Mrs. J. S. El- 
der, of Clarion, and Mrs. Mayer, of Allegheny. It meets every two weeks 
around in the neighbors' houses. 

Sons of Veterans, No. 188, was organized in Shippenville April 27, 1887, 
with ten charter members ; organization meets in E. A. U. Hall the first and 
third Wednesdays of each month. Frank F. Fisher was elected captain at the 
first meeting. 

Pitch Pine is a little village built on an eminence formerly covered over 
with pitch pine trees, from which it took its name, in the northwestern part of 
the township. It contains one blacksmith shop, two stores, and eight or ten 
dwellings, all built within the last fifteen years. The post-office here, named 
Haynie, was established in April, 1887, and J. R. Sandrock appointed post- 
master. First house here was built by John Swab. 

Furnaces. — There were four furnaces in the township, named as follows : 
Shippenville, Mary Ann, Deer Creek, and Elk. 

Schools. — The first school-house in what is now Elk township, was built of 
logs in 1825. It was located in Shippenville, just below the present site of the 
Shaffisr Hotel. In a few years this one was abandoned and another log build- 
ing erected on the hill near the grave-yard. There was also a log house built 
about two miles north of Shippenville, on Fryburg road, near Jacob Kahle's. 
These, like other early school-houses in the county, were used for holding pub- 
lic worship, debating clubs, etc. 

At present there are ten public schools in the township. The buildings are 
all in good repair and seated with patent furniture. At Shippenville there are 
two buildings — one for the primary and one for the advanced grade. During 
the winter of 1866-7, the highest average wages paid for teaching in the town- 
ships of the county was paid in Elk township. James Richardson, W. N. Wil- 
son, Jno. R. Black and others, have for several years been actively interested 
in the schools. 

Churches. — Lutherafi Congregation. — On August 27, 1823, the site of the 
present cemetery was purchased from Henry Shippen. For thirteen years 
services were held in the grove by missionaries, or in the school-house built on 
the west side of the lot. In 1836 a rude church was erected here, but was 
never completed or dedicated. It was supplanted by the present commodious 
building, completed and dedicated in 1844. Though there were a few families 
of Lutherans who arrived at an early date, yet no organization was effected 



512 History of Clarion County. 

until 1836. The first regular located pastor here was Rev. G. F. Ehrenfelt, 
who remained four years. It was during this period that dissension took place 
in the congregation, and most of the German element withdrew and organized 
under Rev. Brasch. This dissension, in connection with the financial depres- 
sion in the iron interest at that time, left them with a church debt which 
remained until 1852, when the church was sold by the sheriff to J. Black, sr., 
for $500. It was re-purchased and deeded to the trustees of the congregation 
in 1854. 

On June 5, 1845, the Pittsburgh Synod held its first convention here. Rev. 
Jacob Steck was president, and preached on the following Sabbath. 

Rev. Ehrenfelt's successor was Rev. S. D. Witt, who remained as pastor 
nearly six years, and was removed by death while on a visit to Ohio. The 
following were the remaining successors: Rev. J. G. Ellinger, one year; Rev. 
J. B. Lawson, four years; Rev. Bechtell, three years; Rev. J. B. Fox, four 
years; Rev. J. F. Deittrich, four years ; Rev. P. Geen, one year; Rev. C. S. 
Coats, three years; Rev. A. C. Felker, one year. On March 16, 1878, the 
division of the Salem pastorate was effected, and the Shippenville charge 
formed by uniting St. Mark's of Ashland and Zion's of Shippenville, and Rev. 
J. M. Wonders became their pastor. He is still serving them faithfully, being 
the tenth year of his pastorate. The Zion congregation at present numbers 
one himdred and thirty members, with a prosperous Sunday-school of one 
hundred and seventy scholars. 

M. E. Church. — There are four M. E. congregations in the township. The 
one at Shippenville was organized first in 1844. The next one organized built a 
church near Pitch Pine. When this building became dilapidated and a new one 
was to be built in 1882, the members could not agree on the location, and as a 
result two new congregations were organized, and each built a house of its own 
in 1882. Pitch Pine congregation was organized by W. J. Barton, and church 
was built in their village. Rev. Mr. Gearhart is their present pastor. Haven 
congregation was organized by Rev. J. Bell Neff, and their church was built in 
the same year, a mile or so south of Pitch Pine. The M. E. church at Elk 
City was built in 1876. Of the circuit including Shippenville, Elk City, and 
Haven, Rev. H. A. Teats is at present, and has been for the past two years, 
their pastor, and Rev. J. Bell Neff served the three years immediately preced- 
ing Rev. Teat's pastorate. 

U. P. ChiircJi, in Elk City, was built in 1876, and afterwards sold at sheriff's 
sale. Rev. Mr. Robinson, of Brookville, has control of it at present, and is its 
pastor, preaching here only occasionally. 

The writer wishes to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. John Kiser, Rev. 
J. M. Wonders, Captain Phipps, John R. Black, Jesse Berlin, and others, for 
the history of this township. 





^ 



/ 





Farmington Township. 513 

CHAPTER LIII. 

HISTORY OF FARMING-TON TOWNSHIP.' 

FARMINGTON is the largest township in the county, containing over forty- 
square miles, about one-fourteenth of its whole area. It is pre-eminently 
the lumber region of Clarion county, but is fast being stripped of its wealth of 
pine and hemlock, thus compelling the inhabitants to bestow more attention to 
agriculture. Perhaps nature endowed it with this abundance of wood as a 
compensation for depriving it of mineral carbon. It enjoys the distinction of 
having the most timber and the least coal of any township in the county. 

Farmington township is abundantly watered by Paint Creek, Toby Creek, 
and Tom's Run on the south ; and Coon Creek and Walley's Run on the north. 
In its northeastern and most elevated quarter the plateau or Big Level which 
characterizes it, is most noticeable. This in many parts presents the rare spec- 
tacle of a perfect level, without any familiar Clarion county hills climbing to 
the horizon. 

Tom's Run was so called after a Cornplanter of that name who used to en- 
camp on its banks. This camp was situated on the old Samuel Boyd farm, and 
in 1837 it still remained in a state of good preservation. The course of this 
run was a favorite route for the Indians in traveling from the northern forests 
to Jefferson county. 

The township (first called Deer) as erected in 1806, by the Venango county 
commissioners, Samuel Dale, John Andrews, Thomas Beard, was entirely differ- 
ent in scope from the present Farmington. Its northern boundary then was 
an extension of the present north line from warrant 3337 west to the continua- 
tion of the Paint-Elk boundary, which was its western limit as far south as the 
tract line bisecting Knox township. That line to its end, thence north to the 
northeast corner of tract No. 3681, thence by its northern boundary and its 
prolongation east to the northeast corner of 3682, formed its southern limit. 
Its eastern was the north and south line extending thence to warrant 3337, the 
place of commencement. 

So it may be seen that the original township embraced the western half of 
the present, together with the northern half of Knox, and the eastern two- 
thirds of Washington. The remaining half of the present Farmington was 
occupied by Toby's Creek township. It will be perceived that the outlines of 
the old Farmington township have undergone extensive changes, the most im- 
portant, that of striking out Toby's Creek township and annexing it to Farm- 
ington, as well as other alterations, occurred while they formed a part of Ve- 

1 It probably received its name from Farmington, a town in Maine. 



514 History of Clarion County. 

nango county. Its subsequent curtailment by the erection of Washington and 
Highland townships, was in Clarion county. 

Farmington township, being the most remote from the bases of the civiliza- 
tion of this county, and lying off the State road, was the last to be settled. Its 
settlements may be described as three, viz., Scotch Hill, Tylersburgh, and the 
Wilderness : we will take them up in their order. 

About 1815 James McNaughton moved out from the Highland homestead 
and commenced an improvement on a spot immediately southwest of the vil- 
lage of Scotch Hill, and now the property of D. Steiner. 

James Anderson, a native of Scotland, who had married a daughter of Al- 
exander McNaughton, about 1820 cleared a little farm, and settled alongside of 
his brother-in-law. Anderson was a man of broad Caledonian accent, marked 
personality, and with a great deal of native force, which only lacked culture to 
have given him a more than local distinction. Joseph Porter and William 
Townley came to that vicinity soon after Anderson. 

In 1836 George Alsbach, a native of Union county, purchased the Ander- 
son tract for $1,500, and removed to it with his family from Shippenville. The 
surrounding country north, east, and south was a howling wilderness. Mr. 
Alsbach soon replaced the two log cabins, and the half barn of the same ma- 
terial, " which required props to keep it from falling," by more comfortable 
and modern frame dwellings. In the spring of 185 i Mr. Alsbach laid out a 
portion of his farm in lots and called the prospective village Scotch Hill, to 
commemorate its former occupant, Anderson, and his neighbor, McNaughton. 
At the same time he erected a storehouse and opened a store in it, making 
the first sale July i, 185 i. In the following October a mail line was estab- 
lished between Clarion and the new village. John Cook, on the east at the 
mouth of Tom's Run, and David Gilmore, on the west at Little Toby, were 
pioneer lumber and mill men. 

Nicholas Waley, John Moore, and David Reyner were the pioneers of the 
western and Tylersburgh section. The two former, brothers-in-law, came 
from Madison township in 1824, and David Reyner in 1828, from the present 
Washington township. He was originally from Lancaster county, and as a 
member of the Lancaster land syndicate had acquired large possessions in 
Washington and Farmington townships. He resided on the farm now owned 
by Mrs. C. Downing, a mile and a half south of Tylersburgh. Waley and 
Moore settled in the same vicinity, a little further south, and formed the 
advance posts of the Vogelbacher settlement. Their farms now belong to their 
descendants. 

Further north the earliest were Robert Killen, Henry Cornish, John Wal- 
ters, A. J. Anderson, Jesse G. Butler, and William Chambers, all coming in 
the thirties and forties. William Chambers (formerly of Shippenville) owned 



5*^^ *^ssr 



S_r" 




a 



/iTi ^ /^cnAyyy\ (^^yc 



Farmington Township. 515 

a large tract of land in northwestern Farmington, and in 1844 he plotted a 
town on it, calling it Tylersburgh, after President Tyler, then at the head of 
the government, and whom Chambers greatly admired. 

In 1 83 1 the solitude of the wilderness in the northeastern portion of the 
township was broken by James Black, who came from Sugar Creek, Armstrong 
county, and settled on the homestead near North Pine Grove. The country 
abounded in game of all sorts, deer, bears, wolves panthers, wild cats, wild 
turkeys, and pigeons, besides the smaller species. The streams were alive with 
trout. Within a year or two came his brothers, John and Patrick Black ; 
Thomas Meagher, Charles and Dennis Boyle, David McDonald, Thomas Wal- 
ley, Robert and Archibald Haggerty, David Griffin, Henry McNairney ; soon 
after these, William Wilkinson and Arthur McCloskey ; the latter, with his 
family, came from Philadelphia in 1835. These settlers were all Catholics, the 
majority of them from Butler and lower Armstrong counties. 

They erected a hewed log church on land bought from the Binghams 
and adjoining the McCloskey farm, in 1836; but before it was completed 
a severe storm blew it down. No church was then built till 1848, when a 
frame church was erected near the site of the present one. In the mean 
time Father O'Neill, of Sugar Creek, and a few other priests attended 
the spiritual wants of the settlers at their cabins. In 1868 the present 
commodious brick edifice was commenced, under the instigation of Father 
Koch. It was completed in 1871. There was no regular resident priest till the 
present one, Rev. P. Cosgrove, was appointed; the church being visited by the 
various missionaries who attended the Catholic congregations in the county. 
Under Father Cosgrove's pastorate a neat parsonage was built, and the old 
church converted into a school, taught by the Benedictines. "Lepanto" is the 
name of the church and settlement, as designated by the bishop of the diocese. 
The now populous, although wide-spread, settlement presents now well cleared 
and tilled farms. The country is well opened by rail and wagon roads. The 
conveniences of life are easily within reach, and the name " Wilderness," as 
applied to it, has lost its significance. 

Tylersburgh is a pleasant village of about two hundred inhabitants. It 
contains a Presbyterian Church, which was organized in 1850. Leeper, or 
Tylersburgh Station, two miles distant from the village, is the most important 
commercial and shipping point in the township. It derives its name from Mr, 
Charles Leeper, of Leeper, Arnold & Co., whose lumber siding intersects with 
the P. and W. R.R. here. 

Scotch Hill has two large general stores, and its population is one hundred 
and fifty. Vowinckel, the site of Vowinckel's mills, is a promising little rail- 
road station in the extreme northeast corner of the township; it took its rise 
simultaneously with the mill in 1883. Black's Corners (North Pine Grove P. 



5i6 History of Clarion County. 

O.) is a hamlet near its eastern Forest county line. Cooksburg lies partly in 
Clarion county, at the mouth of Tom's Run. In 1850 the census of Farming- 
ton township was 1,124; in 1870, 1,642, and in 1880, 2,185. 



CHAPTER LIV. 
HISTORY OF HIOHLAND TOWNSHIP. 

THE settlement of this township was clouded by a calamity which, however 
obscure the victims and remote the scene, appeals to human sympathy as 

one of the most pathetic of backwoods incidents. Purcell was the first 

inhabitant within the present limits of Highland township, building a cabin on 
what was afterward the McNaughton farm. He came from the east, but little is 
known of him, and the date of his arrival cannot be ascertained. The family 
consisted of a wife and sister-in-law. He was killed by the falling of a tree, 
near where the corn crib on the Helen Furnace farm now stands. The soli- 
tary women were of course unable to extricate his body, and the poor widow 
traveled on foot, over the State road, to the nearest white settlement, Hol- 
man's^ on the Allegheny, nineteen miles distant, to get assistance for liberat- 
ing and burying her husband's corpse. 

It is likely that this ill-fated pioneer had been a resident of Centre county, 
for Alexander McNaughton, of that district, bought the widow's right — it was 
Bingham land — helped her to remove from the place, and in April, 1806, set- 
tled with his family on Purcell's improvement, now the property of S. Wilson's 
heirs, at Helen Furnace. He was a Scotchman by birth ; had emigrated, mar- 
ried an Irish woman in Philadelphia, and removed to Bald Eagle Valley, Centre 
county, where he was engaged in transporting and marketing iron from the 
eastern furnaces and forges, and whence he came to the wilds of Venango 
county. His family, at that time, was composed of his wife, five sons, Samuel, 
James, John, David, Daniel Alexander, and two daughters, Margaret and 
Anne, and a domestic, Betsy Harris — a splendid auxiliary force for pioneering. 
These are now all dead. Daniel, the last survivor, died a few years ago. The 
father, mother, three of the children, and Betsey Harris (Mrs. P. Drysler) sleep 
in the little cemetery at Helen. 

McNaughton and his five sons cleared a large tract and prospered fairly. 
The father distributed portions of the homestead plantation among his sons. 

N 1 Now Tionesta. 



Highland Township. 517 



The Clarion township pioneers were not far distant and were reached by a for- 
est trail; but along the State road for many years the nearest settlements were 
Holmans on the west and Port Barnett on the east. The arrival of the Kapps 
and Siegworths, Washington township colonists, brought civilization one step 
nearer. Later came John Vogelbacher. All these immigrants halted awhile 
at McNaughton's pioneer cabin, and it must have seemed a very haven of rest 
after their long and solitary journey over the wilderness-girt State road. And 
here we may remark the important bearing which the existence of this road 
had on the opening-up of the north. 

There were two Indian camps within the bounds of Highland township on 
the arrival of Alexander McNaughton. The largest was at the State Road 
Ripple ; the other stood on the present George Bittenbender farm. The rela- 
tions of the early settlers with these dusky sons of the forest were amicable, 
and they were not unpleasant neighbors. Betsey Harris once witnessed an 
Indian wedding at the Ripple. Not long after the coming of the McNaugh- 
tons, the Cornplanters all decamped. Occasionally after that Indians would 
pass along the road on hunting expeditions, and in 1820 a party of sixty men 
and four squaws passed en route to Jefferson county to hunt, returning in the 
winter. 

McNaughton's cabin was a stopping-place and inn for travelers and immi- 
grants on the State road. During the War of 18 12 great numbers of militia 
men from the eastern part of the State, passed over this highway to and fro, 
and many encamped on McNaughton's farm. Among these was the company 
to which belonged James Bird, who was executed for desertion at Erie, Octo- 
ber, 1 8 14, just before the arrival of the messenger bearing a pardon, and whose 
lamentable fate is the theme of a ballad well known in olden times. " High- 
land Alex," as was his familiar title, was also an auctioneer, and used to travel 
miles to act in that capacity. 

McNaughton, after some years, was followed by a man named Waterhouse, 
who settled near by, on the Henry farm. He did not remain. George Han- 
hold, from New Jersey, came soon after to the farm of Samuel Gilmore. After 
having raised a family there, he sold the farm and returned. David White- 
hill, the next settler, originally of Centre county, came from Armstrong 
county in the spring of 18 17, and cleared the farm on which his descendants 
now live. Alexander Criswell emigrated from Centre county to McNaughton's 
Mill in 1 8 19, but lived there a short time before departing for the State of Indi- 
ana. His eldest daughter, Hannah, married Daniel McNaughton, and is still 
living at the age of eighty- eight. In 1820 William Reed came from Holman's 
Island, in the Allegheny, to the present farm of Joseph Porter. Alexander 
Porter removed the same year to the land now occupied by Louis Franz; and 
about the same time two Irish families, those of David and James Boyd, located, 
the former on the Duncan McNaughton farm, the latter on that of Paul Mahle.. 

56 



5i8 History of Clarion County. 

John Reed, in 182 1, moved to a tract now occupied by the farms of Isaac Im- 
hoof and others. The descendants of William and James Reed are very- 
numerous. Thomas Cathers settled in the township next, and after him came 
John Callahan (a Dunkard) in 1827, from Bedford county. Then the region 
began to fill up more rapidly. 

Churches and Schools. — The Methodists were the first to organize a church 
here. In 1828 or '29 one Johnson formed a class, but private dwellings and 
the open air were used for service and preaching till 1843, when a meeting- 
house was erected near Criswell's, now Girts's mill, on Little Toby. Since a 

Methodist Church was built at Helen Furnace. Rev. Frampton is the 

present pastor. The Presbyterians, having organized in 1841, built a place of 
worship in 1842 and '43 on the J. Hulings farm, styled the Greenwood Church, 
of which William McMichael was the first minister. This was destroyed by 
fire and another erected ; a few Dunkards in the neighborhood assisted in its 
construction, and sometimes held meetings in it. Later a church was built on 
the William Reed farm (Shiloh Church), and the old building was sold. The 
Shiloh Church has no regular pastor. These two, the Presbyterian and Metho- 
dist, are the only churches in the township. 

The township's earliest school was built about 1823 on the present property 
of Duncan McNaughton ; David Boyd, on whose farm it stood, was the first 
pedagogue. Boyd was succeeded by Joseph Reid, from near Reidsburgh. 
The next school- house was erected in 1833 on the farm of William Boyd, and 
was first presided over by Miss Mary Ann Arthurs. There are now four 
schools in Highland township. 

The first flouring mill was erected by Alexander McNaughton about 181 5, 
on the Girts property on Little Toby. Alexander Criswell, from Centre county, 
built a saw-mill for McNaughton in 181 8. It stood near the grist-mill. 

After the State road, the Clugh road, in 1822, was the first highway opened. 
It led from Clugh's Ripple to Helen Furnace, and afforded communication with 
the lower settlements. About the same time a road was made from Rupert's 
grist-mill in Elk township to Alexander McNaughton's farm. 

Alexander McNaughton kept the first place of public entertainment. 
About 1836 William Beers started a tavern on what is known as the Paul 
Neely farm. The next was at Millcreek Eddy, about 1845, by Harrison Hall. 
Highland township is at present destitute of hotels. 

Helen Furnace was erected at the State and Clarion road crossing, on the 
old McNaughton farm, by Robert Barker, and Wilson S. Packer, in 1845. 
The property passed into the hands of Samuel Wilson, who ran it till 1857. 
The Wilson family have been prominently identified with the material interests 
of this section. The builders named it " Highland " Furnace in honor of Al- 
exander McNaughton, who prided himself in being a Highlander, but the 
word being pronounced after the Scottish dialect " Hieland," the name was 



Knox Township. 519 



corrupted to "Helen" Furnace, leading to the erroneous supposition that it 
was christened with a feminine name. The name of the township has the same 
origin ; it is commonly, but incorrectly, pronounced " Helen " township. 

Highland township was politically erected in 1848, out of portions of Paint 
and Farmington. The original Paint township included all but its northeast- 
ern angle, but afterward, in the reconstruction of the eastern Venango county 
townships, Paint was retrenched, and Farmington made to form a much larger 
portion of the present township of Highland. 

The line as established in 1848 by Surveyor J. K. Maxwell, started from a 
post at the Clarion River and was continuous for its full length with the pres- 
ent Paint-Highland line, which also divides the Holland and Harrison territory, 
and with its extension into Knox township, till it reaches the northwest corner 
of Warrant 3681, marked by a rock, thence ran due east by the Gray lands to 
a post, thence south by the same to a post, thence east by lands of Barber and 
Packer and David Whitehill to a post, thence southeast to the Clarion River 
at a post. A considerable section of Highland township was cut off in 1853, 
to assist in forming Knox.^ 

At the first election in 1848 Lester Warner and Charles McKerr were 
chosen justices of the peace; Elias Emminger, constable; Harrison Hall and 
William McDonald, school directors ; and Wilson S. Packer, overseer of the 
poor. 

Highland township contains no large streams except Little Toby Creek, 
which traverses its northwestern part. The greater part of the surface is drained 
by a succession of small runs falling into the Clarion. The land facing the river 
and along the western border is hilly, rough, and sterile, and most of it has 
been stripped of its valuable timber. Back in the interior, however, in the 
vicinity of Helen Furnace, the soil is tractable, and agriculture flourishes. 

The post-offices in the township are Helen Furnace and Miola. Smithport 
and State Road Ripple are crossings and rafting points on the river. The 
nearest approach to a village is the cross-roads at Helen Furnace. 

The population in 1850 was 648. The cessation of the furnace and the 
reduction of its boundaries caused a falling off, and in 1870 we find it only 



524; in 1880 it was 698. 



CHAPTER LV. 
HISTORY OF KXOX TOWNSHIP. 



THIS division of the county, in topographical character, is an undulating 
upland, cut deeply from north to south in the center by Paint Creek. 



1 For northwestern boundary, see Knox township. 



520 History of Clarion County. 

It was formed from parts of Paint, Highland, and Washington, by a decree 
of the Court, dated May 7, 1853, and was the result of a petition presented at 
the Quarter Sessions of February, 1853. Three commissioners, James Hasson, 
B. J. Reid, and J. K. Maxwell, were appointed. They reported that a new 
township was necessary, and submitted the following boundaries, which were 
confirmed by the Court : " Beginning at the Elk township line at the north- 
west corner of warrant No. 2770, thence along the Elk township line, to the 
Washington township line, a distance of 5 60 perches, to a red oak, being the 
northwest corner of warrant No. 2776, thence east along the Washington town- 
ship line, 318 perches, to a maple, being the southwest corner of warrant No. 
2783, thence nortli along the dividing line of warrants No. 2783 and 2782, 
525 perches to a post, the southwest corner of warrant 2788, thence east along 
the dividing line of warrants 2788, 2787 and 2806 on the north, and Nos. 2783, 
2784 and 2785 on the south loio perches to a post at the Farmington town- 
ship line, it being the northeast corner of warrant No. 2785, thence south 
along said line by the eastern boundary of No. 2785, 388 perches to the north- 
west corner of warrant No. 3681, thence east to the middle of said tract, a 
distance of 319 perches to a post, thence south, 161 perches to a maple, thence 
east 42 perches to a white oak, thence south by lands of Bingham 535 perches 
to Robert Felton's corner, thence west by the line dividing land of Cook and 
Felton from lands of Walter 182 perches to Little Toby Creek, thence north 
fifty- eight degrees west 263 perches to the northeast corner of warrant No. 
2771, thence west along the dividing line of warrants No. 2772, 2773, 2774 
and 2776 on the north, and No. 2771, 2769, 2767 and 2766 on the north 13 18 
perches to the Elk township line at the place of beginning." 

All east of warrants 2772 and 2785 was taken from Highland township ; 
the former warrant and three west of it were originally a part of Paint town- 
ship ; and the tracts north of these belonged to Washington. The township 
was named after Hon. John C. Knox, then presiding. 

Previous to 1820 the region now embraced by Knox township was entirely 
unsettled. In that year John B. Vogelbacher came out on the State road 
from Carlisle, Cumberland county, bringing with him his family, composed of 
his wife, his son Joseph, then five years old, who is still living, and his daugh- 
ter Mary. A native of the Black Forest, where he had served as a game- 
keeper, he had sailed for America in 18 15. The voyage was one of months, 
and full of horrors. Of 300 passengers about one-half reached the port alive. 
The brutality and incapacity of the captain were incredible. The supply of food 
and water ran short, and neglect and want brought on diseases which made 
terrible ravages among the emigrants. The passengers were obliged to ob- 
tain drinking water by hanging out clothing to catch rain. On their arrival at 
New York, Vogelbacher and two other men were alone able to crawl on shore. 
They complained of the captain's cruelty to an official, and he advised them 



Knox Township. 521 



to lay in wait for him and shoot him dead. This lawless method of punish- 
ment, however, was not carried out, and whether or not the shipmaster was 
ever brought to justice is unknown. 

Mr. Vogelbacher remained five years at Carlisle, working at the cooper 
trade, but becoming dissatisfied he resolved to seek independence amid the 
wilds of the West. He purchased 114 acres from James Humes, of the Lan- 
caster Land Company, and with his family and some effects in a Conestoga 
wagon, started for their unseen home, over the long and solitary road through 
the wilderness. On arriving at the place, he selected as the spot for his resi- 
dence an eminence a little to the northwest of the road, where at present 
stands the brick dwelling-house of his grandson, and built a cabin of two 
ground rooms and a loft. 

Upon his arrival Mr. Vogelbacher discovered that there were several lodges 
in the vicinity occupied in a desultory way by quite a number of harmless 
Cornplanter Indians, attracted by the excellence of the country for game. On 
the P. Gatesman farm, in the angle of the road intersection, they had con- 
structed a double and a single cabin of saplings. There was a camp of brush 
and bark on the present 'Bastian Lauinger farm, and another of the same 
description near the bridge, where the Lickingville road crosses Paint Creek. 
One of the most notable of these Lidians was Big John. He, with others of 
his tribe, came to Vogelbacher's house on one occasion, and asked him to 
accompany them on a hunting expedition. He replied that he had no lead. 
Big John said that he would soon bring lead ; started off toward the south, 
and in three hours returned with a handful of the mineral wet and stained with 
dirt. Mr. Vogelbacher thought he had brought it from the Clarion River. 
When asked where he had obtained it, the Indian cocked his head to one side, 
smiled shrewdly, and replied, "That's Big John's business." It is probable that 
the Senecas obtained their lead from a distance and secreted it in the earth at 
convenient spots, to spare them the labor of carrying it with them wherever 
they went. Big John told Joseph, Vogelbacher's child, that he would one day 
tell him where to find the lead, but he and his comrades shortly disappeared, 
and never returned. 

Mr. Vogelbacher was a famous huntsman, his experience as a forester stand- 
ing him in good need. The quantity of noble game he captured would make 
a modern Nimrod green with envy. Three hundred deer was the record of one 
year, among them a snow-white doe. It was very common for him, while at 
work in the clearing, to drop several of those animals during a day. When 
lead was scarce, as it often was with him (his gun required an ounce ball), he 
took care to preserve his bullets, if possible firing while the game was between 
him and a tree or log, so that if the missile passed through the body it would 
easily be found in the wood ; if it did not, he could extract it from the carcass. 
In this way he shot nine deer with the same bullet, remoulding it after each 
shot. 



522 History of Clarion County. 

He had several desperate encounters with stags at bay. In one of these, 
after badly but not mortally wounding a very large buck, it required an hour's 
time and the assistance of his son, before the animal could be taken at advan- 
tage and dispatched with the tomahawk. One night, hearing the squealing of 
a hog, he took his trusty gun, ran out in undress and found a bear devouring a 
stray porker. He wounded the bear, and on approaching closer the brute 
sprang savagely at his leg, but encountered instead the down-hanging butt of 
his flint-lock, and tore the box out of the stock, leaving the marks of his 
teeth in the surrounding wood. The gun is still in the possession of the 
family. 

Vogelbacher was very familiar and popular with the Indians, his prowess 
in the chase inspiring them with respect. They often hunted with him and 
taught him to tan deer- skins and make moccasins. Before the coming of other 
settlers, Mr. Vogelbacher's nearest civilized neighbors were the Kapps and 
Siegworths at Fryburg on the north, and Alexander McNaughton on the south. 
A short route to Kapp's Settlement was blazed through the forest. The hos- 
pitality of John Vogelbacher was almost as noted as his skill as a marksman. 
Travelers along the road were always sure to find a warm and gratuitous wel- 
come at his cabin. The fire-place pot was kept replenished with fresh game 
meats, and wheat bread — a rarity remarked by his neighbors — could always be 
found on his table. 

The sterling traits of this pioneer were recognized when the country became 
settled. His superior character and intelligence preserved his ascendency over 
his neighbors and made him a leader in the community, being foremost in pro- 
moting improvements and building up the settlement, as he had been in lay- 
ing its foundation. He died in August, 1859, aged seventy- two. The cluster 
of farms about his homestead and the neighboring church (which was erected 
on his farm) bespoke his pre-eminence in the name Vogelbacher's Settlement, 
which it long bore, and by which it is still sometimes known. 

John Vogelbacher was alone till about 1822, when Francis Tschurdi (now 
Judy) and his family, from Switzerland, came to what is now the S. and P. 
Shillinger farm. George Walters and his two sons came soon after from 
Allegheny county and built a one-room log house on the present farm of P. 
Gatesman, sleeping the year round in the log barn. Then followed Henry 
Imhoof, Frederick Shillinger, and about 1833 David Walters, Charles Kerr, 
and James Lamb. 

The starting up of Lucinda furnace in 1833 by James Humes and George 
B. Hamilton, who were foremost in the opening and developing of Knox town- 
ship, attracted many, and considerably increased the population. From 1830 
to 1845 settlers came in great numbers, most of them being German Catho- 
lics. The northeast corner of the township was settled by Joseph Snyder ; 
the northwest, a fertile and well-cultivated section, by William Strikenbarger, 



Knox Township. 523 



many years later. Much of the land in the central and southern part was pur- 
chased from President Buchanan and John Reynolds, who became the owner 
of the furnace and Humes territory in 1843. 

The first saw-mill was constructed on Paint Creek in 1832 by Hamilton and 
Humes. The first grist-mill was built by the same firm in 1834. Before its 
erection the settlers had to carry their grain much longer distances. At first 
the nearest mill was Best's on Beaver Creek, twelve miles away. Hither the 
grain was hauled in home-made wagons, with wooden wheels fashioned out of 
the splitting off" of a cross-cut, and with wooden axles, a combination which in 
motion produced a screech that could be heard two miles off, as it jolted over 
the rough roads. 

Shippenville was the earliest trading point. Before its existence the pio- 
neers contented themselves with homespun fabrics, and lived entirely on the 
abundant game and their little crops of cereals and produce. For five years 
Mr. Vogelbacher never saw a cent, except one which a passing traveler gave 
to his son. 

The earliest road was of course the State road. The first local road was 
one connecting Lucinda post-office (that is the cross-roads at the church) with 
the Furnace. It took a more southerly course than the present way between 
those points, and is now disused as a public road. The road leading from Lu- 
cinda Furnace to the river at Clarion Furnace was one of the earliest opened. 

The first inn was started in 1844 by Jacob Neuland, and occupied a part 
of the residence of John B. Vogelbacher. In 1850 the present Union Hotel, 
also by Neuland. A store at the cross-roads was built by Joseph Vogelbacher 
in 1869. 

In 1846 the Catholic congregation built a frame church, on the site of the 
present one. Before that time mass was celebrated about once a month in the 
house of John Vogelbacher, by Father O'Neill and others, but there was no 
regular pastor. In 1850 the frame building was burned down, and replaced in 
1856 by a brick church 39 x 70 feet. Before erecting this, the knob on which 
it was to stand was cut down, leveled and regularly slaped. This church was 
also destroyed by fire (it is thought by an incendiary), January 3, i860, but 
promptly rebuilt with the same dimensions, and in 1871 a rear extension of 
thirty-five feet was added. When the first church was built, 1846, the con- 
gregation was composed of about thirty- five families; at present there are one 
hundred and forty families, and eight hundred souls. The following have 
been the pastors: 1846, P. Hoy; 1849, Jos. Dean; 1850, Andrew Skopez ; 
1854, Jas. Slattery; 1855, A. Skopez and others ; 1856, Charles B. Mayer (first 
resident priest); 1857, various; 1858, Philip Schmidt and Thomas Ledwith ; 
1859, various; i860, A. Skopez ; 1863, Andrew Andolshek ; 1864, up to the 
present time, Rev. John Koch. Rev. Patrick Smith assisted by Father Koch 
in 1868 and '70. 



524 History of Clarion County. 

There are no Protestant Churches in Knox township. The Protestants 
have a cemetery on the farm of P. Gatesman. 

Schools. — The first school was started by subscription in 1824, on the Bin- 
del farm. There are now one parochial and four public schools in the township, 
with a total attendance of about one hundred and ninety pupils. The Catholic 
school was commenced in the parsonage, in the autumn of 1866, with William 
Schmidt teacher. In 1876 the Benedictine sisters arrived, and have been teach- 
ing since. A large brick convent was erected for them. The school building 
is a two-story frame. 

The toil and untiring '.industry of the German agricultural population have 
subdued the soil, naturally stony and untractable, and brought it to a creditable 
state of cultivation. Many good farms and pleasant farm-houses are to be 
found in this township, particularly in the Settlement, the vicinity of Snyders- 
burg, and the northwest corner. 

Lucinda post-office (Vogelbacher), is a collection of houses about the 
church, with two stores, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, etc. The Pittsburgh and 
Western Railroad has a station near by. The post-office was transferred here 
from Lucinda Furnace shortly after the furnace was abandoned. Snydersburg 
is a small village to the north, on the railroad. New St. Mary's is a thriving 
settlement of farmers in the western end of the township, and reaching into 
northwestern Paint. It was named from St. Mary's in Elk county, from 
whence many of the settlers came. 

Population. — In 1870, 656; 1880, 767. 



CHAPTER LVI. 

' -' ;; '-'>'■'■ t f HISTORY OF LICKING TOWNSHIP. 

LICKING township lies next north of the southern tier of townships in 
Clarion county. It is bounded on the north by Beaver, east by Piney, 
south by Toby, and west by North Perry and East Richland. 

The surface of the township is considerably broken by numerous ridges, but 
almost all the land can be cultivated. The township is divided by the Clarion 
River passing through it, and is well watered. The Clarion River strikes it on 
its northeast corner, where the Piney line comes in. The river forms the 
boundary between Licking and Beaver, till just at the foot of Delo's Eddy the 
line crosses the river, and from there to the Perry line, immediately below 
Ebling's saw-mill, the river flows within the township — something it does not 
do in any other township of the county. From Ebling's Mill to the mouth of 



Licking Township. 525 



the Alum Rock Run, the river forms the Perry-Licking Hne, and at the mouth 
of this Run the Licking-East Richland line begins. Licking, the next stream 
in size, enters the township at Craig's saw-mill on the Callensburg-Sligo road, 
and empties into the Clarion immediately below Callensburg. Cherry Run 
enters the township at John Russell's place on the road to Millerstown, Toby 
township, and empties into Licking at the grist-mill of W. Craig, jr., one-half 
mile from the mouth of Licking. 

These are the only streams upon which water-power is now utilized, or 
upon which lumbering is carried on. Licking and Cherry Run are not lum- 
bering streams, but have good water-power. 

South of the Mount Zion Ridge the numerous small streams flow into 
Licking, except some west of the Thomas Elliott Ridge flow into the Clarion. 
North of the Mount Zion Ridge the streams flow into the Clarion. North of 
the river the streams on the northeast slope of the main ridge flow into the 
Clarion above the mouth of Licking, while those on the southwest side flow 
into it below the mouth of Licking. This odd shaped portion of the township 
is known as the Loop. 

Originally the township was covered with a fine growth of timber, princi- 
pally oak and chestnut on the ridges, with maple and walnut in the valleys. 
South of the Clarion there was a strip of pine extending from the Piney town- 
ship line above Canoe almost to the mouth of Pifer's Run, near Callensburg. 

The climate is uniform with other sections of the county, only it is notice- 
able that the snow does not accumulate as it does in the northern townships, 
and perhaps the snow-fall is not so great. 

Good crops of wheat, corn, oats, rye and buckwheat are produced. Many 
potatoes, beans, and other vegetables are grown. Apples and cherries and 
other small fruits are generally a bounteous crop. Peaches are uncertain. 
Above the limestone the crop is more uniform than on the lower lands. For- 
merly a considerable quantity of flax was raised, but of late little attention is 
given to that industry. Some tobacco is cultivated. The hills are rich in 
minerals, especially coal. The most important vein of coal, the "four feet" 
vein, or the one next below the limestone, runs through every ridge in the 
township, while the vein above the limestone is worked in several localities 
and yields a good quality of coal. 

The supply of limestone is practically inexhaustible. On the slopes of the 
Mount Zion Ridge and its minor ranges, a vein of splendid iron ore lies imme- 
diately on top of the limestone. This vein has been profitably worked from 
Mount Zion to where the vein crops out toward Licking. This vein has also 
been worked north of the Clarion, and other veins have been opened at various 
places in the township. 

Whether the Indians lived here at any time or not, is not known. Many 
relics of their presence have been found — tomahawks, arrowheads, wampum, 



526 History of Clarion County. 

&c., but this may have been only a hunting-ground. The writer has often 
gathered flint arrowheads along the Clarion at the Bullock Ford, a short dis- 
tance up stream from the mouth of Licking. 

Early Settlements. — It seems to be a pretty well established fact that the 
first settlement within the limits of Licking township was made in the extreme 
northwestern part, on the farm known as the " Old George Best farm," and 
now owned by Elias Ritts. A small brook runs from the ridge southwest of 
Cyrus Neely's residence, and flows almost" southwestward into the Clarion at 
Alum Rock. On tbe northwest side of this brook, about forty rods from the 
present farm-house on the farm referred to, a man named Range built a house 
in 1802. This house stood close by a spring of water which joins the brook a 
few rods from where it comes from the earth. A solitary apple tree marks 
the spot where the cabin stood. 

In 1804 Thomas Morgan squatted on and made an improvement in the 
northern part of the township. The tract on which he squatted was patented 
by a man named Peters. This improvement was in the vicinity of the St. 
John's or "Loop" church. The cabin into which Mr. Morgan moved stood 
about where Mr. Disher's house now stands. Jacob Allebach and his son 
David settled on the tract and purchased it in 1834, the deed being made to 
David. Bartley Clark settled where Lawson Morgan now lives; date not 
known. 

In 1804 Alexander Wilson, sr., settled on the Pine Hollow Road near the 
present home of Alexander Wilson, jr., on the tract known as the Samuel 
McCauley lot. A few old apple trees mark the location of the house. 

John Elder settled in 1807, and built a house about forty rods east of the 
Oak Grove school-house. 

In 1808 Christopher Reicherd settled where Philip Over now lives. 

In 1809 Andrew Lowers built a house at the Bullock Ford, on the Kil- 
gore farm, near Callensburg. 

Samuel Lobaugh'f settled in the present Oak Grove district in 18 11, and 
Jacob Whitmer in 181 5. 

Benjamin Gardner, sr., settled at the mouth of Beaver in 1812. 

Hugh Callen came in 18 12. 

John Colwell settled where Miles Colwell now lives. He and his family 
came in 1824, 

John Elliott settled at;^W. D. Elliott's homestead, on the present Sligo road, 
in 1824. 

Sidle Lobough settled in 1822 at the old tannery. 

John Henry settled in the township in 1826. 

In 1 83 1 Paul Neely settled where William Neely now lives. 

In 1836 James L. Wilson settled where he now resides. 

Among the other early settlers were Christopher Over, George Heeter, sr.,. 



Licking Township. 527 



George Elliott, sr., William Elliott, sr., John Dunkle, Hugh Kilgore, John L. 
Reid, Abram Frampton, Henry Alexander, and others, whose descendants still 
live in the township. 

The excellent water-power of the township and the mineral and forestry 
resources have given considerable activity to the milling, lumbering, and iron 
industries from time to time. 

Grist-AIills. — As early as 18 14 Alexander Wilson built a grist-mill on the 
Clarion, a short distance from the mouth of Licking. This mill was burned, 
and soon after being rebuilt it was again burned. A man named Myers had 
built a rival establishment about two hundred yards up Licking, and the fact 
that a controversy arose between Wilson and Myers gave currency to a rumor 
that Myers burned the mill, but the crime was never proven against him. The 
mill was put up a third time, and it went to decay when Mr. Wilson became 
too old to operate it. In connection with the first two structures a carding- 
machine was erected, which was operated by John Craig. The Myers mill 
was sold to Michael Reichart, late of Perry township, who sold it to Abram 
Frampton. Mr. Frampton saw the advantage of being located on the "pike," 
which had been laid out from Graham's Landing (now Parker) to the place 
where the pike now crosses the Jefferson county line, so he proceeded to build 
a new mill where the road crossed Licking. This mill has long been known 
as Craig's mill, now owned by W. Craig, jr. The machinery of Frampton's 
old mill was set up in a mill at Matildaville, and ran for a long time. 

In 1833 Benjamin Junkins built the Bell grist-mill, long known as Best's 
mill, on the Clarion below Sassafras Point. The ice flood of 1885 tore the mill 
from its foundation, and it was taken down soon after. William Bell had a 
grist-mill at Sassafras Point. 

The Buchanan furnace mill was erected to supply the wants of the furnace 
people, probably in 1850. It was afterwards torn down, and moved away. 

Saw-Mills. — There have been twenty saw-mills erected in the township ; 
fifteen along the Clarion and five on the smaller streams out from the Clarion. 
A water-mill, at the mouth of Beaver, erected in early days by Benjamin 
Gardner, sr., was rebuilt by Benjamin Gardner, jr., and converted into a steam- 
mill. It was afterward owned and run by J. B. Reynolds, and at present it is 
owned by J. B. Miller. For years a boat scaffold has been connected with 
this mill, and run by H. C. Heeter & J. B. Miller. 

Next down the stream above the present site of G. W. Heeter's mill was one 
built by Sidle Lobough. Some ruins of it still remain. The mill and scafibld 
of G. W. Heeter & Bro. were erected in 1877. 

Crary's saw-mill, below the bridge, was built about the year 1850. It had 
two boat scaffolds in connection with it, one above, and the other below the 
dam. Samuel Stover afterward owned and operated the mill. 

The saw-mill at the mouth of Licking was built at an early date. At the 



528 History of Clarion County. 

time Prospect furnace was in blast William Moore had control of the mill 
with a boat scaffold on the Callensburg side of Licking, where they built 
many boats. 

In 1857 or 1858 G. W. Elder and Allen Fowler built a mill and scaffold 
where Stover & Neely now have their new mill. The new establishment was 
erected in 1886 by C. G. W. Stover and Samuel Neely. 

William Bell once had a saw-mill at Sassafras Point ; Robert Bell had one 
at the Turnip Holes, and Thomas Bell had one at the mouth of Best's Run. 

A saw-mill stood for many years beside the Best grist-mill, and a steam 
saw-mill only a short distance below the grist-mill. 

South of the river, at the mouth of Wilson's Run, Allen Fowler had erected 
a mill early in the history of our saw-mills, and in 1870 Isaac Shorman built 
what is now known as Ebling's mill, being now owned by Charles Ebling, of 
Callensburg. At Fowler's old mill the first boat was constructed that was 
built on the Clarion, 

Another mill on the Clarion, just above the Gardner mill, was erected in 
1872 by William Thomas. This establishment was not very well equipped, 
and it soon went into disuse. 

On the smaller streams, out from the river, we find that one saw-mill was 
erected on Beaver, not far up the stream from the Gardner mill. One was 
erected on Stoneham Run by Henry and Isaac Shorman. One was built on 
Alum Rock Run by Samuel Sharrar, a short distance above the rock, and the 
last one by William McFarland, on Cherry Run, near the Prospect furnace 
site. This mill is still standing. 

In Prospect's time a mill was in operation here near the furnace. Besides 
these, before the war, John P. Stover built a fully equipped miniature saw-mill 
on Lewis's Run. 

Woolen Mills. — Alexander Craig built a carding-machine on the Clarion, 
below Wilson's Bend, in 1827. It was afterward owned and run by Hugh 
Kilgore. It was taken away by the high water of 1847, which tradition says 
was the highest water ever seen in the Clarion River by white men. 

William Elliott, sr., had a carding-machine, or fulling-mill, on Licking, near 
the W. D. ElHott farm. 

Fiu'naces. — Buchanan Furnace was built in 1842 by Fred Crary and Sam- 
uel Plummer. As it is intended to write up furnaces in a separate chapter, we 
shall only observe here that the stack of the furnace is still standing. 

Prospect Furnace, on Cherry Run, was built by Henry Alexander and 
James McElroy, in 1845. Its site is marked by an immense pile of ore dust. 

The Buchanan wharf, where the pig iron was loaded in the boats for trans- 
portation, was located below the furnace. The Prospect wharf was on the east 
side of the mouth of Licking. Above Crary's Dam, on the south side of the 
river, was located the Sligo metal wharf, many of the timbers of which are still 
to be seen. 



Licking Township. 529 



Distilleries. — Within the Hmits of the township there have been four dis- 
tilleries. Wooders's, on Thomas H. Elliott's farm ; Louis Wilson's, on Cherry- 
Run ; Mr. Fenton's near the lot of W. C. Dunkle ; and Gould's, in Easton. 
The township has but one hotel, that of P. D. Painter, at Easton. There has 
been no licensed hotel in the township for almost twenty years. 

Other Industries. — The first well for oil drilled in the township was drilled 
to a depth of six hundred and fifty feet in 186 1. It was located below the Cal- 
lensburg bridge, on the north side of the Clarion. J. B. Reynolds owned the 
well. It was drilled by C. G. W. Stover, and P. M. Dunkle, who both enlisted 
in August, 1 86 1, and left the well with plenty of salt water and gas, but no oil. 
Since then, at various times, wells have been drilled at different places through- 
out the township. One was drilled at the mouth of Licking, one below that 
on the Point, one on C. Lobaugh's farm west of Callensburg, one on Harry Gar- 
mer's farm northeast of the town, one on John W. Black's farm, one on John 
Best's farm, and quite a number in the western part of the township. Two or 
three wells in the extreme western part of the township, on Mr. Neely's farm, 
once produced some oil, but now there is not a producing well in the township. 
In April, 1887, a well was drilled near the new mill of Stover & Neely. 

Considerable attention is given to stock-raising, principally for the market. 
Several farmers, however, are introducing blooded stock. 

The smaller timber and the saplings have of late been worked into pit- 
posts, brace poles or hoops, affording quite an income to the people. 

John Elliott had the first store in the township. He opened it in 1824, 
where W. D. Elliott now lives. Abraham Allebach kept the first store in what 
is now the Anderson school district. H. E. Best & Company kept a store at 
Best's Corners, where R. P. Hughes has his store. Solomon Shirey kept for 
many years at Easton. The furnace companies at Prospect and Buchanan 
each had stores. Samuel Rhea kept once near the present homes of James M. 
Dunkle and R. M. Kilgore. He did business for a while at Easton, and later 
at the bridge. He sold out to J. G. Wyon, who did business till the winter of 
1886, when his building and goods were destroyed by fire. Thomas Purvi- 
ance kept the first store in the western part of the township. Various kinds 
of shops are scattered over the township now, and have been since its early 
settlement. Among these workmen were Wilson Colwell, blacksmith ; Sidle 
Lobaugh, D. R. Lobaugh, and James H. Lobaugh, tanners; William Williams, 
Henry Smith, Daniel Low, a Mr. Russell, and S. S. Whitmer, blacksmiths ; and 
many others too numerous to mention. W. Craig & Son now have a store at 
Easton. 

Churches and Schools. — There are three church buildings in the township : 
The Mount Zion Lutheran, built in 1847; the Mount Zion German Reformed, 
built in 1883 and '84, and the St. John's, built at a date not known to the writer. 

The township has eight school districts with as many houses, viz., the Rock, 



530 History of Clarion County. 

the Anderson, Union Hall, Prospect, Easton, Fairview, Oak Grove, and Pat- 
terson. The buildings are all considered fair houses. 

The first school in the township was held in the Range cabin, in i8i8, by 
a man named John Wright (or Rite). Later Charles Haas, Hugh Kilgore 
C. G. W. Stover, and William Cupples did pioneer work in education. It is 
noticeable that many of the teachers of the township became men of affairs. 
Hugh Kilgore was prominent in early military operations in the county. C. 
W. Elliott is now a Methodist Episcopal minister ; S. W. Kuhns is a Lutheran 
minister ;• H. P. Elliott has been elected county auditor ; A. M. Neely twice 
elected to the Legislature, and W. A. Beer once. 

Public- Officers. — The township has produced the following county officers: 
J. M. Best, treasurer; J. C. Galbreath, sheriff; John Elhott, auditor; B. B. 
Dunkle, sheriff; C. Reichart, prothonotary (two terms); H. E. Best, auditor; 
Emanuel Over, commissioner; H. P. Elliott, auditor, and R. Laughlin mem- 
ber of Legislature in 185 1 and '52. Besides these S. A. Bell, commissioner, 
was born in the township, as was also W. A. Beer, member of the Legislature 
in 1883. 

Sidle Lobaugh was a colonel in the State Guards in 1829 and '30. Alex- 
ander Colwell was aid-de-camp to the major-general of the Twelfth Division 
from April 28, 1855, to the first Monday of July, 1859, with the rank of major. 
Mr. Colwell has been a justice of the peace since 1864, holding five commis- 
sions. 

Under " Company B, One Hundred and Sixth- ninth Regiment," beginning 
on page 329, the reader will notice the name " Andrew Sippey, corporal." 
This name should be " Andrew Tippery," who is a respected and influential 
citizen of this township. 

Crimes and Casualties. — The town of Easton was laid out in , and dur- 
ing the more stirring times of the iron and lumber industries, it became quite 
a village, and its reputation for good conduct was not the best. For many 
years this village was the home of a man called Jesse Major. His name was 
said to be Jerry Johnson. Major's house was the rendezvous and refuge of a 
bad set of characters, thieved, counterfeiters, robbers, and lewd women. Tw'o 
of the gang were Charley Logue and Ira Shotwell or Ira Davis, an account of 
whose crimes, capture and trial is given in the chapter on "Bench and Bar." 

Various other lesser crimes from time to time serve to cloud the fair mem- 
ories of this people, but to the great credit of the township be it said, the 
resident population is almost unrepresented on the criminal annals of the 
township. 

John Elliott, sr., in a fit of melancholy drowned himself in Crary's dam, 
and Miss Mary Henry, an ancient maiden lady, drowned herself at the foot of 
Delo's Eddy. Miss Clara Cupples a few years ago took her own life by shoot- 
ing herself. So far as known, this completes the list of suicides. 



Limestone Township. 531 



There have been a number of accidental deaths. Many years ago John 
Gardner accidentally shot two of his sisters, killing both at one shot. The 
tragedy had such an effect upon his mind that he laid the gun up in the barn 
where it lay untouched for thirty-five years. A son of James Carroll was 
drowned in the Clarion, below the dam. A child of Mr. William Prosser was 
drowned in the Turn Hole. A Miss Wilson was drowned below the mouth of 
Licking, as was also a Mr. Elgin. A man whose name is unknown to the 
writer, was thrown from a raft and drowned near the mouth of Licking. A 
son of John Murray was drowned at the mouth of Cherry Run. A child of 
Mr. Clugh was drowned in a well in Callensburg. A Mrs. Hoveler was burned 
to death at Buchanan furnace. A Mr. Stroup was killed by a part of Callens- 
burg bridge falling on him in 1865. The ice had torn the bridge away, but a 
part hung to the pier. The raft on which Stroup was, struck the pier and 
jarred the pendant structure, causing it to fall and strike him just as he passed 
under it. A Mr. Graham was killed by his horse at Easton. A son of John 
P. Stover was killed by a log rolling on him, a few years ago, and James Cun- 
ningham was killed in an ore bank. This is the list of casualties of the town- 
ship since its settlement, so far as can be ascertained. 

The dam across the Clarion at Callensburg bridge, is said to have caused 
the greatest loss of lumber that was ever caused by any dam on the Clarion, 
but this obstruction to navigation was removed by the ice gorge in March, 
1865, at the time the bridge was taken away. 



CHAPTER LVn. 
HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP.i 

THIS township is located in the eastern part of Clarion county, and is, in 
shape, almost a rhomboid. It is bounded on the north by Clarion town- 
ship, on the east by Jefferson county, on the south by Porter and Redbank 
townships, and on the west by Monroe township. This portion of the county 
was organized into a township in 1842. Its greatest length is about eight 
miles, and its width about six miles; its area is about forty-five square miles. 
The surface is nowhere level, but may be described as being in some parts very 
hilly, in others undulating. The township is well watered by natural streams, 
the chief of which are Big Piney and Little Piney. Both these streams flow in 
a westerly direction, and traverse the township from its eastern to its western 
boundary. They are fed by numerous smaller streams running north and 
south. 

iBy S. C. Hepler. 



532 History of Clarion County. 

Prior to the year i8oo, Limestone township was one vast forest, along the 
streams and over the hills of which roamed the deer, the bear, and other wild 
animals. Since that time a steady transformation has been going on. The 
vast forests have given away before the woodman's ax, and settlements, well 
improved, have been established. In the year above mentioned, the first white 
man that set foot upon the soil of this precinct, together with his family, made 
a settlement on the premises now owned and occupied by J. W. Speer, in the 
extreme southwestern part of the township. These people came from Chester 
county, Pa., bringing with them all they could of their household effects and 
farming implements, on horseback. This energetic pioneer's name was Thomas 
Meredith. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and fought bravely for 
national independence. Soon after the old man established his new home, he 
mounted a horse and rode back to his native county — Chester — procured some 
young apple trees, returned and planted them near his cabin home, and 
afterwards had the satisfaction of seeing them nearly all grow. This was 
among the first orchards established in Clarion county. The second settlement 
made within the present limits of the township was by Christian Rhodes, in 
the year i8oi, at a pla'ce now known as the Stahlman settlement. A year later 
— 1802 — John Brown, an eccentric old bachelor, and a soldier of the Revolu- 
tion, came into the precinct, and built a cabin, making other improvements also, 
near the Rhodes settlement. During the same year. Colonel John Swan — the 
noted Indian fighter — and Samuel C. Orr, came from the more eastern part of 
Pennsylvania, settled and made improvements in the western part of the town- 
ship. Colonel Sloan settled what are now known as the farms of Samuel Con- 
ner, George Smith, and the heirs of John Smith, deceased, while Orr settled 
what is now known as the Orr homestead, at present owned and occupied by 
Culbertson Orr. The farm now owned and occupied by Rev. Jacob Booth, 
was also settled in 1802 by Tate Allison. Thus homes in the wilderness were 
established, and the country grew. It is not necessary to describe the hard- 
ships and privations of these early settlers ; suffice it to say they were severe 
enough ; but pluck and energy prevailed, and ere long the wildernss blossomed 
as the rose. Thus settlements grew, and nothing occurred to mar the happi- 
ness of the settlers till 1812, when the second war for independence broke out. 
Among those from Limestone who went forth to battle for their country's 
rights were Thomas Meredith, jr., and his brother, Owen, both sons of the ear- 
liest settler of the township. Robert Allison, son of Tate Allison, above named, 
was in the list also. None were killed, all returning home in due time. 

As the settlements grew and the population increased, the people began to 
see the necessity of schools for the education of their children ; accordingly a 
house was constructed, and a school established. This first school-house was 
a mere log cabin with a chimney outside, and was built about 18 18, on the 
farm now owned by N. H. Sloan. Since then education has kept pace with 



Limestone Township. 533 



the improvements and increase of population. The inhabitants look upon the 
public schools with favor. At present there are ten public school structures in 
the township, in which are held as many schools, presided over by as many 
teachers, and attended by about three hundred pupils. The houses are neat, 
frame structures, the majority of which are furnished with the latest improved 
furniture. Besides the above, there is one Catholic school, situated in the east- 
ern part of the township, and well sustained by the Catholic citizens. 

Churches were also early established, the first house being erected where 
the present Salem Church now stands. As the number of inhabitants increased, 
so increased the number of churches, till at present there are within the town- 
ship one Presbyterian, one Baptist, two Methodist Episcopal, one Reformed, 
one Lutheran, and one Catholic Church, each society having its own church 
edifice in which to worship. Most of these churches have burial-grounds at- 
tached to them, all of which are pleasently located and well kept. 

At first the settlers had much diflSculty in getting their grain converted 
into meal. This lasted nearly a quarter of a century, when Colonel John Sloan 
erected on Big Piney a small mill built of hewed logs. This mill was erected 
on the site of what is now known as Smith's saw-mill. The second-oldest 
flouring-mill — a frame structure — was erected on Little Piney in 1833, by 
Samuel C. Orr. This mill still does good work, and is at present owned by 
Henry Edder. At a Httle village known as Greenville, which will be noticed 
hereafter, Messrs. John Sloan and his brother Samuel erected a flouring-mill, 
which was perhaps the third one erected within the township. Henry Smith, 
deceased, razed the old log-mill erected by Colonel Sloan, and built a new one 
— a large frame structure — a short distance below the site of the old one ; and 
the one built at Greenville was afterward torn down and a new one erected by 
Washington Craig, now deceased. This is a large frame structure also, and is 
in every respect a first-class mill. Thus there have been built on the waters 
of Big Piney four flouring-mills, and upon the waters of Little Piney one, 
making five in all. 

The settlers were not long in discovering the mineral wealth of the town- 
ship, the result of which was the erection of iron furnaces, foundries, etc. 
The first iron foundry was built about 1836, by Thomas Hurst, and was located 
at Orr's Mill. Mr. Hurst also made fanning-mills, the first manufactured in 
the township. In 1837 Wan brothers erected an iron furnace and foundry on 
Little Piney, near the site of William McKinley's residence. Eight years after 
the erection of the above-mentioned furnace and foundry — 1845 — another 
furnace was built on Little Piney and denominated Limestone furnace. There 
was more iron cast at this furnace than at any of the others. At present noth- 
ing remains to mark the sites of these furnaces but a few cinders and portions 
of the stone stacks, and silence now reigns where once industry prevailed. 
The hills of this precinct are also underlaid with a bountiful supply of bitumin- 

58 



534 History of Clarion County. 

ous coal, but so far few mines have been opened up and worked. An almost 
inexhaustible supply of limestone — rock and flag — underlies the greater por- 
tion of the township, and is extensively used by the farmers as a fertilizer, the 
good effects of which may be seen by the heavy crops of grains and grasses 
raised and harvested annually. 

As has already been noticed, the precinct was at an early day a vast forest, 
the trees indigenous being pine, hemlock, and oak in the valleys of Big and 
Little Piney, and in the lowlands, while on the highlands and ridges chestnut, 
hickory, etc., prevailed. Lumbering was at one time, and is yet, extensively 
carried on. There have been erected within the present limits of the township 
twenty-one saw-mills — eleven on Big Piney, of which nine were water-power 
mills and two were steam-power ; on Little Piney there have been erected ten, 
six water-power mills and four of steam-power. There was also an ax fac- 
tory built on Big Piney. Limestone township has furnished the major portion 
of sawed lumber used for building and other purposes in Clarion county. 

Years, at least a score, elapsed from the time the first settlement was made 
till the first post-office was established for the accommodation of the settlers. 
This first office was denominated Limestone, and was located at a place known 
as " Sloan's Gap." Captain James Sloan was the first postmaster. The office 
was supplied with mail once every two weeks, the mail route extending from 
Kittanning, Pa., to Olean, N. Y. At present there are four offices, viz., Crates, 
Kingsville, Frogtown, and Limestone. This last-named office is located at 
a village known as Greenville, which is situated in the western part of the 
township on Big Piney. It is the largest village in the township, having a 
population of about one hundred and twenty. One dry-goods store, one flour- 
ino"-mill — already mentioned — one harness shop, one tannery, and one black- 
smith shop mark the business portion of the village. It also has two resident 
physicians — S. C. Johnson, a graduate of Washington and Jefferson Medical 
College, Philadelphia, and A. K. Carmichael, a graduate of the Baltimore Med- 
ical College. Two of the above-named churches — Baptist and Presbyterian 
— are also located at this place. The next village of any importance is located 
about one mile southeast of Greenville, and is known as Frogtown. This little 
village is situated in the midst of a delightful agricultural community and has 
a population of forty. It contains one store of general merchandise, owned by 
J. D. Laughlin and brother, the Frogtown post-office, and a blacksmith shop. 
About the time the first post-office was established — 1820 — William Guthrie 
erected a small log building on Little Piney, a short distance below Limestone 
furnace, designed as a carding-machine and fulling mill. The property passed 
into the hands of John Thom, Esq., and afterwards Joseph A. Ogden became 
sole owner of the mill. Mr. Ogden erected a new mill — a large frame building 
— which at the decease of the owner became the property of his son, J. C. 
Ogden, who is the present owner and proprietor. Craig Brothers also erected 




^XSa-Zn^ 



Limestone Township. 535 



a large woolen factory, one mile north of Greenville, on Big Piney. This fac- 
tory at one time did an extensive business, but about the year 1873 it was 
abandoned, and since that has been removed to New Bethlehem. 

Limestone township is noted chiefly for the richness of its soil and for the 
many beautiful homesteads within its limits. It is clearly an agricultural com- 
munity, the quality of its farms not being exceeded by that of the farms of any 
other township in the county. Many of the farmer citizens own and occupy 
fine residences. Not only the residences attract the eye, but what are known 
as the "front door yards" of many of the homesteads are very beautiful. 
Grassy plots dotted with beautiful flower-beds, fine walks lined with trees indig- 
enous and exotic, evergreen and deciduous, are not an infrequent scene around 
farm-houses, and go to show the taste the citizens have for the beautiful as 
well as for the useful. 

All the principal grains and grasses are growni in this township. The aver- 
age yield of wheat per acre is about twenty bushels ; that of corn about sev- 
enty-five bushels; oats, about forty-five bushels. Many of the farms produce 
more per acre than is stated above, while very few well-cultivated farms fall 
below the above- quoted average. 

Much attention is given to the breeding of blooded stock, and the very best 
breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine are represented in the precinct. The 
farmers seem to glory in the success they are meeting in their calling, and are 
not content with present progress, but have two grange organizations for the 
purpose of aiding and instructing one another. 

When the call "To arms" came at the beginning of the late war. Lime- 
stone furnished her quota of men, and right well did they do their part. On 
October 9, 1886, the surviving soldiers, residing in the township, met and or- 
ganized, with a membership of twenty, the Captain Charles E. Patton Post, 
No. 532, G. A. R. The following officers were chosen: Commander, T. D. 
Spence ; S. V. C, Jesse Hepler; G. V. C, Samuel Hepler ; adjutant, R. P. 
Miller ; surgeon, David Baughman ; chaplain. Rev. Jacob Booth ; O. D., J. 
M. McCormick; O. G., E. M. Reese; quartermaster, J. C. Ogden. 

Of late years several wells have been drilled for the purpose of obtaining 
petroleum, but so far they have all proved what are styled " dusters." Dur- 
ing the summer of 1885 Stuart, Ogden & Co. drilled a well in the north- 
western part of the township to a depth of twelve hundred feet, when what 
at present seems an inexhaustible supply of gas was struck. This gas, as it 
escaped from the well, produced a roaring noise, not unlike distant thunder, 
which could be heard for miles around. The same year this well was pur- 
chased by the Clarion Light and Heat Company, and the gas was piped to 
Clarion, where it is used as fuel, etc. In 1886 a second well was drilled near 
the site of the Stuart-Ogden well, by the Citizens' Gas Company of Clarion, 
with equally good results. The gas from this well is also piped to Clarion, a 



536 History of Clarion County. 

distance of five miles, and is used as fuel. These are the only gas wells in 
the township. 

Thus we see that this precinct has been transformed from a vast forest into 
well cultivated farms. It has increased in population from one man and his 
family, in i8oo, to about one thousand three hundred at the present writing. 
Many of the oldest citizens of the township now Hving were born and raised 
on the farm they now live on. Among these old and highly respected citi- 
zens may be mentioned James Riley, Culberson Orr, C. M. Sloan, and D. H. 
Parsons. Of these, Mr. Riley is the oldest, being seventy-four years of age. 
By indsutry and frugality he succeeded in retaining the old homestead, which 
is one of the finest farms in the township. Although nearing four score years, 
yet he is hale and supple, often walking a distance of ten or more miles, 
without the least apparent fatigue, and although he is perhaps the oldest 
citizen of the community in which he lives, yet he has never been outside the 
present limits of Clarion county. 



CHAPTER LVin. 
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.i 

THIS township, lying in the southwest corner of the county, was formerly a 
portion of Toby township, and before the formation of Clarion county, 
extended into Armstrong county as far as the mouth of Mahoning Creek, 
This township has itself suffered some further diminution of territory since the 
erection of the county, the present Brady township having been formed from 
it not many years ago. 

The northern and eastern boundaries are straight lines, except a slight 
indentation on the north, made by the borough of Rimersburg. The southern 
boundary is very irregular, defined by the tortuous course of Redbank Creek. 

The township is underlaid by several beds of good bituminous coal, and 
the ferriferous limestone is largely exposed in the bluffs along the Redbank 
Creek and its tributaries. Much of the land has been suffered to deteriorate, 
but by the liberal use of lime readily procurable from the above-mentioned 
stratum, and burned by means of the coal so near by, progressive farmers are 
fast restoring their fields to their pristine fertility. 

The limestone is largely quarried from the hills near Lawsonham, as well 
as in many other places through the township. A short distance east of Law- 
sonham are situated the lime quarry and kilns of James Brown, of Brookville, 
established several years ago. 

1 By \V. W. Deatrick. 



Madison Township. 537 

Early Settlements. — This territory seems to have been settled about the 
beginning of the present century, possibly even before the close of the last 
century some of the pioneers may have taken possession. In what is now the 
Conner school-house district, a log house was built in the year 1800 by 
Thomas Conner. It is also asserted that in this house his son, Mr. John Con- 
ner, still Hving, was born in the same year. According to some, Alexander 
McCain settled here, and made improvements on what is known as the old 
McCain farm, near the Redbank coke- yard, as early as 1801. Mr. McCain 
was one of the pioneer school-masters of this section of the country, working 
in the summer, and teaching in the winter. He was justice of the peace for 
several years. It was related of him that he was an excellent Biblical scholar, 
quoting the sacred Word with rare aptitude. He was also known as an en- 
thusiastic and extreme abolitionist. 

About this time John McGee settled on the neck of the Great Bend. In 
1705 a house was built by John and David Meek, near Rimersburg. About 
this time the road from Watterson's on the Allegheny River to Corsica, known 
as the Watterson road, was laid out.i It was the first road in the county. In 
1807 James Rankin erected a log house in what is now the Rankin school dis- 
trict. In 1812 David Lawson, a surveyor and land agent, located near what 
is now Lawsonham, this name having been given by him to his home soon 
after^his settlement. Later in life he represented the county in the Legislature, 
and figured prominently in county affairs. 

In 1813, or later, Fleming Davidson, who had previously resided near 
Curllsville, built a log dwelling, two stories in height, thirty by fifty feet, on 
what afterwards became known as the Reed farm. Davidson was at one time 
military brigade inspector. About the same time Mathew Hosey came into 
possession of the property which had been improved at an earlier date i(uide 
supra) by David Meek. Mr. Hosey was a soldier in the War of 18 12, and 
was at Fort Meigs. Among the early settlers should be mentioned Peter Ben- 
ninger, a German. He took up land on the Allegheny River, above the 
mouth of Catfish Run. He performed an unique feat w^iich must not be 
passed by. W^ith no other assistance than that of his wife and his old mare, 
he erected their log barn, which was a fair size, and which, sheltering his crops 
and stock, stood for many years. Another pioneer was Malachi Buzzard, who 
settled on the hill above Catfish, and was illustrious principally as a hunter. 

The Wattersons, too, likely settled on this side of the river early in the cen- 
tury. About a hundred years ago the elder James Watterson made improve- 
ments on the west side of the Allegheny River. July 20, 1803, is the date of 
a land warrant to Elizabeth Watterson, a daughter of the same, later married 
to John Bruner. February 17, 1827, Mrs. Bruner sold to James Watterson, 
son of the James Watterson above mentioned, and father of James Watterson, 

1 Judge Lawson. The county atlas says it was tlie third. 



538 History of Clarion County. 

sr., of Redbank, the tract of land lying east of the river, and now owned partly 
by Redbank furnace, and partly by James Watterson, sr., and George Leon- 
ard. The second James Watterson lived early in the century in a shanty 
which stood but a short distance above where the Watterson mansion now 
stands. At that time the Indians were still about, and their huts occupied the 
the flat which is now the site of the furnace. 

Joseph Rankin, afterwards for a number of years justice of the peace, then 
assemblyman, and later associate judge of the county, was one of the early 
settlers. He and his brother Benjamin settled in what is now Toby township, 
but some time after he moved into Madison township. These two brothers 
married two sisters, which was not so remarkable as the fact that the two fam- 
ilies lived amicably in the same house, strictly observing the following pecuHar 
arrangements: Joseph, being the eldest brother, did all the managing of 
affairs in which the male portion of the household had any part ; on the other 
hand, Mrs. Benjamin, being the elder of the two wives, had absolute control of 
the female portion of the family, their cares, and their belongings, even to 
chastising all the daughters of both families, while Mr. Joseph did the whip- 
ping that was needed by the boys on both sides of the house. 

Voting Places. — When Madison township was first formed the elections 
were held at Lawsonham. At a later date the voting-place was changed to 
New Athens, where it still remains. 

Schools. — Perhaps the first school in the township was kept near Lawson- 
ham, about half a mile from John Lawson's. For a long time the teachers 
were hired by Mr. Lawson to give instruction to his children, and to such of 
the neighbors' children as could attend. Later, about 1829, the teacher w^as 
hired for a year, and was paid partly by the Lawsons, and partly by the par- 
ents of other children who attended. 

Furnaces. — No less than five iron furnaces have been in operation in this 
township : Pike Furnace, Wildcat Furnace, Catfish Furnace, Sarah Furnace, 
and Redbank Furnace. 

Pike Furnace was located on P'iddler's Run, a short distance above Law- 
sonham. It was built in 1845 by Lawson, Duff, and Orr, under whose man- 
agem.ent it was operated for five years. Then Duff and Orr had it in charge 
for ten years, w^hile from i860 to 1867, it was in the hands of Mr. Orr alone. 
In the latter year it was blown out. It is now entirely in ruins. 

Wildcat Furnace on Wildcat Run, something over a mile from Rimersburg, 
was built in 1843,1 by Lawson and Flick. Its ownership was various at differ- 
ent times. Lawson withdrawing from the firm, it was owned by Flick alone ; 
later it was operated by Thompson and Hutchinson. These parties failing in 
the business, it went out of blast for a time. It was afterward repaired and 
iron- making was resumed by Miller and Freeman. It was a steam cold- blast 

1 So the Geological Report, p. 201. In 1845 according to judge Lawson. «■ 



Madison Township. 539 



charcoal furnace, and was finally abandoned in 1863. Its ruined stack still 
stands near by the Sligo Branch Railroad. The geological survey report records 
that this was one of the most successful of all the Clarion county charcoal fur- 
naces. 

Catfish steam cold-blast furnace stood at the mouth of Catfish Run. It was 
built in 1846, by Joseph Over and others. It was owned by Alexander Miller, 
and leased by J. L. Miller, when in blast.^ 

Sarah Furnace was built, in i860, by the Plummers. Originally a charcoal 
furnace, it was afterwards converted into a coke furnace, and operated as such 
after the other charcoal furnaces were abandoned. The furnace was located on 
the east bank of the Allegheny River and north of the mouth of Catfish Run. 

Red Bank Furnace, situated at the junction of Redbank Creek with the Alle- 
gheny River, is the only exclusively coke furnace ever operated in the county. 
It was built in 1859 by McCullough and Reynolds. When running at its full 
capacity, it produced one hundred and sixty-five (165) tons of iron per week, 
and employed from three hundred and fifty to four hundred and fifty men, 
including miners and cokers. It used the native carbonate ores dug from the 
surrounding hills, and also that brought from the Lawsonham and Sligo dig- 
gings. The coke works were situated at the top of the hill. The coal for this 
and for Sarah Furnace was mined from the Freeport Upper coal contained in 
the summits overlooking the river above Brady's Bend, and was coked in open 
hives at the pit-mouth. There were twenty-four of these hives — equivalent to 
about one hundred and fifty ovens. ^ An inclined plane reached from the fur- 
nace to a point on the ferriferous limestone, two hundred and fifty- five feet 
above the railroad station. From the plane-head a narrow guage railroad, laid 
with sixteen pound rails, ran off in opposite directions along the outcrop of 
the ore. One branch ran up to the coke pits and coal banks, a distance of 
nearly two miles. The hills around are terraced by the enormous masses of 
shale removed in mining the ore. In 1878 the furnace began making coke in 
the ovens at the base of the hill. Forty-two ovens were erected. Since De- 
cember, 1883, the furnace has been out of blast. It blew out for repairs, and 
owing to the low price of iron, and its inability to compete under such prices 
with larger furnaces and those mining ore at less expense, it has not resumed. 
In November, 1886, the furnace owners again began the manufacture of coke, 
mining at present the lower vein of coal, known as the Catfish vein, averaging 
three and a half to four feet in thickness. The coal and coke are shipped 
mainly to Buffalo and Rochester. Two hundred tons of coal and forty tons of 
coke are shipped daily from the works. One hundred and thirty men are em- 
ployed at present. In 1865 the firm became Reynolds and Moorehead. In 
1878 the owners were Alexander Reynolds's sons, and since 1881 the company 

1 This account of the furnaces is^taken largely from Report W., of the Second Geological Survey of 
Pennsylvania. 

2 Geological Survey, VV., p. 71. 



540 History of Clarion County. 

has been known as David and John D. Reynolds. Four thousand tons of 
pig iron are yet stored in the furnace yard, waiting an opportunity for a favor- 
able sale. In connection with the furnace is a company store, managed since 
1859 by David Reynolds, who, since 1867, has been superintendent of the entire 
plant. The company owns houses sufficient to accommodate about one hun- 
dred families. Formerly there were more, but many have become ruinous. 
•About fifteen hundred acres of land, containing quite a field of ore, as yet un- 
touched, are in possession of the company. Just previous to going out of blast 
the furnace was most active. 

Oil and Gas. — No profitable oil wells have been struck in this township^ 
although considerable prospecting has been done and a number of test wells, 
a dozen at least, have been sunk. About 1869 a well was drilled by the 
Brookville Oil Company at the mouth of Turkey Run, near Lawsonham. At 
1,050 feet some oil was found, but on going deeper a flow of salt water was 
struck that rendered the well worthless. At nearly the same time gas was 
struck in a well on the Kissinger farm. In 1877 a well was sunk on the A. B, 
McCain farm. This was a slight producer, for a while pumping four barrels of 
oil per day. At Catfish a well gave signs of oil, while another on Catfish Run 
proved a dry hole. In 1875 several wells were sunk near New Athens, but 
with no results. In 1882 David Reynolds drilled a well near the furnace at 
Redbank. Some little oil and considerable gas was found. The gas was 
allowed to escape until recently, when it has been utilized in firing the engines 
of the works, and in heating and lighting the store and adjacent houses. The 
same or the following year Mr. Reynolds sunk another well near Coppock's, 
in Sandy Hollow. Gas was found which is allowed to waste, burning at the 
discharge pipe. In 1885 three wells were drilled — one on the farm belonging 
to Harrison Connor's heirs, which proved a dry hole ; a second on the A. B. 
McCain farm, which gave a small show of oil and gas, and had a good sand ; 
the third on the Wallace Mortimer farm, claimed to be dry. 

For years past natural gas springs have existed on Catfish Run, and have 
been fired and allowed to burn at various times. One of these springs recently 
burning exhibited a steady flame about two feet high and covering an area 
three or four feet in diameter. " It issues from fissures in a rock lying just 
below water level in the stream, but its source is undoubtedly in some much 
deeper stratum." ^ 

Coal Mines. — A large quantity of coal has been mined from the Freeport 
upper coal bed by the Sligo Branch Coal Company (Limited), whose works 
are situated just east of Rimersburg. These works were opened in 1874, and 
the first coal was shipped in 1875. In 1887 the company employed about 
seventy-five men. In January, 1880, the works were leased by William Sharpe 
and F. W. Abrams, and operated by them until July of the same year, when 

1 Geological survey, V V., p. 72. 



Madison Township. 541 



a strike occurred and the operators left. In June, 1881, S. Coon and W. H. 
Craig assumed control and worked the mines until April i, 1887. In working 
this mine a serious difficulty was experienced in the form of an unexpected 
dip of the strata, which rendered the draining of the mine almost impossible. 
A new company has now taken charge of the works. The water is being suc- 
cessfully siphoned out of the flooded portions of the works. Additional tracts 
of coal land have been leased, and the mines will be extended and operated 
more extensively than heretofore. 

In the latter part of 1886 Thomas Mitchell, of East Brady, secured exten- 
sive leases of coal lands and began mining this same bed of coal, driving sev- 
eral entries into the hillside near the ruins of old Wildcat furnace. The new 
mines are known as the Diamond Coal Works, and when fully opened will 
give employment to a large number of men. A number of cars of coal are 
now being shipped daily from these mines. 

Operations have also been begun by another company, in which Hon. Ga- 
lusha A. Grow is a prominent partner, further down the ravine on the opposite 
side of the stream. The intention is to operate these works extensively also. 
At present writing no coal has yet been shipped from these mines. 

Mills. — A grist-mill was built on the mouth of Catfish Run as early as 
1807 or 1808, perhaps earlier, by John Mortimer. The Pike Furnace Mill, 
near Lawsonham, was erected by John Lawson about. 1824. This mill was 
swept away by a flood. The property then passed into the hands of Jesse 
Flick, who rebuilt the mill. He sold it to Henry Yeager, but before the lat- 
ter came into possession of it, Mr. Flick was accidentally killed, being caught 
in the machinery and crushed to death. The mill, or parts of it, w^as several 
times swept away by floods. After Henry Yeager, it passed into the hands of 
the owners of Pike furnace, by whom it was rebuilt and improved. It still 
does a good country trade. 

Guthrie's Mill, recently better known as Kissinger's Mill, was built by Wil- 
liam Guthrie about 1830. It afterwards passed into the hands of the Kissin- 
gers. For some time it was run as a steam mill, but is now in a dilapidated 
condition. 

For many years there was a saw-mill at Lawsonham. It was built in 18 12 
or 1813, by David Lawson. It was in operation until a few years ago when 
it was taken down to make room for the Low Grade or Bennett's Branch 
Railroad, which passes over the site of the mill. 

From early times Watterson's Ferry has been of considerable importance. 
The ferry was established by James Watterson, grandfather of James Watter- 
son, sr., of Redbank. The present rope ferry was put up after the furnace 
was built, about i860. Until the building of the railroad, Watterson's Ferry 
was to a large extent the head of navigation on the Allegheny, and was the 
river depot for all the back country. When the river was up, the trade was 
59 



542 History of Clarion County. 

carried on by steamboats ; when the waters were low the service was performed 
by keel-boats. As an instance of the business done here in former times, it 
may be noted that in "the year of the big frost" eleven thousand barrels of 
flour were stored here by James Watterson, sr. A large warehouse stood 
where the Allegheny Valley Railroad yard now is. As high as thirty wagons 
were here loaded with goods in a single day. The products of the back 
country, grain, seeds, tar, etc., were received here, and from this point shipped 
down the river. Before the lumber supply of the county was so greatly 
diminished, great numbers of rafts passed out of the Redbank Creek and 
down the river. At times the creek was jammed with rafts for half a mile from 
its mouth, and some of the rafts piled on top of others. During the rafting 
season Watterson's was indeed a busy place. Eleven hundred meals have 
been served to raftsmen in twenty-four hours. A large hotel, three stories in 
height, was built to accommodate the traveling pubhc, but it often proved 
too small, every room being filled, and some of the wayfarers finding beds 
in the barn. As might be imagined, quarrels and riots were not infrequent, 
and for four or five knock-downs to occur in a single day was no uncommon 
occurrence. When the railroad came, however, some twenty years ago, the 
fame of Watterson's Ferry subsided. 

ChurcJics. — A large portion of the church-going inhabitants of the town- 
ship worship at Rimersburg. The Methodist denomination, however, has two 
chapels — one at Lawsonham and one at Sandy Hollow. Rev. Clinton Jones, 
pastor at Rimersburg, also serves these two congregations. 

Some of the sons of this township have attained to a greater or less degree 
of celebrity. Among these may be mentioned Hon. J. B. Lawson, who was 
elected to the offices of commissioner and associate judge of the county, and 
also was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly ; Rev. Thomas B. Lawson, 
a brother of the last, an Episcopal clergyman, now resident in Missouri ; Hon. 
David Lawson, son of Judge Lawson, attorney at law, resident in Clarion ; 
Rev. Orr Lawson, of Dakota, and Dr. Chalmers Lawson, of Brookville, both 
sons of Judge Lawson ; J. A. Summerville, formerly member of the Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature ; his son. Dr. John Summerville, of Monroeville ; Captain 
Newell Hosey, now probate judge of Green county, Missouri, a graduate of 
Allegheny College at Meadville ; John Khngensmith, ex-sheriff of the county ; 
Jacob Truby, of Catfish, former assemblyman, and others. 




^ 



% 







Mill Creek Township. 543 

CHAPTER LIX. 

HISTORY OF MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP/ 

MILL CREEK township is situated in the eastern part of Clarion county, 
being, as shall be seen by the boundary, one of the border townships. 
Its shape along the northern, western, and southern sides is very irregular, its 
natural boundaries being Clarion River, and Big Mill Creek. The poHtical 
boundaries are Jefferson county on the east, Clarion township on the south, 
Highland township on the west, and Farmington on the north. 

The area of the township is about thirty square miles. The surface in some 
parts is quite hilly, while in others it is pleasantly undulating. In the north- 
ern, western, and southern portions, the surface is principally covered with 
dense forests of pine, hemlock, oak, chestnut, etc., while the cleared portions 
of the township embrace the central and eastern parts. As has already been 
noticed, the township is bounded on the north, west and south by Clarion 
River and Big Mill Creek. These streams are fed by numerous tributaries 
having their sources in the township. Among the tributaries are Wood's Run, 
Stroup's Run, and Trap Run, which flow south into Mill Creek ; and Blyson 
and Davis Run, Maxwell Run, and Pine Run, which flow west into Clarion 
River. 

The soil is generally very fertile, owing to the fact that portions have been 
but recently settled and cultivated. The climate, like all of Clarion county, is 
usually severe in the winter, and warm in the summer. The chief vegetable 
productions are corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, etc. The principal grasses grown 
are timothy and clover. 

The different species of fruits, such as the apple — summer, autumn, and 
winter varieties — the peach, the pear — autumn and winter varieties — plums, 
quinces, cherries — black and red, and grapes, grow in abundance, the peach 
perhaps, being the least extensively grown, on account of the severity of the 
winters. 

Garden vegetables such as cabbage, tomatoes, beets, turnips, celery, rad- 
ishes, and onions, are grown by every family. 

The principal domestic animals are the horse, cow, sheep, and swine. Wild 
animals have almost entirely disappeared before the march of civilization ; how- 
ever, a few deer and certain species of the fox still roam at will over the hills 
and through the dense forests. Mill Creek has some fine teams of draught 
horses. Sheep are extensively raised. 

The hills of Mill Creek are all underlaid with veins of bituminous coal, but 
this valuable mineral has as yet remained undeveloped, wood fuel having been 

1 By S. C. Hepler. 



544 History of Clarion County. 

chiefly used by the inabitants from the earhest settlements down to the present 
time. Iron ore is also found, but not to any great extent. Limestone exists 
in abundance, and is extensively quarried, being used as a fertilizer. 

There are within the present limits of the township, two religious societies, 
a Methodist Episcopal, and a Presbyterian ; each society has its own church 
edifice. These churches are located near each other, in about the centre of the 
township, at a place known as Fisher Post-office, and are the only churches 
erected within the present limits. They are both white frame structures, and 
have a seating capacity of each about three hundred. 

Ever since the first settlements, education has received fair attention, being 
fostered by the inhabitants as something altogether indispensable. The first 
school-houses, of course, were rude log buildings. At present there are in 
the township six public schools, conducted by as many teachers, and attended 
by about two hundred and fifty pupils. The structures are generally new, and 
reflect great credit upon the township. 

The first dry goods and grocery store in the township still exists, and is 
located at Fisher Post-office. It is owned and kept by Thomas Daugherty, 
who has control of the post-office also. This post-office is the only one in 
the township, and is supplied with mail tri-weekly. During the summer of 
1884 Dr. J. H. Barber, of Strattanville, Pa., erected near the above named 
store, a fine edifice designed as a store-room and dwelling combined. The 
store-room has since been stocked with a fine selection of dry goods and gro- 
ceries. 

About fifty years ago the first settlements were made in Mill Creek town- 
ship. Among the earliest settlers were Solomon Terwilliger, Neil Daugherty, 
Henry Potter, Robert McCaskey, Thomas Johnson, John Fisher, Martin Mc- 
Canna, Samuel Thompson, and Peter McLaughlin. These men, or their 
parents, generally came from the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and were 
chiefly agriculturists. Few, if any, of these first settlers are now living; their 
bodies lie buried in the burial grounds of the above-named churches. The 
early settlers of Mill Creek did not have to undergo as many hardships as did 
the settlers of many of her sister townships, from the fact that they were not 
so much isolated from neighbors. Their nearest neighbors — the settlers of 
Clarion township — were but from three to five miles distant. At that time 
Mill Creek was nearly all a vast forest, being covered by trees of prodigious 
size. The settlers, in order to prepare the soil for farming, were compelled 
from the beginning to hew down these monarchs of the forest, thus " clearing " 
the land of all trees. The process of "clearing," as it is termed, was attended 
by much hard labor, and was done about as follows : The trees and brush 
were all felled, being chopped ofi" about two feet from the ground. After 
lying till they became dry, they were set on fire, and all the brush and small 
wood would be consumed, while the surface of the large trunks would only be 



Mill Creek Township. 545 



charred and turned black. These were then split into rails for the purpose of 
"fencing in " the clearing. The fences built were called "worm fences," and 
are still used to the exclusion of wire or board fences. The process of clearing 
farms is still carried on in many parts of the township. The first houses and 
barns erected were built of logs, some hewed, and others left round, the bark 
only being taken off, but these ancient buildings have nearly all given way to 
more modern frame structures, many of which are very comfortable and well 
built. Here and there may still be seen a log house or log barn, but they are 
disappearing fast, and ere long not one will remain standing to remind the 
people of earlier days. From the period of the first settlement to the present 
time, the township has been gradually changing from a vast forest to a terri- 
tory abounding in beautiful farms and pleasant houses. The population has 
gradually increased till it now numbers about seven hundred. The people 

are industrious. The survivors of the late war, residing within the township, 
have, with their comrades of Clarion township and Strattanville borough, or- 
ganized a G. A. R. Post, located at Strattanville. Lumbering has been exten- 
sively carried on for a score or more of years, and it is the leading industry 
to-day. There have been erected four saw- mills, three boat scaffolds, and one 
stave-mill, all of which are yet in active operation. During the earlier stages 
of the lumbering business the majority of the lumber then exported was felled, 
and floated down the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers to Pittsburgh, Pa., in log 
rafts. This is still carried on to a certain extent, but the majority of lumber 
now sent to market is first sawed into boards, shingles, etc., and then floated 
in rafts. At the boat scaftblds are built boats, such as are used to float coal 
on the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers. The principal amount of lumbering 
within the township is carried on along the stream known as Mill Creek. This 
stream is some twenty- five miles in length. It rises in the northwestern part 
of Jefferson county, Pa., and flows westerly, emptying its waters into the 
Clarion River, about forty miles from its mouth. In 1840 Algernon S. Howe 
was the owner of nearly all the timber land of the township. About this time 
James W. Guthrie, and others, secured by warrant and purchase a large tract, 
but the main body fell into the hands of Madison, Burnell & Co., of James- 
town, N. Y., in the year 1853. The above-named gentlemen have all passed 
away, and the present owners — Messrs. Marvin & Rulofson — carry on an 
extensive business, their mill, at the mouth of Mill Creek, being pronounced by 
competent judges, one of the best in the United States. The mill is in size 
forty by sixty- five feet, and was first designed as a gang-mill, but in 1883 it 
was changed to a circular, with all modern improvements complete. Logs 
designed to be sawed are driven down the stream, and halted in the pond by 
means of press booms; they are then floated into the mill in a flume, six by 
thirty feet, the water being about two feet beneath the floor of the mill. A 
chain passing under the logs is drawn up by friction wheels, and the logs are 



546 History of Clarion County. 

rolled on to the skidway and in reach of the log-turner, which receives its 
power from two steam cylinders. These cylinders work the turner very much 
like a human arm, the difterent motions being given it by gently handling a 
lever. The power of this turner is simply wonderful. The logs are now 
on the carriage of one of Stearns & Co's. best mills. This carriage is pro- 
pelled by a steam-engine, and is also controlled by gentle pressure on a 
lever. The saw is sixty inches in diameter, and has a speed of six hundred 
revolutions a minute. Two of Stearns & Co's. flue-boilers — five by fourteen 
feet, furnish the power to the saw and its accompanying machinery. As each 
board is cut it drops on to a transfer, from which the edger receives it, and by 
easily adjusted saws, each piece is neatly squared up, and is then placed on a 
trimmer, which trims the ends and passes it to the cars, which have the use of 
forty rods of iron railing for distributing the boards to the piling and rafting 
grounds. The trimmer also cuts up all the refuse, and after the lath stuff is 
selected, the debris is quietly carried by a chain -carrier to its final rest — a 
constantly-burning fire. The saws are all kept in order for work by means of 
a self saw sharpener. So complete are the arrangements of the mill that when 
cutting at the rate of forty thousand feet per day, the labor of the employees is 
simply a matter of careful attention, and not a back-aching, muscular service, 
as in days of old. The piling grounds are neatly wharfed, and rafting made 
easy by slack-water and sluices arranged for the reception of rafts, and the 
easy handling of the same. 



M 



CHAPTER LX. 

HISTORY OF MONROE TOWNSHIP. i 

ONROE township, lying slightly to the south and east of the center of 
the county, is of irregular form. Its greatest length is, from north to 
south, about eight and one-half miles, its greatest breadth, from east to west, 
nearly five miles, and its area is about twenty-five square miles. It is drained 
toward the west by the Clarion river on its northern boundary, and by Piney 
Creek with its tributaries. Bush Run and Meadow Run, traversing its middle 
territory, and by Licking Creek near its southern boundary. It was formerly 
a part of Redbank township, but became a part of Clarion township in 1832, 
and soon afterwards became a separate township. 

Within its limits are Curllsville borough, treated separately in this history, 
the villages of Reidsburg and Williamsburg, and the hamlets of Keeversburg 
and Churchville. 

1 By C. F. McNutt, and W. W. Deatric'k. 



Monroe Township. 547 



Settlements. — Lewis Doverspike, the first settler in the township, came to 
what is now Churchville, took up some vacant land and built a rude shanty in 
1800, or quite probably before that time. He had no family while here, but 
followed trapping and hunting. 

Nicholas Baliett, now called Polliard, with his family, settled in 1801, on 
farm now owned by Reuben Shiry, his grandson. He cleared some land and 
followed hunting in his spare moments, which included most of his time. 

Hugh Reid came from Ohio and built a log house on hill above Reidsburg 
in 1 80 1. He took up four hundred acres of vacant land around and including 
the village now bearing his name. He was married twice, but left no children. 
A little incident connected with his first marriage will serve to show some- 
thing of his business traits. His intended, unfortunately, during his absence 
engaged to wed another man, had the day set, and was about to be united. 
Mr. Reid heard of the arrangement and came to the house just in time to stop 
the ceremony. He explained matters, claimed the woman, and was then and 
there married in the presence of his rival. He was a mill-wright by trade, and 
was searching for mill seats when he came here. In about 1808 he built a log 
grist-mill in Reidsburg, at the mouth of Clugh Run. He then built a frame 
mill on Piney Creek, just below Reidsburg, in 1820, and in 1840 built another 
one a little farther around the bend of the creek, each of the two latter taking 
the place of the one built before it. He built a saw-mill in Reidsburg in 1812. 
David Craig bought the greater part of Reid's property here in 1855, ^"^ built 
the present saw-mill during the same year. Mr. Reid died in 1864, at the age 
of ninety-three years, within a few rods of where he built his first cabin. 

Jacob Brinker, with his family, came in 1802 to what is now Churchville, 
bought Lewis Doverspike's tract of land and began to clear it and make im- 
provements. Mr. Doverspike then settled on the hill above New Bethlehem. 
Adam and John Brinker afterwards moved into Porter township. Jacob 
Brinker, the pioneer settler at Churchville, was instantly killed while helping 
to raise a barn on farm now owned by Mr. Kerr, near Rimersburg. His son 
Jacob is at present living on a farm in western part of the township. 

Thomas Brown, with his family, came from Indiana county and settled 
where his son Thomas now lives, in Monroe township, in 1804. His brother 
Alexander came to an adjoining farm at the same time. Alexander, son of 
Thomas Brown, sr., who died at the age of ninety-three years, is at present 
living on a farm in same locality, having lived in the township for over eighty- 
three years. They were thrifty farmers. 

John Clugh settled where Alexander Brown now lives, in 1804. The 
stream running through the farm took its name from him. Several of his de- 
scendants are still living in the township. David Frampton and Isaac Fetzer 
came from Mifflin county and settled near what is now Reidsburg, in 1804. 
William Frampton, father of David, with the rest of his family, all girls, settled 



548 History of Clarion County. 

in this locality in 1814. He bought one thousand acres of land here, and 
divided it among his children. John Magee, with his family, came to the farm 
now owned by his son, Kiser, in 18 14. He had a woolen manufactory here in 
an early day and also followed farming. He died in 1884, at the age of one 
hundred years and one hundred days. He and his son Kiser lived together 
for seventy years, an unusual experience in the life of a father and son. Isaac 
Fetzer, David Frampton, John Clugh, John Magee, and John Conley were 
brothers-in-law through marriage in family of William Frampton. They were 
farmers. All came from Mifflin county, formed here a thrifty settlement, 
which they have held ever since. 

Nicholas Shiry came from Westmoreland county to farm now owned by 
his son Reuben, in 1820; Richard Nisbit, Kuntz, William Adams, settling 
near Magees, Thomas Watson near Shiry's. Henry and John Delp, and oth- 
ers, most of whose descendants have gone out of the township, were early set- 
tlers in this locality. 

Hamms were early settlers in vicinity of Churchville, coming four or five 
years after Drinkers came. Some of them afterwards moved into Porter town- 
ship, and some of the descendants are still living in the Monroe township. 
Daniel Hamm served one term as sheriff of Clarion county. Stanford, Monks, 
Coursons, Henry Been, John Anderson, Samuel and W^illiam Austen, William 
Wilson, and others, settled in vicinity of Curllsville in 1 802-3-4 and later. 
Their history, however, is given with Curllsville borough. 

Robert Newell with his family, including John B., Mariah (Guthrie), James, 
William, Gillmer, Robert D., Susanna (Rimer), Elmer P., and Samuel, came 
from Centre county and settled near Churchville, in 1821. Some of the family 
and many of their descendants are still living here and near here yet. They 
are farmers. Jos. McKee settled where his son Hugh now lives in 1823. 
Several families are still living in the township. They are farmers, some of 
them taking an active interest in raising fine stock. Jacob Edmund came to 
the township in 1820. He was a mill-wright and carpenter, also lumbered 
some. His son Jacob afterwards lived on the same farm, followed droving, 
and was engaged in various other speculations. Andy Fox settled in the west- 
ern side of the township in 1824. Others that should be mentioned are Myers 
in 1847, Mr. Means, who was surveyor and justice of the peace several years, 
Curlls, Lobaughs, Murphys, etc. 

Reidsburg was so named in honor of Hugh Reid, who first owned the land 
on which it is situated. John Avery was the first blacksmith in the village, 
where he settled about 1820. Patrick Kerr built a storehouse and dwell- 
ing combined, on present site of Reidsburg Hotel in 1835, ^"d kept the first 
store there. He sold the property to Samuel Wilson in 1845. George W. 
Arnold kept store in this building from 1847 to '51, after which it became a 
hotel, and has been used as such ever since. Williams Brothers own it at 








'-^Ay 



Monroe Township. 549 



present, having bought it at sheriff sale, seized as the property of Mr. Lari- 
mer. G. W. Fulton built the fourth grist-mill in Reidsburg in 1872. G. W. 
Arnold bought it at sheriff's sale in June 1883, and in March, 1884, sold it to 
G. W. Fulton's wife, who subsequently sold it to Mr. Spangler, the present 
owner. There have been several stores in Reidsburg, but not more than two or 
three at any one time. The post-office in this village has had three different 
names, though virtually the same office all the while. Mr. Hughlings, a pay- 
master in the War of 18 12, came to the place now owned by Hon. J. H. Wil- 
son, one mile above Reidsburg, soon after the close of the war, laid out a town 
and called it Hulingsburg. He drilled a well and made preparations to start 
salt works. Through his influence the first post-ofifice was established here 
and called Hughlingsburg. Hugh Reid was appointed postmaster, and kept 
the office at his house on the hill above Reidsburg. Samuel Wilson — some- 
times called Samuel Wilson Miller to distinguish him from the Samuel Wilson 
w^ho bought P. Kerr's property, and to whom he was not akin — afterwards 
was postmaster, and kept the office at Hughlingsburg for several years. In 
1840 William F. Keever, who built a hotel on Reidsburg and Sligo road near 
Reidsburg, was appointed postmaster, moved the office to his place, and had 
the name changed to Keeversburg. When Lincoln was elected president the 
office was moved to Reidsburg, and the name was changed to that of the vil- 
lage in which it was kept. There is a hotel and lumber yard at Keeversburo- 
at present, owned by W. F. Keever's son. 

The salt works at Hulingsburg never were completed. Government offi- 
cers came here to arrest Hughlings, whose accounts, as paymaster in the war,,, 
seemed to indicate that frauds had been perpetrated. He suddenly left and 
never returned. At this place at present there are two or three dwellings and 
a saw-mill. Reidsburg is a village at present having about twenty dwellino-s, 
two stores, one hotel, mill, blacksmith shop, church, academy, etc. 

Williamsburg, situated on the road about half way between Clarion and 
Reidsburg, was first settled by Amos Williams, for whom it was named, who 
came here from Miffiin county, in 1807. He had a family of nine daughters, 
but no sons. Rev, B. H. Thomas married one of the daughters, Amos Cor- 
bett another, Charles McCafiferty, of Monroeville, another, W. H. Hunter an- 
other, David Fulton another, and so on, all men well known in Clarion county. 
Mr. Williams built a carding-machine soon after his arrival, one of the first in 
the county, also owned some land which he cultivated. He was the first treas- 
urer of Clarion county, and served for two successive terms. Philip Lewis with 
his family, including Zachariah, Enoch, Philip, jr., Nathaniel, Edward, and 
William, came to Williamsburg in 1 808. William Lewis started the first store 
in this place in 1845. William H. Hunter built the first hotel in 1848, and sold 
it to Reuben Shiry in 1855; it was burned in the following fall, but rebuilt 
some time since. 

CO 



550 History of Clarion County. 

Oil Developments. — In the spring of 1887, M. E. Hess & Company drilled 
a test well on Kifer farm two miles south of Reidsburg. At first it produced 
ten or fifteen barrels per day. This made some excitement in the neighbor- 
hood, land was leased extensively, and preparations were made for testing the 
territory more thoroughly. Three or four wells were drilled right away, but no 
oil was found in them. Parties are at present engaged in testing the territory. 
For a sketch of the furnaces in the township, see furnaces in general his- 
tory of the county. 

Schools. — The first school- house in the township was built of logs on farm 
now owned by Alexander Brown. The exact date of its erection cannot be 
ascertained now, but John Magee moved into it when he first came to the 
township in 18 14. School had been kept there before that. A log building 
was erected in Churchville in 1820, and another one near Williamsburg soon 
afterwards. They, like other early schools in the county, were built and sup- 
ported by subscription. At present there are eight public schools in the town- 
ship. 

Reid Institute was established at Reidsburg in i860 by the Clarion Baptist 
Association, prompted by a desire to meet the wants of young people of its own 
territory and surrounding associations who seek mental training above that 
furnished by our public schools. Its curriculum of instruction embraces col- 
leo"e preparatory, scientific, normal, commercial and musical departments. The 
boarding hall, known also as Prescott Hall, was burned in 1877 ^"^ rebuilt in 
1880. Profs. Rittenhouse and S. C. Gilbert have had charge of the school as 
principals' nearly ever since it was established. Prof. J. T. Gallagher, the pres- 
ent principal, took charge of the institution in January, 1887. 

Churches. — The Licking Presbyterian congregation at Churchville was 
the first organized in Clarion county. An informal organization took place 
here in fall of 1802. There never was a formal action of Presbytery for the 
organization of this congregation. Rev. John McPherrin preached the first 
sermon in this locality, and was the officiating minister at the organization of 
Licking congregation. Rev. Robert McGarrough was their first regular pas- 
tor, sent there in 1804 as a licentiate of Redstone Presbytery. He was or- 
dained November 12, 1807, the services being conducted at house of Thomas 
Brown. This relation was dissolved April 23, 1822, and Rev. John Core was 
installed as their pastor September 15, 1823. He served them faithfully until 
his death on May 7, 1854. Rev. Joseph Mateer was installed over this con- 
gregation December 7, 1854; was released after a pastorate of over twenty 
years. Rev. J. M. McCurdy, the present pastor, was installed October 6, 
1875. For a more extended sketch of this congregation and its ministers and 
divisions of the charge, see Presbyterian church in general history of the 
county. 

The Reidsburg Zion Baptist congregation was organized in Amos Will- 



New Bethlehem Borough. 551 



iams's barn, in what is now Williamsburg, on June 9, 182 1. It became at that 
time a branch of the Glade Run Baptist Church, Armstrong county. Rev. 
Nathaniel Tibots was the officiating minister. He was the first Baptist preacher 
in what is now Clarion county, preaching here for some time before the church 
was organized. The congregation at first consisted of a small band of fifteen 
members, among whom were Amos WiUiams, Phillip Lewis, Richard Reynolds, 
John and Margaret Mitchell, Hannah Frampton, and others. Rev. Tibots was 
highly esteemed by his people. The sisters of the congregation would often 
assemble together and arrange among themselves some expression of their ap- 
preciation of his faithful labors. Among the gifts thus bestowed was a pair of 
fine tow linen pantaloons, which, like Joseph's coat, was of many colors, and 
which was frequently worn, in the proper season, at Sabbath services. He 
continued as their pastor but one year after the organization of the church. 
From 1822 to 1825 they had a stated pastor, Rev. James WiUiams and Rev. 
George McCleary preaching occasionally as supply. Rev. Samuel Frampton 
accepted a call in August, 1825, and remained a faithful and beloved pastor 
for eleven years. In the autumn of 1837 ^ev. Mr. Thomas received and ac- 
cepted a call, and soon after entered upon his arduous labors, which relation 
continued until June, 1848, when the infirmities of age induced him to resign. 
During his pastorate the church grew rapidly, some two hundred and fifty 
members being added. His son, Rev. B. H. Thomas, began his labors in this 
church in April, 1849, and was ordained on the 29th day of the following 
September. He served faithfully as pastor until the spring of 1886, when 
infirm health forced him to retire from active service. During his connection 
with this church he has become greatly endeared, not only to his own and 
sister congregations, but to the people of Clarion county. 



CHAPTER LXI. 

HISTORY OF NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH.i 

THE town was first called Gumtown, in honor of Henry Nolf, jr., whose 
popular name was " Gum Nolf," and who located in the place in 1830. 
Afterwards it was changed to Bethlehem, and again to New Bethlehem, to dis- 
tinguish it from a place of the same name in Northampton county. 

The town is situated on the right bank of Redbank creek, the dividing line 
between Armstrong and Clarion counties, twenty miles from its mouth and on 
the line of the Low Grade Division of the Allegheny Valley Railroad. It lies 
on a level scope of land, evidently the product of a secondary formation, beau- 
tifully situated and large enough to contain a great city. 

1 By L. L. Himes. 



552 History of Clarion County. 

The land on which New Bethlehem now stands, was granted by warrant to 
Timothy Pickering, Samuel Hodgden, Dwaean Ingram, jr., and Tench Cox. 
The warrant was dated May 17, 1785, and known as No. 185, situated in 
Brodhead's former district. No. 6, containing 631 acres, 16 perches. Timothy 
Pickering, etc., above-named, conveyed the tract to William E. Hulings, by 
deed, dated December, 1821. Hulings on the same day conveyed said tract 
to Anne Wikoff, of Philadelphia, Pa. 

Henry Dovenspike located on an adjoining tract belonging to the Holland 
Land Company in 1806, and built a log house where William Truitt lives. 
He purchased part of the Wikoff tract March i, 183 1, and at his death two of 
his heirs laid out part of the land which they inherited in town lots, the history 
of which is preserved by the form of deeds they had printed, and which they 
used in conveying the first lots. The following is a copy of the printed form: 

" THIS INDENTURE MADE THE . . DAY OF , in the year of our 

Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and forty-. . ., between George Doven- 
spike and Elizabeth his wife, and John Milliron, and Mary, his wife, of the town- 
ship of Redbank, county of Clarion, and State of Pennsylvania of the one part, 
and .... of the other part : WHEREAS, The said George Dovenspike and 
John Milliron, by virtue of a deed of release from the heirs of Henry Doven- 
spike, deceased, dated October 30, A. D. 1841, and recorded in the office for 
recording deeds for Clarion county, became seized and possessed of a certain 
messuage or tract of land, situate on Redbank township, Clarion county, and 
bounded on the south by Redbank Creek, on the west by lands of Jacob 
Shankle, George Space, Gabriel Miller, John Himes, Thomas McKelvey, James 
Fleming and other lands of the parties of the first part, on the north by lands of 
G. W. Trumble, and on the east by lands of John Dovenspike, containing tJiirty 
acres, more or less. It being part of a larger tract of land, conveyed by Anne 
Wikoff to the said Henry Dovenspike, deceased, by deed, dated, March i, 1831, 
and recorded in Armstrong county, in the office for Recording Deeds, vol. 7, 
pages 286 and 287. AND WHEREAS the said George Dovenspike and John 
Milliron have laid out a town on the aforesaid tract of land, of thirty acres, called 
' NEW BETHLEHEM,' consisting of In and Out Lots, with convenient streets 
and alleys, — which lots, in the general plan of said town are numbered from 
No. I to No. 70 inclusively, as by plan recorded in the recording office of 
Clarion county. NOW THIS INDENTURE Witnesseth," etc. 

Then followed the No. of lot, consideration, etc. 

Christian Himes located on a fifty acre tract of the Wikoff land that joined 
the original borough limits on the north, as early as 1808. He built a log house 
near the spring above the town. This was the first house built in the present 
limits of the borough. He died shortly afterward, leaving two sons, John and 
Joseph, who were separated and sent to live with strangers. John returned in 
1838, purchased a number of acre-lots, and worked at cabinet-making until his 



New Bethlehem Borough. 553 



death. Joseph returned in 1848, purchased the old homestead and com- 
menced farming, which he has followed to the present. A part of this farm 
has also been laid out in town lots. Keek's addition of town lots was made in 
1 87 1, and A. H. Allebach's in the same year. 

Henry Nolf was intimately identified with the early business interests of 
the town. He established the first store, and built the first saw- mill as early 
as 1815, and the first grist-mill in 1835. The storehouse stood near where 
the bridge is now located, and was the second building erected. In 1833 he 
took Mr. Thomas McKelvy in the store and sold out to him the following year. 
Mr. McKelvy continued in the business until 1858, when he sold to C. E. An- 
drews, whom he had taken in the store as clerk in 1849. Mr. Andrews still 
conducts the same business, but in quite a dififerent and more successful man- 
ner. 

The second store was started by Mr. Philip Corbett. The third by Mr. A. 
H. Allebach. Many others have been engaged in the same business. Large 
store buildings have been recently erected at immense cost by the Fairmount 
Coal Company and by Messrs. Andrews and Craig. 

The early growth of the town was very slow. The first building was put 
up in 1808, and in 1 833 the town consisted of one log house, one frame house, 
one stable, and one saw-mill. 

In 1834 George Space moved to the place and built a blacksmith shop. 
Adam HiUiard, P. H. Hoffman, Gabriel Miller, Jacob Shankle, Joseph Conger, 
moved to the place soon after. One after another continued to locate and 
build promiscuously until 1853, when a charter of incorporation was granted 
by Clarion County Court, creating the town into a borough. John Himes was 
elected burgess, and George Space, Joseph Conger, Frederick Mohney, and 
Joseph Himes, councilmen. The first act of the council was to correct the 
irregularities of the streets and alleys, and to arrange the lots in a regular plot. 
How well they succeeded may be known by the fact that almost every council 
since that time has been surveying and effecting changes for the purpose of 
accomplishing the same thing, and there still exist many irregularities. 

Industries. — As already stated, the first saw- mill was built by Henry Nolf 
in 18 1 5. It stood where the present water-power saw-mill stands, and was a 
primitive affair, consisting of a single upright saw, operated by water-power. 
Yet it supplied a very great want of the early settlers, as it was the only mill 
in that section from which sawed lumber could be obtained. The fact that 
boards could be obtained there induced many to locate and build within reach 
of it. The mill was washed away by high water, but was rebuilt by Arthur 
O'Donell in 1850. This one was burned down and was again rebuilt, and at 
present is owned by Craig & Company. 

C. E. Andrews built a steam saw-mill about i860, and at the same time 
•erected a scaffold on which to build flat-bottomed boats. These were floated 



554 History of Clarion County. 

to the Pittsburgh market, and used for shipping coal from Pittsburgh to places 
along the Ohio River. In 1862 Mr. Andrews built a planing-mill, putting in 
the latest im.proved machinery. This mill supplied the town with all the 
dressed lumber that was used until after the railroad was built, which was 
completed in 1873, since which much of the dressed lumber that has been 
used in building has been brought from the upper lumber districts. 

The first grist-mill was built in 1835; previous to this the farmers took 
their grain to Hesse's mill at Maysville, which, at that time, was the only grist- 
mill in all the country. It was a very common occurrence for twenty farmers 
to be at the mill at the same time, each one waiting for his " turn," when, with 
a few pounds of flour, he would go home, only to return in a day or two to 
have the same thing repeated. Henry Nolf conveyed the mill to Peter 
Schlotterbeck, who afterwards sold it to Jacob Shankle. Mr. Shankle oper- 
ated the mill for several years and then sold it to A. B. Paine. Mr. Paine be- 
ing interested in some timber land in Jefferson county, sold the mill to Messrs. 
Cooper & Williams before moving there. Cooper Sz: Williams conveyed their 
entire mill interests, and several other properties to Craig & Co. The firm of 
Craig & Co. having a long experience in manufacturing by water-power, be- 
ing owners and operators of several flouring and woolen mills in the county 
and in Allegheny City, foresaw the excellent water-power and shipping ad- 
vantages furnished by Redbank Creek and the railroad at this point, and 
therefore moved to the place immediately after purchasing the old grist-mill 
and water right. They immediately repaired the old grist-mill, putting in new 
machinery, and thereby greatly increased its capacity. In 1 872 they pur- 
chased of W. R. Hamilton, a mill seat on the Armstrong county side, and in 
1873 erected one of the finest and best equipped flouring-mills in Western 
Pennsylvania. By the aid of the new machinery, which was purchased in New 
York city, they were able to manufacture a finer grade of flour than had ever 
reached the town from the city mills. The mills has been kept running day 
and night, almost constantly, since its erection. 

A foundry was built by Fulton & Jones in 1837. It was afterwards con- 
veyed to Philip Corbett, who sold it to C. R. McNutt & Son, and was pur- 
chased by John Hilliard in 1868. Mr. Hilliard sold it to W. R. Hamilton & 
Son, the present owners, in 1872. They have added to it a machine shop for 
manufacturing plows and threshing-machines, and a hardware store. The 
whole business is superintended by S. VV. Hamilton. 

Redbank Creek has been the " Gift of the Nile" to the settlers of New Beth- 
lehem, not in the benefits derived from its inundations — for it has many — but 
from its transporting power. By the act of Assembly, of March 21, 1798, 
" Redbank Creek " was declared to be a public stream, " from the mouth to 
the second or great fork," the place where what is now known as North Fork 
empties into it. This stream was first used for the transportation of lumber in 



\ - 
I 
/it '. 



**^N 




^^7*^ /l M<^yi<\ytyU^^^^ 



New Bethlehem Borough. 555 

1806 by Joseph Barnett, of Jefferson county. The first lumber floated down 
the stream was a timber raft belonging to Messrs. Barnett and Scott, consisting 
of a single platform, and was propelled and directed by poles instead of oars. 
The "pilot," hands, and entire crew was a Mr. Clark. For many years the 
stream was rough, difficult, and dangerous on which to raft. Mr. Lewis Doven- 
spike tells of a high flood in the stream in 1806, that covered the flat where 
Fairmount is, to the depth of ten feet. On October 8, 1847, the stream rose 
to height of twenty-one feet at New Bethlehem dam. Nearly all the bridges, 
and Hesse's, Knapp's and Robinson's mills and mill dams were swept away. 
Another great flood occurred September 28—29, 1861, the water rising to the 
height of twenty- two feet. Many others of less height, but fully as destructive 
to property, have occurred since, one in 1880, which caused one of the great- 
est lawsuits ever brought before Clarion courts. The citizens owning property 
along Bethlehem dam were greatly damaged by the ice gorging in the dam 
and changing the current of the stream. Amos Silvis, living near the stream, 
had a fine orchard, consisting of about fifty apple trees of twenty-five years' 
growth, every one of which was destroyed by the ice. John T. Girts and 
Messrs. Jones and Brinker also suffered great losses from damages done by the 
ice and high water. 

Those damaged claimed that Craig & Company, in building the wharf that 
leads the water to the new mill, narrowed the vent of the dam, and by keeping 
a bracket on the dam in winter, increased the quantity of ice within the bend 
of the creek, and thereby contributed to the cause of the damage. Acting 
from this belief, those damaged entered into an agreement to contribute their 
share of the expense of bringing suit against the Craigs for damages. The first 
suit brought was by John T. Girts and wife. This was to be a test suit, and 
upon its success or failure depended the others. After repeated trials, the last 
one lasting nine days, the suit was decided in favor of the defendants. If all 
that was said of Redbank during the trial were true, it would, indeed, be difla- 
cult to write its history. In the mind of one witness it would be an Amazon, 
a Mississippi, a raging torrent or a cataract, in another a brook or rivulet that 
had often been crossed during its greatest flood on trees which extended across 
it at numerous places, or on the drift lodged against some stump, rock, or 
bank. Nearly all of those who had built on the low ground have moved their 
houses on higher ground, or have abandoned them and rebuilt. 

Schools. — Education received early attention by the first settlers. A pay 
school, as it was called, was organized in 1828 by Mr. Meredith. It consisted 
of four or five pupils, who attended part of the time, or as long as their money 
lasted, which was never more than three months in a year. Of the pioneer 
teachers, the following are still remembered by many of the oldest citizens : 
Smith Lavely, Mary Tom, Mrs. Alshouse, James Sheals, John Green, William 
Sloan, Mr. Vandike, Mr. and Miss Baker, Samuel Travis, Mr. Forbes, Adison 
Wilson, Joseph Galbreith. 



556 History of Clarion County. 

The first school-house was built in 1848, and stood near where S. W. Ham- 
ilton now lives. It was a frame builing sixteen by twenty feet, ten feet high, 
containing one room. The desks were high, and fastened to the walls. The 
pupils sat on high benches and faced the walls. The teachers of that day con- 
cede that the house was not a modern beauty, but contend that it was a model 
of convenience, and as proof called our attention to the fact that it was not 
necessary to call a pupil out on the floor in order to punish him with a rod. 
This house was afterward purchased by D. A. Hoy, who moved it on his lot 
on Penn street, and at present is using it as a wagon-shop. 

One of the present school buildings was built by C. R. McNut, in 1855, at 
a cost of $2,500. At present it is old, dilapidated, and bears the marks of 
great service. It is wholly unbecoming a place that has kept pace with the 
times. It is situated in a beautiful and healthy location, away from the noise 
and bustle of the business part of the town. It has a large play-ground and 
admirable surroundings for school purposes. It is built of brick, thirty-two by 
fifty feet, two stories high. The ceilings are each twelve feet high. The build- 
ing was purchased by Miss Tom shortly after its erection. She donated the 
use of the lower story to the Presbyterian congregation, in which to hold relig- 
ious meetings, and attempted to organize an academical school in the upper 
story. The school did not prove a success, and she sold it shortly afterwards 
to the school board. At the time it was built it was far in advance of the other 
school buildings in the county. This building becoming too small to accom- 
modate all the pupils, the school board built another in 1883. It is a frame 
building, thirty by sixty feet, fourteen feet high, containing two rooms. It is 
built on the same lot, and in close proximity to the old one. 

The school is divided into five rooms, each room into three grades. Each 
room has a separate teacher, but the principal, who teaches room No. 5, has 
supervision of the entire school. The present corps of teachers is as follows : 
Prof. L. T. Baker, principal ; Mr. U. S. Grant Henry, room No. 4 ; Miss Lulu 
Foster, room No. 3 ; Miss Emma Reese, room No. 2 ; Miss Arietta Reese, 
room No. i. The school, for the last ten years, has been advancing very rap- 
idly, and at present ranks second to none in the county. Many are the causes 
that may be cited for the recent advancement and excellent condition of the 
school. L. L. Himes took charge of the schools in 1875, and by faithful work 
for eight successive years, succeeded in creating a healthy educational feeling 
among the people. The interest manifested by the pupils during this period 
was unprecedented, many attending every day during the term. The most 
noticeable improvement in attendance was that of John and Charley Hoy, who 
attended six months for six successive years without being absent or tardy. 

The common school graduating system did much towards increasing the 
interest among the pupils, causing them to work for definite results. A class 
of sixteen was examined in 1881, and a class of fifteen in 1883. -^^ received 



New Bethlehem Borough. 557 

common school diplomas. The examinations of the pupils, and the exhibitions 
in which they participated at that time, were creditable to all concerned. Ex- 
aminations have been held yearly since that time. Another praiseworthy 
result of the school is that it is largely self-sustaining in its teachers. Many of 
the teachers who have taught in the school have received all their education in 
it. At present, three of the teachers have attended the schools in which they 
now teach. 

CJmrcJies. — Among the first settlers were zealous Christians, who sowed the 
seed of piety from the foundation of the town, and have had the joyful satisfac- 
tion of reaping an abundant harvest. P. H. Hoffman was the first member of 
the M. E. Church, and for many years entertained the minister whenever he 
visited the town. Mr. Hoffman at first attended church at Millville, Curllsville, 
and Strattanville, an average distance of ten or twelve miles. By a continual 
effort on the part of Mr. Hoffman, meeting was held occasionally at Smith's 
school-house, a distance of half a mile. At the time the first school-house was 
built in the place, quite a number of Methodists were then living there, and 
the meetings became regular. Mrs. Jacob Hilliard was the first^member of the 
Baptist Church. Through her efforts, Rev. Thomas Wilson, a Baptist min- 
ister, preached occasionally in the school-house. J. B. Reese joined the church 
soon after. At this time joint revival meetings were held by the Methodists 
and Baptists, the converts joining the church of their choice at the 'close of 
the meetings. This lovely state of affairs, as might be expected, could not 
last long. The one church received too many, or the other too few. The one 
church blamed the other for proselyting, the mode of baptism being the rock 
upon which they split. Religious rivalry ran high. Many were the public de- 
bates on doctrinal points, the discussions lasting for weeks at a time. Revs. 
George Reeser, Ahab Keller, and others defended the doctrine of "sprinkling," 
while Revs. Thomas Wilson, B. H. Thomas, and others, with equal determina- 
tion defended " immersion." The feeling extended to churches in other local- 
ities. Memorable among these was the debate on baptism at Strattanville 
shortly after. Whether these debates were productive of any great good, is 
still a question. One result was quite obvious. They gave to New Bethlehem 
two very substantial churches at a very early period. The Baptist church was 
built in 1852. The carpenter work was done by John Hamm. It is a neat 
and comfortable building, situated in the central part of the town, and is still in 
good condition. The workmanship and material from which it was built re- 
flect credit on the builder and the congregation. A regular pastorate has not 
always been kept up, but services have been held by regular supplies. Rev. 
Collins, of East Brady, being the present supply. The M. E. Church was built 
in 1853 by the same architect that built the Baptist Church. While the mem- 
bers of the two churches differed very much at that time on baptism, the two 
buildings still look very much alike. The Methodist congregation was small, 

61 



558 History of Clarion County. 

and not very well off in this world's goods. Several became financially em- 
barrassed from the expense of erecting the church, and did not recover for 
long years after. 

The congregation has maintained a regular pastorate since 1848. The fol- 
lowing are the names of the pastors in order of their service : Revs. George 
Reeser, Ahab Keller, John Lyon, Jared Howe, John Whipple, John Boils, 
Thomas McCreary, Robert Beaty, S. A. Milroy, N. G. Luke, Thomas Gra- 
ham, Joseph Weldon, G. Dunmire, A. P. Colton, Samuel Coon, O. M. Sacket, 
J. L. Mechlin, Clinton Jones, James Groves, J. B. Leedom, G. W. Anderson, 

Tresize, J. C. McDonald, S. E. Winger, Cyril Wilson, E. R. Knapp, A. 

M. Lockwood, R. M. Felt, W. A. Baker. 

The congregation has always been very courteous and liberal to other 
denominations in the use of their house. The following is copied from a sketch 
of the churches published in 1873, by a very worthy member of the Presbyte- 
rian Church: "This congregation has laid other denominations under deep 
and lasting obligations to them, by the Christian liberality which they have 
always shown by throwing wide open their doors for the occupancy of all 
orthodox bodies, and the writer of this, in behalf of the church to which he 
belongs, tenders them his grateful acknowledgment for such favors, and hopes 
for their kindness thus shown, they may as a church, and a people, prosper in 
Christian labors in time, and at last receive a more sure and lasting reward." 

The third church was the Roman Catholic, built in 1872. It is beautifully 
located on high ground on Wood street. The architectural appearance does 
credit to the designer and builder, Mr. Osborne. Cost $3,000. Father Mc- 
Giveiny has had charge since its erection. The congregation is large, and the 
church is in a prosperous condition. The fourth and last was the Presbyterian 
Church — a two-story frame, erected in 1877, but was not finished until 1885. 
The designer and builder was Mr. Lewis Corbett. It is of modern architect- 
ure, and when completed cost $6,500. Rev. Joseph Mateer, D. D. — now de- 
ceased — a faithful and godly man, was the pastor during the time the church 
was being built. By his energy and zeal the church was pushed to completion, 
and Presbyterianism well established. He was a plain, unassuming man, of 
remarkable ability, and blessed with the gift of flowery eloquence. 

Minerals. — The town is surrounded by hills containing vast deposits of 
coal, iron ore, and limestone, but little was done toward developing the min- 
eral resources of the surroundings until after the railroad was built, which was 
completed to the place in 1873. The first locomotive was run into the town 
on March 14, of that year. Messrs. Jones & Brinker immediately went to 
work developing the P'airmount Mines, which proved a success quite beyond 
their greatest expectation. Land around the town immediately went up to one 
and two hundred dollars per acre. In 1881 Jones & Brinker sold their inter- 
ests at Fairmount to a New York coal company for $260,000, and moved to 



New Bethlehem Borough. 559 

town. They purchased several farms one mile west of the town, and developed 
the celebrated Long Run mines, building a large number of coke ovens, and con- 
structing three miles of railroad in connection with the mines ; they, at the same 
time, erected in the town one of the largest store-buildings in the county. Ev- 
erything was constructed of the best material, and in the most substantial and 
improved manner. The works were just finished and operations commenced, 
when they, too, were purchased by the New York company. Shortly after 
Jones & Brinker moved to Buffalo, N. Y., and the town lost two of its wealth- 
iest and best citizens. In 1873 James H. Mayo, of Boston, Mass., moved to 
the place and commenced prospecting for coal on the Armstrong county side. 
He succeeded in developing the Bostonia Mines, which proved a natural curi- 
osity in coal formation. Mr. Mayo received his first information of this coal 
deposit, from the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, made by Professor Rodg- 
ers, of Philadelphia. After coming here and satisfying himself of the correct- 
ness of the geologist's report, he purchased the land under which it is depos- 
ited, and succeeded in forming a company of a number of wealthy and influen- 
tial men of the city of Boston. Among the number were Hon. Chester Snow, 
Hon. Judge Higgins, Messrs. Crosby, Lane, Perkins and Job. The company 
was chartered the same year, immediately after its organization. Hon. Ches- 
ter Snow was elected president, and Mr. Mayo, general superintendent. Work 
on a stupendous scale to properly develop the mine commenced immediately, 
which revealed a coal formation never before known. In driving the main entry 
they developed a vein of cannel coal eleven feet thick, underlaid with three feet 
of bituminous coal. Sixteen feet above the cannel coal vein is another vein of 
bituminous coal four and one-half feet thick ; twenty feet above this is another 
vein, five and one-half feet thick, all lying beneath the same hill, and of a qual- 
ity equal to any in the market. The company purchased several more farms 
adjoining the mines, laid out a town, built a number of substantial houses, seve- 
ral of which were grand and expensive. The railroad bridge across Redbank 
over which their shipments are sent, is condemned, and the mines are closed, 
and work suspended. 

Oil Prospecting. — Three test wells have been put down by the citizens of 
the place. The first one was drilled on the flat opposite C. O'Donell's, on the 
Armstrong county side in 1861. Philip Corbett, J. D. O'Donell, James Mc- 
Bride, Adam Shankle, Jacob Shaffer, did the work, but at the depth of 164 
feet the greater part of those engaged on the well enlisted in the army, and 
the others abandoned it. The second one was put down by a company com- 
posed of the citizens, in May, 1886. It is situated on Valentine Miller's farm, 
two miles west of the town. At the depth of 1,350 feet they struck a vein of 
gas of 200 pounds pressure to the square inch. The company immediately 
laid a four-inch main from the well to the town, and at present almost every 
family is supplied with that most wonderful of modern conveniences, gas for 
fuel, and that at less cost than coal. 



56o History of Clarion County. 

The same company put down another well in the latter part of the sum- 
mer of 1886 on William Truitt's farm. At 1,400 feet it was abandoned as a 
dry hole. 

Water Works. — In 1882 the citizens organized a water company with a 
paid up capital stock of ten thousand dollars. They purchased two acres of 
land from Jos. Himes, and scooped out two great basins to the depth of six 
feet, lined the same with plank, and enclosed it with a frame building. The 
water is pumped into the cisterns from the creek, and then led from there 
through the principal streets by a six-inch main, buried from three to four feet 
under ground. Twenty-five patent water-plugs are placed along the streets 
to be used in case of fire. The basin has an altitude of two hundred feet 
above the streets, which gives a pressure sufficient to force the water from the 
water-plugs through hose three inches in diameter over the highest buildings. 
This has been very effective in extinguishing every fire since the completion 
of the works. Besides this precaution against fire, the council has purchased 
three chemical fire extinguishers, one of one hundred gallons capacity, and two 
of fifty-five gallons each. 

Distilleries. — The first distillery was built by George Trumble in 1840. It 
was a frame building forty by sixty feet, three stories high, and situated where 
the house of Jos. Himes, sr., now stands. The greater part of the product of 
the still was hauled by horses to Saint Mary's for market. Trumble sold the 
distillery to Mercer & Slaughenhaupt, who operated it until the farm on which 
it was located was purchased by Jos. Himes in 1848, who sold the machinery 
and tore down the building. The second distillery was built by Arthur O'Don- 
ell in i860; it was situated on the lot now occupied by the Catholic Church. 
O'Donell sold it to Simon Sherman and Levi Reese. Shortly after the sale 
the building and contents burned down. Various theories exist as to the cause 
of the fire. A brewery was built on the same site in 1864. It, too, proved a 
bad investment and was finally torn down. So ended the manufacture of 
spirituous liquors within the town limits. 

Cemeteries. — The first cemetery was laid on the corner of Wood and Penn 
streets and contained half an acre. The early settlers buried their dead at the 
old cemetery at Millville. After the borough cemetery was filled the council 
purchased of Jos. Himes three acres, in 1865, situated in the northwest part of 
the borough, and opened Liberty street to it. Since that time all the dead 
have been buried there, and many bodies have been taken out of the old one 
and re-interred in the new. Samuel Lowry, in taking the body of his father 
from the old cemetery, after being buried for forty years, found the trunk and 
lower extremities to the knees of the body petrified, having a dark brown 
stone color, and perfectly natural in all other appearances. It required five 
men to lift it. 

Medical Profession. — The first physician that practiced in this place was 



New Bethlehem Borough. 561 

Dr. James Irwin. He was succeeded by Drs. Shrader and Trumble, and they 
by Dr. Smith, who is still practicing in Warsaw, Wis. Smith was followed by 
Dr. A. S. McDill, who was very eminent in the profession, and a man of great 
moral worth. He also went west about 1854. Since that time he has twice 
been elected to the Legislature of his State, afterward appointed superintendent 
of the insane asylum of Madison, Wis. This position he resigned in 1872, 
being elected representative of the Forty-third Congress of United States. Dr. 
John Creswell succeeded McDill, coming to the town in 1855. Being a physi- 
cian of great ability, he has built up a large and lucrative practice, which he still 
retains. Dr. H. M. Wick moved to the place in 1868, bringing with him the 
knowledge gained by twenty-four years of successful practice at Rockville. In 
him New Bethlehem received a valuable acquisition, both as a physician and a 
citizen. In 1870 he associated with him in practice his son, J. Addison Wick, 
who had just graduated from Jefferson Medical College. The two built up a 
large practice that was not confined to the town or county. In 1876 the elder 
Wick died, leaving the entire practice to his son, who, not being able to do the 
increased amount of labor, associated with him Dr. George Woods. Dr. B. F. 
Goheen located in the town in 1872, Being a man of enterprise, as well as an 
excellent physician, he rented the McNutt store-room and started a drugstore, 
and associated with him his brother Hugh. In 1874 he purchased from Philip 
Corbett lot No. 1 1 on Broad street, and erected thereon the largest and finest 
building in the business part of the town. The building was fifty feet front, 
and eighty feet back, three stories high. The front room on the first floor was 
fitted and finished in the most approved style for a drug store. The remainder 
on the first floor was furnished in elegant style for his office ; the upper stories 
finished for offices and lodge rooms. During the oil excitement at Parker, the 
doctor sold out his interests and moved to that place. 

"New Bethlehem Savings Bank" was organized in 1872, with a capital of 
$50,000. The first officers were: C. E. Andrews, president, and J. R. Foster, 
cashier ; directors, A. H. Allebach, H. M. Wick, John Cooper, Martin Wil- 
liams, M. Arnold. The building is twenty-five by forty feet, two stories high. 
The lower story is occupied by the bank. It consists of two rooms. The pri- 
vate room is fifteen by fifteen feet. The front room is twenty-five by twenty- 
five feet. All the public business of the bank is carried on in this room. The 
vault is ten by fifteen feet. It is built of solid masonry from the basement to 
the first floor. The walls and ceiling are of brick and are two feet thick. The 
entrance from the banking room is guarded by double iron doors. Within 
the vault is the safe. 

Thomas McKelvy was instrumental in establishing the first post-office. The 
mail was carried on horseback once a week from Kittanning to Brookville, Mr. 
McKelvy succeeded in having it stop at New Bethlehem during the trip going 
and coming. He held the position of postmaster till 1854, when C. E. An- 



562 History of Clarion County. 

drews was appointed, and, with the exception of two brief appointments of C. 
F. McNutt and S. B. Corbett, held the position to 1885, since which time J. E. 
WilUams has had the position. 

The town has given but one State and one county official to the public. 
Hon. Martin Williams served two terms in Pennsylvania Legislature and J. D. 
O'Donell, county coroner. 

New Bethlehem has a population of 1,500 inhabitants, composed of a 
social, intelligent and religious people, representing nearly all the interests that 
make a great city — good schools and good churches, four large hotels, elegant- 
ly furnished, more than twenty merchants doing a good business, excellent 
railroad accommodation, inexhaustible supply of pure water and wonderful 
water-power, abundance of natural gas, situated in the heart of the most pro- 
ductive land of the two counties, surrounded by four great coal mines that 
employ more than seven hundred men, connected to Fairmount City, Oak 
Ridge, and West Millville by level lands that will make beautiful homes, and 
that have advantages for all kinds of manufacturing. Who will predict the 
progress of the next century ? 



CHAPTER LXn. 

HISTORY OF PAINT TOWNSHIP. i 

PAINT township lies east of Beaver and Elk townships, and north of the 
Clarion River, which separates it from Clarion borough, Piney, Monroe 
and Clarion townships. It is drained by Paint Creek flowing west into Deer 
Creek and Toby Creek, which flows southwest into the Clarion River. It was 
first settled about the year 1820 by F. Eshleman, Andy Gardner, George Wal- 
ters and Daniel Brenneman. In 1828 John H. Groce, the father of John Groce, 
who is still a citizen of the township, settled on what is known as the Patrick 
farm, two miles west of the Clarion River on the turnpike. In 1830, Sebastian 
Cook emigrated from Germany, and settled on lands joining John H. Groce. 
He was the father of Mrs. I. C. Bryner, and George and S. Cook, who are still 
citizens of the township. About this time the McClains, Alexander Bell and 
a few others settled in different parts of the township. 

At that time the township embraced a wide territory, and belonged to Ve- 
nango county. It was covered by a dense forest of pine and oak timber, and 
was inhabited by wild animals, such as deer, bears and panthers, which were 
more or less troublesome to the early settlers. As the population increased, 

1 By D. A. Bryner. 



Paint Township. 563 



new townships were erected, but the writer will only give the history for what 
is now known as Paint township. 

Schools. — In 1828 a log school-house was built on the pike, near the lands 
of John H. Groce. One of the first teachers was Jacob Phipps, and the series 
of books was the United States spelling book and the Bible. A man who could 
read and write well was considered a teacher fit to educate the children of the 
early settlers. Some children went to the school from a distance of five or six 
miles. They would board with their neighbors living near the school during 
the week, and return home on Saturday. A few years later a school-house 
was built in the southern part of the township on the lands of Daniel Brenne- 
man. It was used for a school-house and church, and was afterwards aban- 
doned and a new one was built a mile farther south, known as the Manor 
school-house. It was built about the year 1850, and the first teacher was Miss 
Messenger. 

In 1850 a school-house was built on the Pike, a mile west of the Clarion 
River. The first teacher was Robert Livingston. The old house still stands, 
although a new one was built in 1878 near the same place. In 1859 a school- 
house was built in the northern part of the township on the land of Isaac Hicks ; 
it was abandoned in 1877, and a new one was built a mile further south known 
as the Goble school. In 1880 a school-house was erected at Paint Mills. 

Churches. — The township has but one church within its limits. It was 
erected in 1880, near Paint Mill Station, on the line of the P. and W. Railroad, 
and dedicated as a union church. 

Lumber. — The principal lumber manufacturing was operated first at the 
mouth of Little Toby on the Clarion River ; the mills were built by Myers & 
Shippen about the year 1825. From 1825 to 1858, the writer cannot give the 
different names of the proprietors. From 1858 to 1864, it was owned and ope- 
rated by Zigler and Baker. They were succeeded by Corbet & Wilson, and in 
1883 they sold the property to Thomas Rane, who is still engaged in the man- 
ufacturing of lumber and boat-building. 

From 1857 to 1865 Curll, Pritner & Company were engaged in the manu- 
facture of lumber, at a place known as Penn Mills, on Little Toby. The 
capacity of their mills was about thirty thousand feet of sawed lumber per day. 
The engine that drove their machinery was made by Nathan Myers, of Clarion, 
and is still in use at the mills of Porter Haskell, at or near Tylersburg. 

In 1870, Hahn, Metzgar & Wagner purchased of Jacob Black a tract of 
pine and oak timber, on Paint Creek. This was considered one of the finest 
tracts of timber land in the township. The firm erected mills known as Paint 
Mills and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. They were succeeded by 
Wagner & Curll, who are still in the business. 

In 1880 Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company purchased a tract of timber 
land in the northern part of the township, on the line of the Pittsburgh and 



564 History of Clarion County. 

Western Railroad. Their timber has been all cut and shipped, and what was 
once a forest of pine and oak timber, has been reduced by the woodman's ax, 
to a forsaken lumber camp, and is growing up with brush. A few more years 
will wipe out the lumber industry in Paint township. The rising generation 
will then have to look elsewhere for building material. What their forefathers 
manufactured and shipped to Pittsburgh and other markets, they will have to 
buy from other sources. 

Coal. — The first coal bank was opened in 1839 or^ the Sebastain Cook farm. 
The township is underlaid with different veins of coal, and of late years a num- 
ber of banks have been in operation. 

Oil. — In 1864 Shandler & Company drilled a test oil well on the John H. 
Groce farm, better known as the Patrick farm. It was drilled a wet hole, and 
was tubed and pumped for weeks, but it could not be made to produce any 
oil. In those days a leather bag filled with flax seed was fastened around the 
tubing at a depth of five or six hundred feet. In this way they could shut off 
the water from the oil-bearing rock so long as they did not need to pull the 
tubing. 

In 1876 Jacob Black drilled a test well on the same farm. A small flow of 
gas was found, but no oil, and the well was abandoned. 

In 1878 C. Leeper & Company drilled a well on the Joseph Banner farm 
in the northwestern part of the township. It produced five barrels of oil per 
day, and was the first producing oil well in the township. Nothing more was 
done in oil until 1885 to 1887, when quite a number of producing wells were 
drilled in the same locality. 

Farming. — The early settlers did not turn their attention to farming. They 
were mostly engaged in boat-building, lumbering, and daily toil for the iron 
manufacturers, and they used their farms mostly for a home to live on, and 
only tilled them when work was scarce about these manufactories; but in later 
years the farmers have been turning their attention more to agriculture, and at 
present a number of well tilled farms may be seen in different parts of the town- 
ship. 

Area of township, 13,511 acres. Population in 1887, 437- 

Township officers in 1887: Justice of the peace, George Cook and H. G. 
Verstine ; judge of election, John M. Wagner ; inspectors, John Near and 
Amos Wagner; constable, Sebastian Cook; assessor, S. D. Young; overseers 
of the poor, George Cook and Joseph Heppinger; supervisors, Fred Stark and 
William Bish ; collector of tax, J. P. Rapp ; school directors, George Cook, 
Joseph Heppinger, William Brenneman, Samuel Brenneman, Martin Wagner 
and Christopher Shultz ; auditors, D. A. Bryner, C. G. Thompson and Martin 
Wagner. 

War Record. — The little township of Paint furnished thirty-two men for the 
late rebellion, and there are still living in the township Sebastian Cook, who 



Perry Township. 565 



enlisted January 19th, 1862; was discharged July 13th, 1865, having spent 
nine months in a rebel prison. Alexander Goble enlisted November i, 1861 ; 
was discharged June loth, 1865. John Smith enhsted February 13, 1862; 
was discharged June 29th, 1865. Frederick Brenneman enlisted in 1861, and 
served three years for his country's cause. J. W. Young enlisted July i, 1861, 
and was discharged March 23, 1863. Wolff Heppinger was killed at the battle 
of South Mountain. Alf Rynard and A. Whistner were killed at the battle of 
Gaines's mill. Joseph Groce died in prison. David Thomas and Horace Young 
died in the hospital. Horace Kiskadden, Andy Smith, John Young, John 
Goble, Dock Goble, Burt Goble, John Shull, John McDonnell, David Sheets, 
Lewis Dolby, Charles Harps, Miles Brenneman, and some five or six others 
were credited to the township, as they were citizens at the time they enlisted. 
The population of the township at the time of the rebellion was about 330. 
The majority of her young men fit for military duty were in the army. Thus 
closes the chapter for Paint township. 



CHAPTER LXni. 

HISTORY OF PERRY TOWNSHIP.i 

THIS township lies in the extreme southern part of the county. It is 
bounded on the north by the Clarion River, east by the Clarion River 
and Licking and Toby townships, south by Toby township and the Allegheny 
River, and west by the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers. The township con- 
sists mainly of high ridges, broken by numerous small streams, which empty 
their waters into the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers, and into Licking Creek. 
The principal small streams are Freedom, Camp, Black Fox, and Troutman 
Runs. Perry township was originally a part of Armstrong county, and was 
settled soon after the land office opened. Tradition says that settlement was 
made as early as 1800, and it is a well, proven fact that one Gideon Gibson 
settled, built a house, and made other improvements on what is now known as 
the Allen McCall farm, and sold the same in 1802 to Mr. McCall, the ancestor 
of Allen. In 1804 John Black built a house near the Licking- Perry Hne, east 
of C. Lobaugh's present homestead. In the same year John Wilson built a 
house on the Robert Pollock tract, and William Miller built on the Yingling 
tract. Other early settlers were Joseph Everett, Benjamin Coe, the'Hagans 
and the Pollocks. 

Indtcstrics. — The industries of the township are varied. The southern part 

1 By John M. Beer. 
G2 



566 History of Clarion County. 

is principally the site of the coal mining interests, the north of the oil interest, 
and the other portions of the township are farming communities. 

Along in the forties a company began the erection of a furnace in the 
southern part called Red Fox. This company sold to a Welsh firm, who fin- 
ished the work and called it Black Fox Furnace. This firm sold out to Ver- 
num & Adams, who became involved, and a disputed title threw the property 
into the sheriff's hands, who sold it, and it was bought by Painter & Graff, 
This company made iron here till 1859. In the summer of i860 William 
Moore tried to start the furnance to use up some stock he had on hand, but 
in attempting to get up steam, the boiler exploded, killing two men named 
William Kortz and Benjamin Kogan. Thus it has been truly said that "Black 
Fox Furnace blozued out in i860," at least it blew up. It never made iron 
after that event. In its best days it made from fifteen to twenty tons of char- 
coal, or cold blast metal daily. 

There have been a number of grist-mills on the various streams in the 
township, viz.: Elliott's, at Matildaville, built in 1843; Hagan's, on Hagan's 
Run ; McGarrah's, on Rattlesnake Run ; the Dan Snyder mill, now owned by 
Copes, and the Shaw steam-mill at Perryville. 

In 1855-6 Elijah Davis built a saw-mill near West Freedom, which is still 
in use. Copes have a saw- mill near their grist-mill, and James Bell & Son 
have a steam saw-mill on the Clarion River at Turkey Run Eddy, in connec- 
tion with which they have a large boat scaffold whereat many men find em- 
ployment. 

The A. V. R. R. — This important public highway passes through the town- 
ship along the banks of the Allegheny. It was built in 1866-67. Two 
important stations, Parker and West Monterey, are on the township's seven 
miles of river front over which the road passes. In the early history of the 
road Bear Creek was also an important station. At Upper Hillville there is 
also a station. 

Oil Wells. — In 1867 oil was found in a well at East Parker just above the 
railroad station. It was put down by James E. Brown, and is still producing. 
It is said that this well during its twenty years' existence has produced $90,000 
worth of oil. The "Piper" well has been producing for fifteen or sixteen 
years, and still yields twelve barrels daily. From 1873 to 1876 great excite- 
ment prevailed about the Logue farm development, and quite a town sprang 
up on that tract. The Gailey fram, near Perryville, produced a great deal of 
oil, as did also the Fox farm, on the Clarion. The production at present has 
fallen oft' very much, and many of the oil kings are poorer than they were be- 
fore the excitement. 

7ron Tanks. — With the advent of oil came the building of tanks. At first 
shipments were made entirely by rail, but now it is principally by piping. 
Four or five iron tanks were built at Perryville in 1873. Now there are about 



Perry Township. 567 



forty, all the property of the United Pipe Lines, which is only another name 
for the National Transit Company, or Standard Oil Company. The capacity 
of each tank is about 35,000 barrels. The township authorities assess these 
tanks for local purposes. It is said the tax on each tank amounts to $150 
per year, $50 each for school tax, poor tax, and cash road tax. 

Schools. — Little definite information has been obtained by the writer rel- 
ative to the establishment of schools in the township. There are at present 
fourteen schools (twelve houses) in the township. A graded school of two 
rooms is located at West Freedom, and a similar school at Perryville. The 
other schools are the Neff, Logan, Pine Hollow, Dutch Hill, West Monterey, 
Black Fox, Logue Farm, Pollock, McKibben and Fox. The latter was estab- 
lished in 1854. The West Freedom Academy building was erected in 1 860-6 1. 
It was not completed when the war broke out. The academy has ceased to 
exist from all appearances, but it left the names of the following gentlemen 
who conducted the institution: Prof Hosey, Rev. Burton, Prof Green, Prof 
A. S. Elliott, A. J. Davis, Prof P. S. Dunkle, Prof J. V. McAninch, and Prof. 
Lynn. 

One of the old-time teachers of the township, Mr. James C. McKibben, 
still takes an active part in educational matters. 

Many of the teachers who have taught in the Perry schools, have become 
men of affairs in the world. The following names will be recognized by many : 
David Latshaw, J. W. Dunkle, P. S. Dunkle, G. G. Sloan, W. A. Beer, A. M. 
Neely, O. E. Nail, J. G. Anderson, H. H. Pollock, H. P. Elliott, C. W. EUiott, 
A. S. Elliott, C. C. Poling, George W. Mathews, J. B. Bollman, J. C. Bryner, 
W. W. Wolfe, and others. This list includes two county superintendents, and 
all the others have in some way been prominently before the people, two 
having been members of the Legislature at the same time, one a presiding 
elder in the M. E. Church, and one led a company from this county through 
the civil war. 

ChiircJies. — Concord Presbyterian Church is the oldest in the township, 
having been organized in 1807. The Methodist Church building at Perry- 
ville and the Presbyterian Church building at the same place, were erected in 
1 87 1. The congregations, however, were previously organized. For many 
years the Methodist congregation at West Freedom worshiped in a church 
on the hill east of the town, just above the cemetery, and later in the old 
academy. In 1876 the present fine structure was erected. There is also an 
M. E. Church at West Monterey, and a Lutheran Church at Dutch Hill. The 
M. E. Church also holds service at intervals at the Logue farm and at Pine Hol- 
low. At one time it had a class meet in the Pollock school-house. The West 
Freedom and Perryville M. E. congregations belong to the Callensburg charge. 

Benevolent Societies. — The I. O. O. F. has two lodges in the township — 
one at West Monterey and one at West Freedom. Formerly West Freedom 
also had an encampment, but it is now defunct. 



568 History of Clarion County. 

Villages. — There are no incorporated boroughs in the township; but West 
Freedom, West Monterey and Perryville are towns of importance, and sev- 
eral other small villages such as Matildaville, Hagantown, and Dutch Hill add 
to the population. West Freedom is situated on the Parker-Clarion road, mid- 
way between Parker and Callensburg. The first lots were sold by Joseph 
Yingling in 1848. The first buildings erected were a dwelling house and a 
blacksmith shop, by John Baker, in 1848. The first merchants here were 
Phipp & McGuff. Later came H. W. Jordan and George Yingling in the gen- 
eral merchandise line, and they are still in business here. S. S. Jordan opened 
up a drug and variety store, and did business till only a few years ago. He 
was also postmaster, one of the few Democrats who held such a commission 
under a Republican administration. John Coon, E. Slaughenhaupt, H. Y. 
Howe, and others did business here. At present S. K. R. Smith does business 
at the place once occupied by Coon. He is also postmaster. The fact that 
Jordan, a Democrat, held the office under a Republican administration, is off- 
set by Smith, a Republican, holding it under a Democratic administration. 
Smith was commissioned by President Arthur's postmaster-general, and has 
not been removed. The town also has a millinery store, a harness shop, two 
blacksmith shops, and a carpenter shop, also two hotels. West Monterey, on 
the A. V. Railroad, is a thriving town. It is chiefly maintained by the coal 
industry. The Company's store, Steel's furniture store, Giles's general store, 
and other places of business meet the wants of the people. 

At Perryville there was quite a town during the excitement, and a large 
amount of business was done ; but at present the general store of J. L. Fox, 
the grocery store and meat market of H. M. Best, the millinery store of Mrs. 
Lash, and the blacksmith shop of Miles Baker are the only places of business. 
The post-office (Pollock) is kept at Parker Station by S. C. Burkholder, also a 
Republican. Perryville was laid out in 1879 by Callen Reichard. 

Hagantown was settled by Paul Scheuster, who had an ashery there. 

Matildaville was settled by Isaiah Elliott. Martin's Ferry connects Perry 
and Richland township. A bridge was once built across the Clarion at this 
point, but it never was opened to traffic, and soon fell down. 

Public Officers. — Benjamin Miller was once county commissioner ; J. B. 
Watson, prothonotary ; Alexander McCall, associate judge ; S. D. Sloan, com- 
missioner from 1875 to 1878, and O. E. Nail, register and recorder from 1875 
to 1881. 

Miscellaneous Items. — The prosperity of the township is largely due to the 
energy of such citizens as the McCalls, Stewarts, Pollocks, Terwilligers, Jor- 
dans, Sloans, Yinglings and many others whose names call up the best memo- 
ries of the general thrift of the people. 

In 1840 the population of the township was 1,122. 



PiNEY Township. 569 



CHAPTER LXIV. 

HISTORY OF PINEY TOWNSHIP. 

THIS township lies south of the central part of the county. It is bounded 
on the nortli by Beaver, east by Monroe, south by Toby, and west by 
Licking and Beaver. The surface of the township is generally hilly, and por- 
tions of it are very rough. The main elevation begins at the Licking line, at 
the Mount Zion Church, and passes through the township to the Monroe Hne 
near Reidsburg. This range of hills is broken up into cross ranges and spurs. 
At the Licking line for a considerable distance eastward the main elevation is 
known as Chestnut Ridge. One of these cross ranges starts from Chestnut 
Ridge and extends southward to Licking, near the mouth of Anderson's Run. 
Another extends from the James Callen farm to Licking at Sligo. This last 
range is considerably broken by small valleys. 

North of the Wm. Wyman farm the territory lying between that place and 
the river at the mouth of Piney is a high ridge once covered with pine and 
oak timber. North of Piney Creek is another highland almost unbroken by 
valleys and principally covered with small growth timber. South of Licking 
Creek a ridge terminates at Sligo, which ridge occupies all that portion of the 
township lying between Licking and Little Licking. South of Little Licking 
the strip of land lying between that stream and the Toby line is a highland. 
The Clarion River forms the northwest boundary of the township, which bound- 
ary is the Beaver-Piney line. Piney Creek enters the township near the site 
of the town of Reidsburg. It flows southwest and empties into the Clarion a 
few miles below where the Monroe- Piney line strikes the river. Licking Creek 
enters the township near the town of Curllsville and flowing through to the 
northwest passes into Licking township at the mouth of Sugar Creek Run. 
Many other streams pass through the township, the principal ones being An- 
derson's Run, Mineral Run and Little Licking, all of which flow into Licking- 
Piney Creek has numerous tributaries, also, and these small streams make the 
drainage system of Piney township one of the best in the county. 

The wooded valleys retain the snow and ice in the spring much longer than 
the cleared lands do. 

The original growth of timber was oak and chestnut on the interior high- 
lands, with heavy oak on the lowlands, while along the Clarion and Piney 
Creek there was a considerable strip of pine and hemlock. The township has 
yet a good portion of its territory in wild and uncleared land. The small wild 
animals common to this region still abound in these woods, and occasionally a 
deer passes through the woodland. 

Early Settlements. — The first settlement within the limits of the township 
was made quite early. 



570 History of Clarion County. 

It is a tradition in the Laughlin family, that in 1798 John LaughHn made a 
settlement on the tract of land now known as the James Callen farm. The 
warrant for said tract was issued October 19, 1803. 

The tradition to the effect that the settlement was made in 1798, is as fol- 
lows : John Laughlin, father of Captain R. Laughlin, of Callensburg, left his 
father's house in what is now Indiana county, to seek a home on^ Stump Creek. 
He came to the spring northwest of the hill where the Callen homestead now 
is, and built a cabin there. He cleared some land and lived on the tract long 
enough to give him a legal right to the warrant, which time was two years. 
He then prepared to go east and procure his warrant, but before doing so he 
concluded to squat on another tract, and to the end that he might get posses- 
sion of this additional tract, he built a cabin on the Kifer tract, and moved his 
effects into it. This second cabin is supposed to have been built at the large 
spring in the woods, below the Thomas Reese homestead. Having made his 
improvement on this second tract, he proceeded to Indiana. Soon after reach- 
ing Indiana, he ascertained that a tract of 187 acres near his father's farm was 
still vacant, and he at once went upon that tract and began to improve it, and 
for it he afterward got the warrant and patent, and it became the beautiful farm 
known as the John Laughlin farm. Then, following up his settlement and im- 
provement on Stump Creek, he procured a warrant for that tract in 1803, and 
his brother, James Laughlin, came to what is now Piney township, and settled 
at the cross roads known as the Laughlin place. In proof of this tradition, the 
following facts are submitted: John Laughlin was born in 1777. He left 
home for Stump Creek when he became of age. He returned and took up his 
Indiana farm prior to receiving his warrant for the Callen tract. While at 
home in Indiana he purchased the Packer tract at the mouth of Deer Creek on 
the 1 8th of January, 1803, from Robert Brown (see Beaver township), while 
his Piney tract warrant was made in October, 1803. 

PVom these facts, and as the story goes, it seems to be true that John 
Laughlin settled in what is now Piney township prior to the year 1800, and 
probably as early as 1798, as has been claimed. 

In the western part of the township Louis Switzer settled and built a house 
in 1804 on the land now owned by Hiram H. Whitmer. In 1801 Alexander 
Wilson settled on the farm near Curllsville, now occupied by Thomas D. Stoner. 
In 1 81 5 John Bole, sr., settled near Curllsville, on the land now occupied by 
John Bole, jr. In 1816 John McKee settled near Bole's place The Arm- 
strongs came in 181 5. About the year 18 17 Richard Reynolds settled where 
Sligo now is. A man named Dyehammer settled the Kearney farm at an 
early date, and in 18 12 traded it to Alexander Beck for a yoke of oxen. John 
Myers, Samuel Nelson, Joseph McEwen, Thomas Burns, and John Boyles 
came in 1822. Thomas Magee, Mr. Kifer, Allen Wilson and others came here 
early, but we are unable to give dates. 



PiNEY Township. 571 



Ocaipatioiis and Products. — Since its settlement the township has been 
cultivated more or less, and at present there are some very good farms. It 
produced great deal of charcoal, iron ore, limestone, and bituminous coal, and 
within the last twenty years a large quantity of fire-clay has been mined and 
shipped. 

About 1842 Mathias & Co. built Madison furnace on Piney, a few miles 
above its mouth. Lyon, Shorb & Co. built Sligo furnace on Licking Creek in 
1845. Soon after this they bought Madison from Mathias & Co. This firm 
made iron at Madison till a recent date, and also at Sligo till 1870. 

Madison shipped its iron at Piney in boats, and Sligo shipped hers at Cal- 
ensburg, loading their boats at Crary's dam. 

The first grist-mill in the township was Fisher's mill, on Piney, below the 
site of Madison furnace. 

Grist-mills were run in connection with the furnaces, and at Madison there 
was also a saw-mill. Both are now owned by Jacob Arner. 

The mill at the mouth of Piney was originally built by Allen Wilson. 
Later it was owned and run, with boat scaffold in connection, by Jacob Hahn, 
Hahn & Wagner, Wagner, Metzgar & Co. etc. At present it is run by Betz 
& Hahn. 

Before the war a Mr. Copely dug and shipped some fire-clay. After the 
war other firms began to operate. In 1867 and 1868 George Beer and Henry 
Reese began to dig on the lot then owned by Henry Reese. The miners at 
this bank were Henry Kifer, with his three sons, George, James, and David, 
and Charles Beer, with his two sons, D. J. and W. A. The Star Fire Brick 
Company, managed by S. P. Harbison, soon made contracts for fire-clay, and in 
1879 the miners named, with many others, were engaged by that firm, and 
heavy shipments at once began. 

Banks were opened on the Gathers farm, the Joe Myers farm, the Burns 
farm, the Alexander Armstrong farm, and the Joseph Slaugenhaupt farm. 
John F. Dunkle superintended the digging and shipping of the clay, which 
was at first run to Pittsburgh in boats loaded at Piney, and at Gardner's Eddy, 
where wharfs were built, which, at times, were burdened with probably 2,000 
tons of clay at once. When the railroad came to Sligo in 1873, the boating 
of clay was abandoned, and shipment was made on the cars. 

Later, clay banks were opened on the farms of John Kifer, Levi Kifer, 
James Dixon, Jno. N. Whitmer, S. H. Smith, and Jackson Kirkwood. Nearly 
all of these last named banks are operated at present by Mr. E. E. Finefrock. 
Many other small banks are open. 

Schools and Churches. — The first school-house in Piney township was built 
of logs in 1837. It stood where the "eight-square" school-house now stands. 
About the same time a school-house was erected in the Mast district. These 
rude log structures were replaced about two years later by better and more 
comfortable buildings. 



572 History of Clarion County. 

The Means school-house was built about 1826. The No. 6, Sligo, and 
others of the township were built later. In 1832 an M. E. Church was erected 
near Curllsville, on land now owned by E, M. Lee. Mount Pleasant Church 
was built in 1854 by the M. E. congregation, and the Shamburg Church was 
built in 1871-72 by the Brethren in Christ. The ministers noted in Callens- 
burg sketch have all preached at Mount Pleasant. The M. E. Church had 
congregations at Sligo and at Madison. They held their services in the school- 
houses at those places. 

Stores. — The first store in the township was kept by David Stoner. Rich- 
ard Reynolds opened a store in 18 17 near the site of the present store of J. B. 
Miller & Sons. 

Maxwell Odell built the long red house near where Craig's dam now is, 
and opened a store in 1830. The house still stands, and is in good condition. 
Later, stores were kept at Sligo Furnace, at Madison Furnace, at the mouth 
of Piney, and at the Kearney farm. Mr. Peter Mobley erected the Kearney 
store in 1874. He did business about eighteen months, when he died. A. B. 
Kearney opened in 1877, ^^id sold out November 9, 1886, to E. E. Finefrock. 
When the Madison furnace " blowed out" the store also closed. In 1885 M. 
M. Altman opened a grocery store at Mount Pleasant Church, but soon aban- 
doned the business. 

Miscellaneous Items. — In 1872 David McClay, Republican, was elected to 
the State Senate over the Democratic nominee of this district. The township 
has had only two other county officers, viz.: William Henry, commissioner, 
and P. M, Dunkle, jury commissioner. 

The old settlers have almost all disappeared. A few remain at advanced 
ages. Mrs. Whitmer, living with her son, H. H. Whitmer, on the Switzer 
lands, has in her possession a clock which has done service in the family for 
fifty-three years. 

Several casualties have occurred in the township. John Metzgar was acci- 
dentally drowned at the mouth of Piney, and only a few years later Jacob 
Krauss was drowned at the same place. 

In 1865 two wells were drilled for oil at the mouth of Piney, on the point, 
but no oil was found. Stave-mills and portable saw-mills have been operated 
in the township, but not long at a place. 

A well was drilled opposite the mouth of Deer Creek for oil, by Daniel 
Reichart, some time about 1870, but it also proved a dry hole. 

■ Villages sprang up at Sligo Furnace and at Madison Furnace, and also at 
the mouth of Piney. Three other very small villages, viz.: Shamburg, Bell- 
ville, and Logtown, are all the little towns of the township. 

The people at present are g^^nerally thrifty, and are devoting more atten- 
tion to their farms and stock. 



Porter Township. 573 



CHAPTER LXV. 

HISTORY OF PORTER TOWNSHIP.' 

PORTER township was so named in honor of David R. Porter, governor 
of Pennsylvania in 1839-42, at the time it was struck off Redbank town- 
ship. It is bounded on the north by Monroe and Limestone, on the east by 
Redbank, on the south by New Bethlehem and Redbank Creek, and on the 
west by Madison, Toby, and the southern corner of Piney. It contains, 
according to the assessor's account, 25,875 acres, nearly all of which is tillable 
land. It probably contains more than that. Shortly after it became a town- 
ship it was laid off in school districts, each about two miles square. There are 
rich veins of coal, iron ore, limestone and fire-clay lying within its limits. 

Land Grants. — At the close of the Revolutionary War a debt sprung upon 
the new government which was to be paid by the several States according to 
the population of each. Pennsylvania paid most of its share by the sale of 
public land belonging to the State. A company in Holland purchased land in 
Pennsylvania, some of which lies in the western part of what is now Porter 
township. It was bought for twelve and one-half cents an acre. David 
Lawson, father of James Lawson, well known to our citizens, was one of their 
agents. There was one thousand and two acres in the northwestern part of 
the township granted to George Latimer, of Philadelphia, being No. 3 of lot 
162, granted to Timothy Pickering and others. May 17, 1785. In the Bitten- 
bender settlement a five hundred acre tract, called Rural Felicity, was granted 
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Frederick Watts, and afterwards 
deeded to Bittenbenders and others. A large tract of land was granted to John- 
athan Mifflin, of Philadelphia. Part of it was afterwards deeded to Charles M, 
Stokes, and was known in an early day in this locality as the "Stokes land." 
Farms in the Wiant and Mohney settlement were of the Stokes land. Weister 
land in the vicinity of Jacob Kratzer's, and west of that, was originally a part 
of the Mifflin tract. William Clark obtained a patent in 1823, and deeded it 
to James Henry (hatter). May ii, 1843. Part of this land is now owned by 
John D. Henry, his son. A tract of land containing one thousand acres was 
granted to Joseph Thomas, esq., March 28, 1794, and deeded to Daniel Brod- 
head, March 20, 1795. Farms belonging to Ross Corbett, James Gourley, 
James G. Wilson, McClures and others, were of the Brodhead tract. It joined 
land of Timothy Pickering. Archey Dickey owned considerable land in 
Porter township, some of which he bought as unseated land, sold for taxes. 
His claims included some of the farms claimed by early settlers. About 1832 
he commenced a series of law suits, by which he gained farms claimed by Ad- 

1 By C. F. McNutt. 
63 



574 History of Clarion County. 

am Brinker, Slagle, Washie, Wilkins and others. This made a panic among 
the land owners, and many of them obtained patents about 1838 from the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to secure their land titles. Some of them had 
owned their farms for years. General Craig, a surveyor by profession, and liv- 
ing in Westmoreland county, learned where the vacant land lay while running 
off other tracts, in what is now Porter township. He took an active part in 
having this vacant land settled, holding for his trouble a share of the territory 
secured by the settlers. John Henry, David Shields, William Guthrie and oth- 
ers obtained their farms from him. Daniel Brodhead owned several one thou- 
sand acre tracts in the township. 

Early Settlers. — It is somewhat difficult to find out just who was the first 
settler in the township, and also to get at what the first settlers did more than 
their mere occupations. Much of their modes of life, manners, and customs are 
common to all the townships in the county, and hence appears in the general his- 
tory. The settlement of the locality now included within the limits of Porter 
township, properly begins with the year 1800. So far as can now be ascer- 
tained, no permanent settlements were made here before that. The whole tract 
was woods. John Henry came from Westmoreland county, and remained part 
of the summer of 1799, near where George T. Henry, one of his grandsons, now 
lives, but returned to his former home during the winter. The next summer 
he came back again, bringing his family including his sons Robert, William and 
Charles. James was born here in 1805. They settled on what was known as 
General Craig's land. Henry Sayers came to Leasure's Run in 1799. From 
his boys, Charles, Aljo, and John, several families have descended, most of 
whom are identified with the history of other townships. Leasure's Run was 
named in memory of Mr. Leasure, who was drowned in the run, and buried 
near its waters. David Shields settled on land of General Craig, where 
Samuel Williamson now lives, near Smithland, in 1801. He was a copper- 
smith by trade, and made bells, pewter spoons, etc., also was engaged in 
clearing the farm. One of his little boys following the girls when hunting the 
cows, was captured by the Indians. A search was made, but the boy was not 
found. Several years afterwards, a company of Indians on a hunting expedi- 
tion encamped near Troy, Jefferson county. Mr. Shields hearing that a white 
man was with the crew, and that it was probably his son, took with him John 
Lawson and others, and started in search of the long lost child. Much to their 
satisfaction he was found, and identified by a scar on his leg left from a burn. 
The boy was persuaded to visit his former home. While there he told of play- 
ing with a string of bells and other toys well remembered by his parents. 
After staying two or three months he became tired of civilized life, and said he 
wanted to return to his squaw whom he had married. He soon left and never 
returned. A few of the oldest citizens living in the township remember of 
seeing him after his father brought him home. Michael McComb, sometimes 



Porter Township. 575 



called Malcom McComb, settled where William Sherridan lives in 1802. He 
had but one child. None of his descendants have lived in the township for 
several years. In 1804 Moses Kirkpatrick settled on farms now owned by 
Texter and D. W. Goheen. His sons, William and Alexander, lived on the 
old place. None of the descendants bearing the name are now living in the 
township. William Guthrie came from Westmoreland county and settled near 
Smithland, on what is now the McDonald farm — then land of General Craig 
— in 1806. He brought with him his family, including William, jr., James, and 
Joseph. They were farmers. Mr. Guthrie was killed by falling off |a bridge, 
on his way home from Kittanning, where he had gone for a load of store 
goods. 

A short time prior to the settling of this township, the Indians burned 
Hannastown, a village in Westmoreland county, and took some prisoners. On 
the same day a wedding party near by was routed, and some of the partici- 
pants captured by another crew of Indians. Among others taken were Cap- 
tain Brown Lee and his wife. After wandering around for a few days, the 
two crews with their prisoners met. An old lady with the Hannastown crew, 
on meeting, exclaimed, " Why, Captain Brown Lee ! Have they got you, too ?" 
Captain Lee was a terror to the Indians, fighting and killing them whenever he 
could. On learning his name, he was instantly killed and scalped. A child 
he was carrying on his back, was also killed and scalped. They then killed 
the old lady, supposing her to be connected with him. His wife was present 
and saved her own life by conceaHng her name, and feeUngs that she would nat- 
urally have under such circumstances. They compelled the other prisoners, 
including Mrs. Lee, to tramp over the dead bodies and walk in the blood, ex- 
pecting in this way to discover which one was his wife. Mrs. Captain Brown 
Lee remained a prisoner for two years and afterward married William Guthrie, 
and became one of the first settlers in the township, living to tell her painful 
story to her neighbors, her children, and her grandchildren, thus left a widow 
twice. 

Collin McNutt, a weaver by trade, moved his family, consisting of William, 
Robert, Margaret, Collin, jr., Katie and Charlotte from Westmoreland county 
to land of General Craig, in this township, in 1806. His sons bought farms, 
improved them, raised large families and died in the township. William was 
also a carpenter, and made sleds, plows, cutting-boxes and other farming 
utensils. Of his sons, Collin and James became carpenters. Many of the 
buildings yet standing show the skill of their work. Several families of the 
descendants of Collin McNutt are living in the township at present. 

Among other of the earlier settlers were Daniel Boyles, a farmer living in 
Rockville ; Peter Fiddler, a farmer, afterwards a lumberman, living in locality 
of Robert Stewart's; John Nulph, some of whose descendants are still living 
in the township; John Washie, a farmer living on land at present owned by 



576 History of Clarion County. 

J. Y. McNutt and Joseph Craig ; John Wilkins, generally called John Wilkie ; 
Ezekiel Mathews, a farmer, living on what was afterwards the Buzzard farm, 
now belongs to Phillips ; Richard James, a farmer, living on the Longwell 
farm ; Henry James, a stone mason, living near Brinkerton ; McCans, on part 
of the old Kirkpatrick farm, and Mr. Shaw, living near Leatherwood post-office. 

These were the men and their wives were the women that endured the 
hardships and labored under the disadvantages incident to early pioneer life. 
Most of them came here poor in this world's goods, on foot, carrying their pro- 
visions, their household furniture and all they had on pack saddles, and settled 
in the wilderness mid wild beasts and savages. Their houses were cabins built 
after they came here. Their ceremonies were few and simple. Their prayers 
were short. Their courtesies were genuine. The places where they located 
are barely remembered by our oldest inhabitants at present. Here and there 
an old stone chimney marking the spot, is all that remains — relics of their early 
improvements. If they could talk, what tales they could tell — struggling, 
sorrow, joy, mirth, cooking, and sleeping all in one small room ! While the 
memory of their faces and most of their history have faded in oblivion; yet our, 
community owes them the remembrance of their names. 

Later Settlements. — William Latimer came with his family, including James, 
Dinan, Jane, Mary, and George to Leatherwood, in 1812. The latter three 
have lived on the same property, near Brinkerton, ever since. Mr. Latimer 
came from Northampton county to Licking, this county, in 1807. They were 
farmers. John Ardrey, a tanner, came to Leatherwood, near the eastern part 
of the township, in 18 14. James, Betsy, Robert, Nancy, Susanna, John, Wil- 
liam, and Mary were his children, some of whom are still living. Peter Wiant, 
with his sons, Abraham and Conrad, came to Porter township in 18 17, settling 
on part of the Stokes land, formerly a part of the Mifflin tract. Both sons were 
farmers, and Abraham is living yet in the township. Jacob Jack came to Leather- 
wood in 1 8 1 8, settling near where his son Michael now lives. He came from Cen- 
tre county. George and John Burns came to the eastern part of the township, 
and settled on land still known as the Burns property, in 18 18. Philip Bitten- 
bender came from Luzerne county and settled near Curllsville, this township, in 
1822. His sons, Jacob and Philip, still living on the old property, have taken 
some interest in the raising of fine stock, also have been active in conducting 
township affairs. Alexander Blair came to the western part of the township 
and settled on Holland land in 1824. His children, William, Alexander, Sam- 
uel, Betsey, and John R., all settled in the same locality. They and their de- 
scendants form a thrifty settlement of farmers. Michael Buzzard came from 
Northampton county and settled on part of the Brodhead tract, now owned by 
H. S. Phillips, in 181 8. He was a blacksmith, and the first one in the town- 
ship. His wife had some knowledge of medicine, and often performed the 
duties of a family physician ; thus both were useful citizens in the commu- 





fh./3 



/vay)ij:u/ 



Porter Township. 577 



nity. Mrs. Jacob Phillips, sr., one of their children, is now ninety years of age, 
and is the oldest person living in the township at present. James Goheen, 
along with his children, Davis and James, jr., first settled where James G. Wil- 
son now lives, in 1827. After living there about two years, they moved to the 
Goheen farms, where they spent most of their lives. They were prosperous 
farmers, liberal, industrious, and energetic, and took an active interest in im- 
porting and raising fine stock. James Reed, a blacksmith, came to the farm 
now owned by his son Samuel, in 1830, after living two years on one of the 
Goheen farms. His sons, John, a carpenter, and Samuel, a farmer, are still liv- 
ing on the same property. Samuel Lowry came to Leasure's Run in 1824, and 
settled on the farm at present owned by Samuel Bovversox. Of his children, 
Robert, John, Nancy, Samuel, and Susanna, only Samuel and Nancy (McNutt) 
are living. Samuel was a farmer and lived near the old place until two years 
ago, at which time he moved to New Bethlehem. William Divins came to ths 
farm near Brinkerton where his son James now lives, in 1831. He was elected 
a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1861, and re-elected in 1862. 
He was also county commissioner, county auditor, and for several years justice 
of the peace. Some of his children are living in Porter township at present. 
Christian Hamm came from Licking to Brinkerton in 1832, settling on the 
farm now owned by Jacob Hamm. He sold his farm to his brother John in 
1837. Solomon H. Hamm, son of Christian, commenced his store at Brinker- 
ton in 1847. The post-ofiice there was established in 1855, taking its name 
from the place named in honor of Brinkers, early settlers in that locality. S. H. 
Hamm was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1880, also 
Avas first postmaster at Brinkerton, and justice of the peace one term in Porter 
township. 

Nicholas Shanafelt, a gunsmith, moved his family from Huntington county 
to Leatherwood, near Brinkerton, in 1835. Some of his sons became prom- 
inent Baptist ministers. His son William, living at present near where they 
first settled, cleared the place, improved the land, and has taken a live interest 
in importing and raising short- horned cattle. Some of them are bred directly 
from cattle brought from England. His herd at present is one of the finest in 
the county. He has also been an active worker in the Leatherwood Baptist 
Church ever since it was organized. 

The Pences came to the township and settled near Smithland in 1834. 
They were farmers. Some of the boys became carpenters, and have done 
some excellent work in Porter and other townships. George Polliard came to 
the Mays farm, near Rockville, in 1835. ^^ ^'^s a farmer. Most of his chil- 
dren are connected with the later history of the township. Philip Seifrit came 
to the Wiant settlement in 1836, and died in 1886, at the age of ninety-five 
years. Smithland took its name from Jacob Smith, who settled there in 1838. 
George McWilliams moved his family to Smithland in 1842. He kept a hotel 



5/8 History of Clarion County. 

there for several years. Several of his descendants are scattered over the 
county. 

Thomas Armagost came to Squirrel Hill in 1840. He has lived there and 
worked at the blacksmith trade ever since. There have been but (ew working 
days during that time that the sound of his hammer was not heard, and but 
few Sundays that he was not seen at church. Mohneys and Kratzers came 
to Porter in 1835. They were farmers. James Mohney was afflicted with 
rheumatism, and was confined to his bed for nearly a quarter of a century. 
He was relieved from his sufferings by death in 1882. During his early life 
he taught school. Among others of this period of settlers that should be men- 
tioned are Abraham Slatterback, living on Leasure's Run, Samuel Bowersox, 
George Fox, and Thomas Elder in the Blair settlement, William Milligan, 
Patterson Johnston, David Wilson, John Brinker, Browns, Whites, Toshes, and 
many others that have been good citizens. 

Christian Brinker is at present living on the farm formerly owned by his 
father. He has been treasurer of Clarion county, associate judge, and in 1886 
was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. His liberality and 
good humor have made him popular. 

George T. Henry has served as county commissioner, and has been justice 
of the peace for several years, an office he filled with credit. He has also been 
a useful man in the settling of estates. He is of decisive manner and bases his 
decisions on equity and justice rather than on legal technicalities. 

Aaron Khne was elected county commissioner in 1881, and has filled for 
several years various township offices. 

Rockville, named from its exceedingly rocky surface, lies near the center of 
the township. Ross M. Corbett came here April 22, 1834, and built a saw- 
mill that summer. The next summer he built a grist-mill, commencing to 
grind October 3, 1835. Farmers came a great distance to the mill. It was 
considered first-class, and was run day and night. It has been repaired and kept 
in running order ever since, and is at present a useful improvement in the com- 
munity. John Klingensmith, afterwards sheriff of Clarion county, was the first 
miller. Samuel Fagley is the present miller, having served for twenty years. 
Mr. Corbett built another saw-mill in 1866. Both are torn away now. He 
has been fortunate in raising a family potent for good — Hunter, a missionary 
in China for twenty-five years, Scott, a wholesale merchant in Wichita, Kan., 
Lawson, a merchant in Dubois, and Samuel, a farmer, on Squirrel Hill, this 
township. All have been quite successful. Dr. H. M. Wick came to Rock- 
ville in 1845. He remained here about twenty years, after which he moved 
to New Bethelehem. His excellent judgment, kind and courteous disposition, 
sympathy for the afflicted, along with his liberality and dignity, won for him 
a fond affection in the hearts of his neighbors. 

There have been stores kept in Rockville at different times. Archie Dickey 



Porter Township. 579 



had the first one, then Ross Corbett, and afterwards George T. Henry and 
S. P. McNutt, S. P. McNutt and T. J. Henry, and T. J. Henry alone. Mr. 
Henry also had a tannery there. 

Laughlin's Mill and Store. — The first mill in this locality was a rude log 
building, erected by John Shaw at quite an early date in the history of the 
township. John Guyer afterwards became owner of the property, and built a 
woolen-mill. He obtained a patent for the land, including sixty acres, from 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1838, and sold it to Samuel, John, and 
Stewart Wilson, April 6, 1839. John and Stewart built the mill now owned by 
W. A. & S. S. Laughlin, the following summer. About the same time they, 
in company with James Laughlin, who had come there in 1837, started a store. 

Leatherwood post-office, taking its name from the stream, on the banks of 
which a kind of shrub called leatherwood grew, was established in 1840, in 
their store, and James Laughlin was appointed postmaster, which position he 
held until his death, in March, 1870. The office was granted a tri- weekly 
mail in July, 1884, and daily, in 1886. Peter Rickard and S. P. McNutt each 
served as postmaster for five years, afterwards W. A. Laughlin, the present 
incumbent, was appointed. James Laughlin bought the farm and their share 
of the mill from Wilsons February 9, 1855, having bought their share in the 
store in 1846. He built the blacksmith shop in 1856. William P. Miller 
worked in the shop the first two years, and immediately following Peter Rick- 
ard had charge of it for seventeen years. 

Manasseh Arnold came into the store as clerk, July 10, 1846, and became 
a partner in 1850. At the death of Laughlin in 1870, he became sole owner. 
The store was subsequently owned by S. P. McNutt and W. A. Laughlin, and 
at present by W. A. & S. S. Laughlin. Mr. Arnold was elected justice of the 
peace in 1858, and held the office until 1873. He was also township treasurer 
for several years, and in 1875 was elected prothonotary of Clarion county. 
The mill, store, blacksmith shop, post-office, etc., made this a sort of a busi- 
ness center in the township. Credit is especially due James Laughlin for his 
industry and energy. He was liberal, strictly honest, courteous, and trusted 
by all who knew him. 

Furnace. — Samuel and John Wilson purchased land and built St. Charles 
furnace in 1844-5. They sold it to Patrick Kerr in 1846. Here the process 
of making metal by using raw coal instead of coke or charcoal was introduced 
and successfully used. A store was also kept at the furnace. This industry 
opened out the coal and ore veins in that locality, furnished employment for 
men depending on their daily earnings for their support, and for the spare mo- 
ments of farmers, and others, made a demand for produce, and brought wealth 
and prosperity into the community. It continued to be a useful improvement 
under the management of Kerr until 1865, when it was abandoned. The land 
is now owned by Reed, Howley & Co. 



580 History of Clarion County. 

Schools. — The first schools organized within the township are mentioned 
in the general history of the county. Before the common school system was 
established there was an academy near the Leatherwood Presbyterian Church. 
Among its earnest supporters were William Kirkpatrick, Daniel Beck, and 
others. The first public school-house was built by subscription in 1834—5. ^t 
was located on the Olean road, near John Slagle's, and was called the Union 
school ; built of logs, poorly seated, but well ventilated. In addition to school 
purposes it was used for singing schools, public worship, debating clubs, etc. 
The act of Assembly of 1834, establishing the free school system in Pennsyl- 
vania, was popular from the first in Porter township. The provisions of the 
act were accepted, and schools were established as rapidly as possible. Most 
of the present sites were located after the township was struck oft" Redbank. 
Smithland school was established in 1842. Nearly all the rest were established 
about that time, or before it. The Oak Hall independent district became such 
in 1858. It was taken from part of Monroe township and part of Porter, and 
is under the care of three directors, elected by the citizens of the district. At 
present there are fourteen schools in the township, excluding the independent, 
six of which have lately been seated with patent furniture. None of the 
grounds are enclosed. Election is held in the Rockville House. 

Churches. — For a long time Churchville, commonly known as Licking, was 
the nearest church. The road was a path through the woods. The members 
paid their preacher in grain, delivered at the mill. Rev. John Core was the 
minister. At one time he was elected commissioner to the General Assembly 
which met in the city of Philadelphia, and made the trip on horseback, taking 
several days. 

The Leatherwood Presbyterian Church was organized the first Tuesday of 
April 1842. Rev. Elisha Barrett was the first preacher. He held the posi- 
tion for six years, after which John Core preached six years. Rev Joseph 
Mateer was ordained in this church, and also preached his last sermon here, 
serving faithfully as pastor for twenty-nine years, until his death in 1883. He 
was especially noted for his punctuality, studious habits, and for his natural 
and easy gift of ready speech. Rev. L. W. Barr was his successor. Collin 
McNutt, sr., was the first person buried in this grave-yard. 

The Leatherwood Baptist Church, belonging to the Clarion Baptist Asso- 
ciation, was organized January 8, 1846, by Rev. Rockafellow and Rev. Thomas 
E. Thomas, with ten members; whole number of members since organization, 
155; present number, fifty- three. The house of worship was dedicated Au- 
gust 8, 1854, by Rev. B. H. Thomas, D. D., who was for many years its faith- 
ful pastor. Father Thomas was much loved by his people, and all who knew 
him. The whole number of pastors in order from the first are Thomas Wil- 
son, John Hunt, Runyon, Fish, Dean, and B. H. Thomas. 

The Squirrel Hill Lutheran Church was organized in 1846. Henry For- 



Porter Township. 581 



inger was one of the first leaders. Both the Methodist and Reformed congre- 
gations assisted in erecting the building. 

The Squirrel Hill Reformed Church, belonging to Clarion Classis, Pittsburgh 
Synod, was organized in 1848. Services were held in the Lutheran building 
until 1870, when a new house was erected by the Reformed congregation. 
Rev. L. D. Leberman was their first pastor. He served three years. The 
others in order were George Wolf, four years ; Smith, three months ; Gilds, 
eighteen months; J. G. Shoemaker, eighteen years; John Dotter, three years; 
J. M. Evans, five years, and D. B. Lady, the present pastor, having served two 
years. 

The Squirrel Hill M. E. Church was organized in 1849. They held wor- 
ship in the Lutheran Church until 1873, when the new M. E. church was built. 

The Associated Presbyterian Church, located near Smithland, was organ- 
ized in 1854. Rev. Robert Bruce is the present minister. 

The Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, belonging to the Presbytery of Clar- 
ion, was organized January 11, i860, by Rev, William P. Moor, Rev. Joseph 
Mateer and Elder Ross M. Corbett. The pastors in order from the first are 
John Sarrard, J. A. E. Simpson, and the present minister, J. M. McCurdy, as 
a supply. 

Grange. — The Leatherwood Grange was organized at Brinkerton, in Wil- 
liam Shanafelt's old house, November 26, 1875. Among the leaders active in 
its establishment were William Shanafelt, William Sherridan, J. Y. McNutt, 
William A. Henry, John D. Henry, and others. William Shanafelt was the 
first master, after which John D. Henry was master for three years. Captain 
J. Z. Brown was master also. The Pleasant Grove Grange united with Leath- 
erwood Grange in 1879. A hall known as Leatherwood P. of H. for the 
grange thus consohdated, was built near the residence of George T. Henry, 
now W. P. Henry, in 1879. A store is now kept in the hall by the " Leather- 
wood Co-operative Association," organized in the grange March 6, 1880. 
Piolet post-office, named in honor of Victor E. Piolet, chairman of executive 
committee, Pennsylvania State Grange P. of H., was established in the hall in 
1886. It has now a daily mail. John D. Henry is postmaster. 

Ross M. Corbett, James Lawson, Matthew McNutt, D. W. Goheen, Wil- 
liam Shanafelt, and others assisted courteously in obtaining facts relating to the 
history of Porter township. 

Gi 



582 History of Clarion County. 

CHAPTER LXVI. 
HISTOEY OF REDBAXK TOWNSHIP. 

THE present limits of Redbank township include a very small part of the 
original township, which was organized September 18, 1806, and included 
Redbank, Porter, Monroe, Limestone, Clarion, and Mill Creek townships in 
this county, and Redbank, Mahoning, and part of Madison in Armstrong 
county. 

The township was named after Redbank Creek, which bounds it on the 
south, and is also the boundary line between Clarion and Armstrong counties. 
The Indian name of this creek was " Lycamihoning," but was changed to 
Sandy Lick, and in 1798 received the name of Redbank. The last change of 
the name was due to the red color of the soil along its banks. 

The first resident of the township was Henry Nolf, who settled on one of 
the Brodhead tracts in 1800. After various improvements, he obtained a 
patent for 500 acres, contained in his improvement, founded on a warrant to 
him in 1806. Beside this tract, Mr. Nolf obtained patents for the land con- 
tained in his improvements on the southeastern side of Redbank Creek, Arm- 
strong county, containing 634 acres. He lived for many years at Town Run, 
and subsisted mainly by fishing and hunting. At this time Redbank Creek 
abounded in fish, and the forest along the stream was filled with bear and deer. 
Many are the tales still told of his hunting exploits. 

John Mohney, sr., purchased of Pickering & Company a five hundred-acre 
tract adjoining Nolf's on the south, and built a log house near where Jacob 
Brinker now lives, and in 1824 erected the stone house which still remains 
standing. The wisdom of Mr. Mohney's selection of land is now quite obvious, 
as the best farms at the present time in Redbank township lie within this tract. 

Mr. Mohney became an extensive farmer, raising large crops of wheat, 
which for want of a market was fed to the stock. At his death, the tract was 
divided into smaller farms, and occupied by his heirs. Adam and Abe located 
■on the eastern part, Isaac on that part lying north of Millville, and subse- 
quently known as the Guyre farm, John on that which is now owned by Jacob 
Brinker, Mrs. William Hoff"man on what is now owned by James McWilliams, 
Mrs. Miller on the part joining Millville on the west, and Jacob located on a 
tract in Armstrong county. 

Henry C. Barrett purchased from Pickering & Company part of tract 441 
in April, 1801. He laid the land out in town lots, and on November 19, 1808, 
traded lots Nos. 3, 4, and half lots Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, n, 38, 46, 47, and 48, to- 
gether with the water-right of Redbank Creek at that place, to Henry Nolf 
for one hundred and fifteen acres of the Thomas Brodhead tract. The tract was 



Redbank Township. 583 

valued at $450, and lots Nos. 3 and 4, $100; the nine half lots $200, and the 
water-right $150. Thus was laid out the foundation of the town of Millville, 
being so called on account of the mill-seat at that point. 

Nolf conveyed all this right to Adam Mohney, April 9, 181 1, and he to 
Isaac Mohney, October 28, 18 16. 

About the time that John Mohney located in Redbank township, David 
Silvis located on what is now Samuel Lowry's farm in Porter township. His 
sons, Daniel and Conrad, took up land in Redbank. Daniel improved a piece 
of land adjoining Hilliard's and Dovenspike's tracts, and resided there until his 
death, after which it was sold to Jones & Brinker, who after exhausting the 
coal sold the surface and their other interests to the Fairmount coal company. 
Daniel Silvis was married to a daughter of Henry Nolf She died in 1886, at 
the age of ninety-three years. Conrad Silvis's farm joined Hilliard also, and 
was recently sold to the same coal company. 

George and Jacob Hilliard, brothers, were among the early settlers of the 
northwestern part of the township. John and Elisah, sons of George Hilliard, 
inherited their father's farm, and later sold to the coal company, a history of 
which will be subsequently given. 

Louis Doverspike (Daubenspike) purchased a four hundred acre tract, in- 
cluding the flat where Fairmount now is, in 1808. After his death the land 
was divided among the heirs, John, William, Philip, and Henry Swanger, who 
had married the daughter. For many years these parties successfully farmed 
the land, but afterwards sold it to the coal company. 

The first settler in the eastern part of the township was Archibald McKil- 
lip, who came to the country in 18 15, and took up three hundred acres. After 
living on it a few years and becoming dissatisfied on account of the lonesome- 
ness of the locality, he wrote to Mr. Chambers, a former acquaintance in North- 
hampton county, and ofTered him one-half of his land if he would move on it. 
Mr. Chambers accepted the offer and in 18 18 Mr. McKillip got a neighbor, 
and Mr. Chambers a farm. 

John Shaffer squatted on a piece of land near where Millville now is, at a 
very early date, but was compelled to move off after the land was purchased 
by Mr. Mohney. 

Christian, Jacob, and Tobias Schick came from Northampton county, about 
1820, and purchased of Pickering & Company three hundred acres, lying be- 
tween Millville and Shannondale. 

David Mercer settled the land west of the McKillip settlement. At his 
death the land was divided among his sons, Amos, George, Joseph, James, Da- 
vid, Johnson, Daniel, and Washington. Johnson still owns and resides on 
what is known as the old homestead. 

Zephaniah Space, of Luzerne county, N. J., purchased of Henry Nolf, fifty 
acres north of Millville, for which he paid one dollar per acre. He moved on 



584 History of Clarion County. 

the land in 18 18, and besides farming, worked at blacksmithing, and for many 
years was the only blacksmith in the tow^nship. 

Daniel Shannon, of Northampton county, landed at William Hoffman's in 
the spring of 1822, John Shaffer having died, Mr. Shannon attempted to pur- 
chase of the heirs the Shaffer tract of 300 acres. After obtaining eight of the 
eleven shares, he sold his interest to Joseph Miller, and in 1843 purchased the 
farm at Shannondale, and besides farming kept a store for many years at that 
place. His son, Christopher, is still in possession of the property, and at pres- 
ent is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the township. 

The land on which New Maysville is now situated was conveyed to George 
Geist by Willink & Company, who represented the Holland Land Company, 
being a part of allotment 5, tract 254, warrant 3058, and adjoining " Deer 
Park " on the north, containing 43 acres and 94 perches. The boundaries not 
being well defined, caused much trouble. 

George Geist built a mill on this tract in 1833, which was afterward claimed 
and proven to be on Brown and McConnell's land. The conflicting claims were 
finally adjusted by compromise. George Geist conveyed the land and mill to 
Daniel Geist December 17, 1838, for $3,000, who sold it, December 26, 1839, 
to John Hess for $1,500, who afterward conveyed the same to Andrew^ Wahl- 
man. 

New Maysville was completely destroyed by the violent tornado that swept 
over Armstrong and Clarion counties May 30, i860. The bridge across Red- 
bank at this place was also blown down. The mill contained three sets of 
buhrs, one of which was carried up to the dam. Many persons were injured, 
and several lives were lost by the storm. 

West Millville. — The lands on which the town now stands were owned by 
the Pickering Land Company. The Pickerings were in the employ of the 
Holland Land Company, and received land at six cents per acre for sur- 
veying. They located tract 441 at this place. The town was laid out and 
named at a very early period, but little w^as done in the way of building until 
after the death of Mr. Mohney, when the land was purchased by Mr. William 
Sl,oan, a re-survey was made, and part of the land owned by Mr. McWilliams 
was also laid out in lots. 

The first house was built by William Hoffman in 1803. It was a log house, 
situated on the land now owned by Mr. McWilliams, who moved it back and 
now uses it for shelter for stock, and recently erected in its stead a substantial 
brick dwelling, that is in keeping with the place, and which speaks the taste 
of him who had it erected. Mr. Sloan, the other pioneer of Millville, has also 
erected a beautiful brick dwelling, surrounded by a fine and tastefully kept 
lawn, which adds much to the appearance of that part of the town. 

Before the building of the Low Grade Railroad, Millville was the chief 
stopping place for teamsters who hauled merchandise from Mahoning to Brook- 





JAi^^72^^?.-_ 



Redbank Township. 585 

ville. Mr. John Cribbs erected a large hotel for the accommodation of the 
traveling public and those engaged in hauling merchandise. It was a common 
thing at that time for the streets to be lined on both sides by wagons loaded 
with goods, the stables crowded with teams, and the hotel filled with teamsters, 
raftmen, and travelers. After the completion of the railroad, all hauling from 
Mahoning and traveling by stage coach ceased, and the large hotel remains a 
silent reminder of the past ; but the town immediately took on a new aspect. 
Storehouses, dwelling houses, and work-shops sprang up, till at present the 
town contains one hundred and seven dwelling houses, six stores, seven work 
shops of different kinds, two churches — the first one was built in 1873 by 
the Evangelical denomination, the second in 1876 by the Presbyterians — both 
are neat and tasty edifices and have done much for the moral and religious 
tendencies of the place. 

Two school-houses have been built — the first one in 1868, which, becom- 
ing too small to accommodate all the children of school age, was replaced by a 
new one, containing two rooms, in 1885. The town has kept pace with other 
places of the same size in educational matters, sustaining a pay school in the 
summer months in addition to the free term in the winter. Prof James Richey, 
who has become a celebrated linguist, has done much toward creating and 
directing the educational interests of the place. 

Prof J. J. Wolf, besides being a very successful and enthusiastic teacher, 
has invented and had patented several very useful inventions. 

Z. A. Space had charge of the schools during the last year, and did very 
effective work. 

Stores. — The first store was started by John Dougherty, a brother-in-law 
of James Kerr, at what is known as the stone house, in 1825. Previous to this, 
the nearest store was at Kittanning. Mr. Dougherty moved the store to 
Brookville in 1828. 

Mr. James Kerr started a store at the red house on Town Run. in i 830, 
which he moved to Millville shortly after, and then sold the same to Messrs. 
Shannon and McFarland, and from, there Mr. Kerr moved to Clarion. Shan- 
non and McFarland divided the store, McFarland moving his part to Ringgold, 
and Mr. Shannon in 1848 moved his to Shannondale. 

Messrs. Abraham Fronk, Workman, and C. R. McNutt, kept store at Mill- 
ville at an early date. 

Mr. John Milliard started a store at Truittsburg, which he sold to Mercer, 
and he to Truitt. 

The first church was built of logs in 1820, and was situated below^ the road, 
opposite the present Lutheran Church. The second Lutheran Church was 
built by C. R. McNutt, in 1848, and still remains standing. 

Indicstries. — The early settlers were all engaged in farming, and as there 
was no grist-mill nearer than Kittanning, many of them would grind their own 



586 History of Clarion County. 

grain by hand mills, which was very slow and laborious work. The great need 
of flour and sawed lumber, created an interest in the line of manufacturing 
them at an early period. 

The first grist-mill was built by Archibald McKillip shortly after settling in 
the township. It was built of logs and was a very primitive affair ; very often 
the water would get too low to grind, then the settlers would be compelled to go 
to Kittanningto get their grain ground or resort to the hand mill. This state of 
things caused others to engage in the same business. Henry Nolf built a mill on 
Town Run, in 1830, and Henry Nolf, jr., better known as Gum Nolf, built one 
on Sandy Creek. It was an improvement over the others, being arranged so 
that when the water was too low to grind, the buhrs could be turned by hand. 
During the dry season all the farmers would flock to this mill, and each would 
wait his turn, and grind his turn. It was a common thing fur farmers to be with- 
out flour for weeks, and at the same time have great heaps of wheat garnered 
in their barns. Many farmers took their wheat to Clough's mill on the Clar- 
ion River. Mr. Shannon relates that he took a few bushels of grain to the mill 
at Patton's Station, and while waiting for it to be ground, he and the miller's son 
went out to skate on the pond. The miller's son had no shoes and his bare feet 
would stick to the ice. So Mr. Shannon would skate awhile and then lend his 
shoes to the miller's son. Mr. John Cathers was the miller and, unlike the 
millers of the present day, was very poor, yet he lived in a land where flour was 
in great demand, and grain plenty. After the building of George Geist's mill 
at New Maysville, in 1833, niuch of this difficulty was obviated. 

The first saw-mill was built by Henry Nolf, on Town Run. In 1830 John 
Shaffer built a mill on Pine Run, and as sawed lumber was in demand and 
timber land could be had by moving on it, others engaged in the same busi- 
ness. David Mercer built another mill on the same Run in 1835. Later 
James McWilliams built a mill at Millville, putting in improved machinery. 
This was replaced by another, built on a more modern plan, by Henry Miller, 
and is now owned and operated by Messrs. McAfoose and Miller. The latest 
erected grist-mill was put up at Millville by Jacob Brinker. It is furnished 
with the latest improved machinery, including the patent process, and is a 
model of neatness ; cost twenty thousand dollars. Wilson Jones and Captain 
J. M. Brinker associated together in business and formed the firm of " Jones 
& Brinker." They purchased of Jacob Raymer, in 1857, a piece of land sit- 
uated near where Fairmount City now is, on which was built a log hut and 
barn. They built a distillery on this in 1858, and commenced the manu- 
facturing of whisky the same year. The whisky was of a superior quality, so 
much so, that "'Jones and Brinker Whisky" became world famous. The dis- 
tillery was run to its utmost capacity until 1871, when they took a contract to 
build part of the Low Grade Division of the A. V. Railroad. Work was begun 
on the grade in June, 1871, and pushed to an early completion. The work 



Redbank Township. 587 



was accepted by the railroad company and the contractors complimented on 
the manner in which it was done. Immediately after the completion of this 
contract, they formed the Fairmount Coal and Iron Company, and purchased 
twelve hundred acres of valuable coal land adjoining the place where they 
lived. They laid out the city of Fairmount, built several hundred houses for 
miners, and entered actively on the work of developing the Fairmount mines. 
The first day's mining put out twenty-two tons, and the first shipment was 
made on the 4th of November, 1873. On account of the superiority of the 
coal, the demand for it in the Buffalo market rapidly increased, and in 1881, 
they were mining 900 tons daily. 

Besides operating the mines they built a large number of coke-ovens, and 
removed the machinery from the distillery, and put in machinery for manufac- 
turing facing-sand. The mill produced twenty tons of facing-sand per day. 
The old ware- room was changed, and stocked with merchandise for the accom- 
modation of the miners. This part was superintended by J. Frank McNutt, a 
man of large experience, and decided business ability. 

The Fairmount Coal Company sold out their entire interests in 1881 to a 
New York syndicate of which Mr. B. K. Jamison was elected president. The 
mines have since been running successfully under the supervision of Mr. Shaf- 
fer. At the present time this company owns 5,000 acres of coal land in Red- 
bank and Porter townships. 

Redbank township is rich in mineral deposit, having an abundance of coal, 
iron ore, and limestone. The entire township is underlaid with two veins of 
coal. The one that is now being worked is known as the Kittanning vein, 
and is four feet thick. Below this is the Freeport vein, which is six feet thick, 
and which in the near future we expect to see mined. 

At the mouth of town Run was an Indian village ; the Indians remained 
long after the whites had settled in the townships, but they were always civil, 
and no serious trouble ever occurred between them. Many vestiges of their 
camp, such as arrow heads, stone hammers, and stone basins are still found 
on the site. 

The early settlers suffered much loss from the frequent attacks of wolves 
and bears upon their stock. " Hunting days " were frequent, in which all the 
settlers would engage, the object being to drive the bears and wolves away 
from the settlement. In later years hunting parties were formed for sport. 
One of the last occurred in 1837. While skating on the dam at Patton's Sta- 
tion, several parties discovered an old she bear and two cubs in a nest in the 
laurel at that place. The next morning George Milliron, Gilmor Montgom- 
ery, Daniel Geist, George Nolf, and several others, collected all the dogs in 
the neighborhood — nine in all — and started for the lair. They found her and 
the cubs in the nest, and the dogs made the attack ; but the old bear would 
make a rush at the dogs and then run back to the nest. In this way she killed 



588 History of Clarion County. 

the cubs. George Milliron shot at her, but his aim being imperfect, wounded 
her in the foot. When the gun reported the dogs rushed in and took hold. 
As the bear was only slightly wounded she succeeded in killing five and wound- 
ing two of the dogs. Then she left the lair and started up the creek. After 
an exciting chase of several hours Daniel Geist succeeded in killing her. 
Many deer and wild turkeys were killed for years afterward. 



CHAPTER LXVn. 

HISTORY OF RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 

RICHLAND township lies in the western part of Clarion county. The 
Allegheny River forms the western boundary. The township extends to 
the Clarion River on the south, and to Venango county on the northwest. 
Salem township forms the northern boundary, and Beaver and Licking town- 
ships the eastern. It has an area of about nine thousand five hundred acres, 
and contains about one hundred and twelve farms. 

It lies in the great oil-belt of Clarion county, and oil-producing and farm- 
ing form the chief occupation of the people. 

Before the organization of Clarion county, Richland township formed a part 
of Venango county. 

The greater part of the land now included in Richland township belonged 
to the " Peters tract," which contained about ten thousand acres, embracing a 
large part of Richland, and parts of Salem and Beaver townships. The first 
settlement within the present limits of the township was made by Daniel Ash- 
baugh. In the spring of i8o6 he came with his family from Sugar Creek, 
Armstrong county, Pa., and settled near St. Petersburg. Here he purchased 
from Richard Peters about three hundred and fifty acres of land, a part of 
w^hich is now within the present limits of St. Petersburg borough. His son, 
Jacob Ashbaugh, and his grandsons, Henry, Abraham, and John Ashbaugh 
are still living on the land which he settled. 

At the time of the settlement the land was all covered with woods, there 
were no roads, and traveling was very difficult. Mr. Ashbaugh and his family 
traveled in a wagon as far as the Clarion River. From there they proceeded 
on foot, carrying their household goods with them. They built a shanty, 
which consisted of poles driven in the ground to support a roof of clap-boards. 
There were no sides, and snakes and other wild animals kept them continually 
uneasy for their safety. 

In this way they spent the summer, and put in crops on the land which 



Richland Township. 



589 



they cleared. After the fall seeding was done they began the erection of a 
small log house, which they completed and moved into about Christmas. 

In 1807 Conrad Moyer came from Sugar Creek, Armstrong county. Pa 
and settled on a tract of land south of St. Petersburg, now known as the Ritts 
farm. About this time William Porter settled on the land now owned by 
Hiram Neely. On this farm Richard Peters, the proprietor of the " Peters 
land," built a house where he lived by himself for many years. 

Many early settlements were made in the vicinity of Chestnut Ridge. 
Jacob Hale settled there in 1812, Daniel Knight in 1818. Mathias Gilbert 
settled prior to 1829. and Jacob Heeter settled in 1829. Robert Mackelwaine 
settled on the Slicker farm early, but never received a title to the land. An- 
drew Porter settled in the Conver school district about 1831. In 18 14 Cap- 
tain Henry Neely moved from near Edenburg, Clarion county, and settled on 
the Isaac Neely farm. He purchased four hundred and thirty-five acres, then 
unimproved, from the heirs of Edward Butler. 

During the early history of the township, the majority of the people at- 
tended the Reformed Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg. Later, services 
were often held in the dififerent school-houses of the township. 

The first school-house was built on the Porter farm, now owned by Hiram 
Neely, about the year 18 16. The house was built of round logs, and roofed 
with clap-boards. For a chimney, sections of several logs were cut out at one 
end of the building. Then a stone foundation was made, and upon the stone 
a chimney was built (outside of the house) of poles with mud mixed with straw 
for mortar. For windows there was a section of a log taken out on each side 
of the room, and about every three feet props were placed upright, and over 
the openings thus formed greased paper was pasted to serve as window-licrhts 
Robert Mackelwaine was the first teacher. This house was afterwards vacated 
and the residence of Richard Peters, located on the same farm, was used for a' 
school-house. The next school-house built in the township was erected in 
1824, where the Conver school-house now stands. In 1826 a school- house 
was built near where the old Bostaph school-house stood. There are now ten 
school-houses in the township, and three in the Independent Foxburg district 
The Allegheny Valley Railroad was the first in the township. This rail- 
road, extending along the western border of the township, was built in 1865 
The Foxburg, St. Petersburg, and Clarion Railroad was built in 1877 Soon 
after, it was sold to the Pittsburgh, Bradford and Buffalo Railroad Company 
and finally the Pittsburgh and Western. 

The first store kept in the township was owned by Louis Collner, and was 
located on the road between St. Petersburg and Emlenton. He afterwards 
located in St. Petersburg, where his sons, the well known Collner Brothers 
still continue the business. Before the opening of this store, the people from' 
the township went to Emlenton or Lawrenceburg to make their purchases. 



S90 History of Clarion County. 

In 1818 the first grist-mill of the township was built on the Clarion river, 
near Alum Rock, by George Myers. This mill was burnt, and Mr. Myers 
built another one where Martin's mill now stands. The first saw- mill in the 
township was built on Alum Rock Run by Henry and John Neely about 1820, 
The famous millwright, Harry Jenkins, performed the work. 

In 1862 the first post-office established in the township was located at 
Alum Rock, in the house of Daniel Bostaph, who officiated as postmaster. At 
that time mail was received only once a week. The mail was carried from 
Emlenton to Callensburg, via Agnew's Mills and St. Petersburg. 

In 1832 the land upon which Keating's furnace was erected was bought of 
Richard Peters by Jacob Frederick, who sold to John Keating and John Ven- 
sel. The land was found to contain much rich iron ore, and in 1846 the fur- 
nace was built. In 1866 operations were suspended. It was never re- opened, 
and is now a thing of the past. 

About the time of the first oil excitement at Oil City, a company was 
formed composed of Isaac Neely, William H. Neely, Daniel Bostaph, Alexander 
Wilson, Henry Barr, Edward Murray, and others. They began drilling a well 
at Alum Rock, on the Isaac Neely farm. The tools and apparatus for drilling 
were then very crude, and progress was made very slowly. Now and then 
operations were suspended for want of money to carry on the work. The first 
drilling was done by hand, then by horse-power, and finally, after the war, 
work was again resumed on the well. A set of tools was obtained, which 
stuck in the well, and it was finally abandoned as a failure. Much gas 
was found, but no oil. This was the first well that was ever drilled in Rich- 
land township. Oil operations were then suspended until about 1870. In the 
spring of that year John Galey leased a piece of land belonging to Judge Keat- 
ing, situated on the Clarion River at a place called the Grass-flats. The well 
was a success, producing sixty or seventy barrels per day. Excitement spread 
rapidly. Land was leased and other wells were drilled soon after. 

In 1 87 1 Hulings & Company drilled a well at Antwerp, on the Ashbaugh 
farm. It produced three hundred barrels per day. This caused intense ex- 
citement, not only in the immediate vicinity, but throughout this and adjoining 
counties. People flocked from all parts of the State. Other wells were drilled 
and found to be good producers, and in a short time a flourishing town had 
sprung up. 

In the fall of 1872 the town was burnt. During the two short years of its 
existence, it had grown to be a town of about a thousand inhabitants. It was 
never rebuilt, and the few buildings which escaped the flames were afterward 
torn downfand moved away. The school-house, built in 1871, which stood on 
the hill above the town and escaped the flames, was moved down in the fall 
of 1882, and is the only building left to mark the spot where the town once 
stood. 



^. 




John Keating. 



Richland Township. 591 



In 1872 oil was found on the Hiram Neely farm, a short distance east of 
Antwerp. Soon after wells were drilled on the Isaac Neely farm, Keating 
farm, and around Turkey City. 

FOXBURG. 

The history of this village properly commences with the oil excitement in 
187a. It is built on land owned by the Fox heirs, all on leased lots, hence 
the name. The post-office was established in 1 870, and Colonel Gibson was 
appointed postmaster. C. C. Bone opened a news-room and stationery store 
about the same time. Then followed other stores, a meat-market or two, dwell- 
ings, etc. Mr. Jos. Hart came here in 1870, building an oil refinery across the 
river in 1873. In 1876 he moved it upon the hill above Foxburg, and subse- 
quently sold it to the Standard Oil Company. 

Fires. — The first fire occurred here in 1876, when all the buildings on the 
river side of the A. V. Railroad were burned, including Porterfield & MComb's 
store, express office. Smith's meat-market and other buildings, amounting in 
loss to about $25,000. The same ground was again burnt over in 1881, tak- 
ing two restaurants, Wales's hardware store, Moore's grocery, express office, 
billiard-room and oil-well supply store. 

In the spring of 1883 the Fox Hotel was burned, and during the next two 
years the present fine building was erected by the Fox estate. 

The Valley depot was burned in 1884, and the present neat building 
erected the next summer. 

In Jul}^, 1886, another fire occurred in this place, burning Smith's meat- 
market, D. C. Hart's store, and Odd Fellow's Hall, a room above, Barnes's tin- 
shop, and a millinery store. After all these fires most of the buildings were 
rebuilt. 

There have been several societies organized in Foxburg from time to time, 
including I. O. O. F. in 1871, A. O. U. W. about three years afterwards, and 
later the Knights of Honor, G. A. R., and others. 

The round-house and car- shop were built in 1880. The school-building 
was erected here in 1874, by heirs of the Fox estate. It is a neat, two-story 
building, containing three rooms, well furnished. Mrs. Samuel Fox has been 
a liberal contributor to the schools there ever since they were organized, giv- 
ing to their support $1,000, $1,500, and sometimes as much as $2,000 per 
year, besides taxes on the estate, which included the greater part of the public 
funds raised there. 

The Fox mansion is pleasantly situated on an elevation some distance 
above the town, and is a beautiful country residence. 

Turkey City was at one time a flourishing oil centre, but is now on the 
decline. 



592 History of Clarion County. 

CHAPTER LXVIII. 

HISTORY OF RIMERSBURG BOROUGH.' 

LOCATION. — The borough and post-village of Rimersburg is situated in 
the southwestern part of the county, partly in Madison township, and 
partly (the greater part) in Toby township. 

Previous to 1829 the site of the town was a barren, covered with a dense 
growth of underbrush, through which deer and other wild animals roamed. 

Early History and Settlement. — In the year named John Rimer built a rude 
cabin on the lot of ground at present known as the Henry Crick property. 
Here, in primitive style, an abundance of old-time rye whisky was served to 
the thirsty pioneers from the bar established by Rimer. The tavern became 
quite a popular resort, and was often the scene of boisterous revelry.^ 

The next building was "slab cabin," which stood where James H. Abrams's 
residence now stands. 

It is on record 3 that in 1833 ^ number of the pioneers celebrated the 
Fourth of July near one of these cabins. When the proposition was made that 
it would be in order to have the Declaration of Independence read, the com- 
pany were considerably nonplused because of an inability to procure the his- 
toric document. James Pinks, however, came to the rescue, by producing a 
child's handkerchief, on which the Declaration was printed. D. R. Lawson, 
as orator of the day, then read it in such a manner as to elicit the hearty ap- 
plause of the assembled company. 

In 1839 Mr. Rimer and several other land owners laid out a number of 
town lots, and from the description given of the event by some of our older 
citizens, the sale must have been an unique affair. The lots were sold at 

dollars apiece. At the consummation of the sale of each lot a good 

drink of whisky was taken by seller, buyer, and each of the by-standers. 
Doubtless if the number of lots sold was at all considerable, the company must 
have been in a hilarious state by the time the auction was ended. 

As an inducement to settlers it was proposed to name the prospective 
village in honor of the man who should, after the town was laid out, build the 
first house. James Pinks purchased a lot and erected a house, rather a shanty, 
of moderate diminsions, one and a half stories in height, upon the piece of 
ground lying at the intersection of the Lawsonham road with Main street, 
where it stands at present-, the house owned by Mrs. William Abrams, and 
occupied by Dr. J. H. Hepburn as a residence and office. Part of the original 
building is said to be included in the present structure. Here Mr. Pinks kept 
a little store. It is claimed by some that Mr. Pinks kept store here as early as 

1 By W. W. Deati-ick. 2 See " Caldwell's Atlas of Clarion County," p. 16. 3 jUd. 



RiMERSBURG BOROUGH. 593 



18 1 2, and that it was the first store in Clarion county.i A barrel of sugar, a 
sack of coffee, a box of tea, and a few other articles were sufficient supplies for 
nearly a year. Mr. Pinks became the first postmaster of Pinksville, as the 
village was then called, the post-office having been removed from Maple 
Grove, about a mile distant, where it had formerly been. 

^ The town grew rapidly at first, the location being elevated and pleasant, 
being, moreover, on the Clarion and Watterson road. This was the third 
public road laid out in the county, and was for many years quite a thorough- 
fare, traversed by stage-coaches and numerous teams. To accommodate the 
traveling public three hostelries were erected in Rimersburg, two being at 
at present used as hotels, and now known respectively as the Sheridan and 
Berlin Houses. The old Forest House is now used as a residence. The titles 
of these hotels have varied from time to time as their proprietors have changed. 
Incorporated a Borough.— In the year 1853 Rimersburg was duly incor- 
porated as a borough. James Pinks was one of the first councilmen. The 
borough, as originally laid out, was a rectangle three hundred rods long by 
one hundred rods wide, the general direction being south-southeast. Pre- 
vious to 1862 the dead of the community were interred in the Bethesda grave- 
yard of the Presbyterian Church, near town, and in the burying-grounds be- 
longing to the Methodist Reformed and Associate Presbyterian congregations 
within the borough limits. In the year named Peter Switzer, Abram Pro- 
basco, Samuel Hosey, R. Klingensmith. David Crick, John Arner. sr., James 
Feely, and perhaps some others, formed a company, bought a tract 'of land 
northeast of town, and laid it out in lots for a general cemetery. Shortly 
afterwards the cemetery association was incorporated by law. and either by 
the incorporation act, or by a borough ordinance, further interments within 
the borough limits were prohibited. Many of the dead in the Methodist and 
Reformed grave-yards were raised and reinterred in the cemetery, since 
which these grounds have not been used, and are now in a shamefu'uy ne- 
glected condition. As the burying ground of the Associate Presbyterian 
congregation was so near the borough limits the members of that denomina- 
tion strongly objected to abandoning it. and made a strenuous effort to have 
their grave-yard cut out of the borough. Considerable feeling and strife was 
thereby engendered, the town council and the majority of the citizens strongly 
opposing the proposed measure. To the surprise and chagrin of their oppo- 
nents the Associate Presbyterians finally gained their point, securing a special 
act of the Legislature (passed April 14, 1863), by which " the fines of the 
borough of Rimersburg are . . . so changed as to exclude the grave-yard of 
the associate congregation of Cherry Run Church and the lot of John Boyls 
from said borough limits, and include the said grave-yard and lot of John Boyls 
within the township of Toby , from which they were taken." This change 

1 Caldwell's atlas, p. 9. 



594 History of Clarion County. 

rendered the northern boundary of the borough irregular in a very pecuHar 
way. 

Selection of Name. — Originally, the southern part of the village was known 
as Pinksville, and the northern end as Rimersburg. When a name was to be 
selected for the whole town when incorporated, there arose quite a controversy 
in the matter. One party desired to retain the name Pinksville. Others pro- 
posed Sloansville, in honor of Colonel Levi Sloan. A third party claimed that 
the town should be called Rimersburg, after its earliest settler, John Rimer. 

Several accounts are current explanatory of the final selection of the name. 
Some say that it was a compromise between the claims of the Sloan and Pinks 
factions. Another, and probably the correct version of the matter, is that the 
name Rimersburg was chosen because the consumers of Rimer's old rye whis- 
key were more numerous and influential than the patrons of the Pinksville 
post-office and the customers at James Pinks's store. However that may be, 
the present generation of Rimers are among our most respected and temperate 
citizens, and our town has been for years an example of practical prohibition. 

School-houses. — In early times there were two school-houses in or near the 
present borough limits — one was called Benn's school-house, and stood near 
where Mr. Thomas Wilson's house now stands; the other, built in 1835, proba- 
bly before the erection of Benn's school- house, was known as Jackson's school- 
house. This occupied nearly the site of the present Reformed Church. It was 
a rude structure of logs, with a gable towards the Lawsonham road. In the 
one end was an immense fire-place. It had a rough puncheon floor, and seats 
of slabs. Along the walls were ranged high seats for the writing pupils, part 
of whom faced the walls, seated at rude desks made of a flattened log resting 
upon pins inserted in the timbers of the building. This building had glazed 
windows, and not, as the " County Atlas " states, merely sashes filled with 
greased paper. The window in front was a regular double sash window, while 
the other sides were lighted by a double row of panes of glass, set in immov- 
able sash extending nearly the whole length of the sides of the room. 

In the first public school was erected on the back street. It con- 
tained two rooms, and was built of logs. 

In 1875 this building was replaced by a neat weather-boarded building, 
painted white, containing two rooms, and equipped with patent desks. The 
location, however, is most unfortunate, being on the back street, in close prox- 
imity to stables and other uninviting surroundings. 

Clarion Collegiate Institute. — Shortly prior to 1858, the people of the 
Reformed Church in this section of country, proposed the establishment of a 
classical academy. Several sites were proposed, among others Curllsville and 
New Bethlehem. However, as a larger amount of money was contributed for 
the proposed institution by the people of Rimersburg and adjacent neighbor- 
hood, and as Rimersburg was then a thriving and growing village, being on 



RiMERSBURG BOROUGH. 595 



the principal thoroughfare of the county, the school was located here and 
named Clarion Collegiate Institute. 

In the spring of 1858 the school was opened, with Rev. Lucian Cort, A. M., 
as principal, and until the Institute building was ready for occupancy, was con- 
ducted in the Reformed Church near by. In 1859 the Institute was incorpo- 
rated under a liberal charter from the State. In 1871 a new charter was 
granted. 

July 6, 1859, the corner-stone of the building was laid, on which occasion 
Rev. Henry Harbaugh, of blessed memory, delivered an address on Christian- 
ity and Mental Development. In i860 the building was completed, and was 
immediately occupied by the school. The first catalogue, issued in that year, 
shows that one hundred and six pupils had been in attendance during the year 
1859-60. At this time Rev. Abner Dale was associated with Mr. Cort as a 
co-principal. In the winter of 1860-61, on account of failing health, Mr. Dale 
severed his connection with the school and congregation, and in the following 
spring Mr. Cort also resigned, entering pastoral work for a while, but soon 
engaging again in educational work elsewhere. 

Rev. Joseph H. Apple (now D. D.), was his immediate successor. For 
nine years, years of discouragement and trial, for it was the time of the civil 
war, which depleted the attendance in institutions of learning everywhere, Dr. 
Apple stood at the head of the school, and during this time did noble and 
successful work. Many of his students exchanged their books and gowns for 
swords and muskets, while many others turned their energies to the work of 
teaching, or entered the gospel ministry. 

Rev. Charles Knepper was next entrusted with the care of the school. 
For a while the school prospered, and a paper, The Collegiate MontJily, was 
published. Serious difficulties between principal and students were engen- 
dered, and these resulted in the establishment of a rival academy in the public 
school building, and finally in the retirement of Mr. Knepper from his position, 
after two years' service. 

For about a year the regular management was temporarily suspended,^ 
and a private school was carried on by Mr. R. B. Huey, who rented the build- 
ing for this purpose. 

In the spring of 1873 Rev. J. J. Pennepacker, A. M., became principal, and 
conducted the school successfully for several years until a severe personal 
injury compelled him to relinquish his work. He was succeeded in 1874 by 
Professor A. J. Davis, later superintendent of public schools of Clarion county, 
and at present principal of the new State Normal School at Clarion. Mr. Da- 
vis continued in charge until November i, 1880, and at times was assisted by 
enthusiastic and able instructors, among whom may be mentioned Rev. Pen- 
nepacker; Dr. J. T. Rimer, now of Curllsville ; Rev. A. Fleming, now rector of 

1 At this time the Classis decided to abandon the school, and ordered the property to be sold. 



596 History of Clarion County. 

the Episcopal Church at North East, Erie county ; Mr. W. A. Beer, of Cal- 
lensburg, and others. During the incumbency of Professor Davis the school was 
prosperous and considerable repairs were made. Rev. J. J. Pennepacker be- 
came principal again at the close of the year 1880, and occupied that position 
until in January, 1882, he resigned and entered the pastoral work. 

For nearly a year the school was closed, and the buildings were becoming 
dilapidated, and the grounds sadly neglected. In October, 1883, a call was 
extended to Rev. W. W. Deatrick, A. M., to become principal. He accepted 
the call, reopened the institution January 7, 1884, and has remained at its head 
from that time to the present. 

The school now enjoys an unusual degree of prosperity. Very extensive 
repairs have been made to the building, both on the exterior and on the inte- 
rior. The beautiful natural grove in which the institute stands has been im- 
proved and beautified. Within the last few years an extensive and valuable 
collection of mineral and other specimens has been gathered, a library of nearly 
five hundred volumes has been acquired, and other important improvements 
have been made. 

The institute building is a three-story structure, forty by sixty feet, sur- 
mounted by a cupola. The lower floor is occupied as a residence by the prin- 
cipal, the second is devoted to recitation-rooms, and the third contains the 
dormitories of the students. 

The institution is owned and controlled by Clarion Classis of the Reformed 
Church, and is managed by a board of trustees appointed by that body, yet 
the school is not sectarian ; students are admitted irrespective of their denomi- 
national relations. As now constituted the board of trustees consists of Rev. 
J. F. Wiant, president ; Rev. W. W. Deatrick, secretary and treasurer ; Rev. 
R. C. Bowling ; Rev. David B. Lady ; and Mr. Philip Bittenbender. 

C/tJirches. — There are four religious denominations represented in the town 
by organized congregations and church edifices. There are the Associate 
Presbyterians, Reformed, Methodist Episcopal, and Presbyterian. 

Associate Presbyterian Church. — ^The Associate Presbyterian Church ad- 
joins a pleasant grove in the northern part of the village. Rev. Robert Bruce, 
resident within a short distance of Rimersburg, is pastor. 

The Reformed Church is a brick building situated on the west side of Main 
street, just north of the ground of the Clarion Collegiate Institute. The con- 
gregation known as the Jerusalem congregation, was organized early in 1841 
by Rev. Henry Koch, out of material previously belonging to the church at 
Curllsville. For some years the congregation worshiped at Arner's school- 
house about three-quarters of a mile north of Rimersburg. Rev. Koch served 
them for several years until his death, August 7, 1845. I^i 1846 Rev. Hofi"- 
man took charge. He was succeeded in 1848 by Rev. L. D. Leberman. The 
church building was erected in this year. Rev. Leberman remained a year, 



RiMERSBURG BOROUGH. 597 



and was followed by Rev. George Wolff, who served this people some five 
years. Rev. N. E. Gills entered upon the pastorate as his successor, March, 
1854. In June, 1856, Rev. J. G. Shoemaker became pastor, continuing in 
that relation until in June, i860, the congregation was erected into a separate 
charge. Rev. Abner Dale served the new charge for about six months. Early 
in 1 86 1 Rev. Joseph H. Apple became pastor, and continued at the head of 
the church and of the Clarion Collegiate Institute, of which he was principal, 
until near the close of 1869. Rev. C. Knepper ministered to the congregation 
during 1870 and 1871. For three years the charge was vacant until Decem- 
ber, 1874, when Rev. J. J. Pennepacker became pastor. This arrangement 
held until in 1879, when the congregation was again joined to the Curllsville 
charge, with Rev. John M. Evans, as pastor, who in his turn was followed by 
Rev. David B. Lady, who since the beginning of 1885 has ministered to the 
spiritual necessities of the people. The congregation now numbers over one 
hundred adult members. 

Methodist Church.— T\\q Methodist Episcopal Church, also on the west side 
of Main street, is somewhat south of the center of town. This is a neat frame 
structure of considerable size, and surmounted by a cupola containing a sweet- 
toned bell. 

The history 1 of this society dates back to 18 17, when a class was organ- 
ized at the house of John Lawson on the road leading to Lawsonham, near the 
lime quarry. Meetings were held in private houses until 1832, when a log 
church was built about one-half mile east of Rimersburg, on lands then owned 
by John Bingham, who gave to the society thirty acres of land. On part of 
this ground was a grave-yard used for many years, but of it there is now little 
or no trace, the land having passed into other hands, and being under cultiva- 
tion. In 1840, under the pastorate of Rev. R. Peck, a new church was com- 
menced near where the present church stands, but was not completed until 
1848, under the pastorate of Rev. G. F. Reeser. In this building the congre- 
gation continued to worship until 1871, when the present church was built and 
dedicated under the pastorate of Rev. W. M. Taylor. The old building was 
bought by Mr. Alfred Warren, who had it removed across the street and fitted 
up for a town hall. 

The society has been served by the following named pastors : James Bab- 
cock, Nathan Callender, John C. Ayers, John Johnson, Job Wilson, Abner 
Jackson. A. C. Barnes, John Scott, C. Morrison, S. W. Ingram, Lewis Janney, 
J. W. Hill, J. K. Hallock, J. F. Hill, F. Guthrie, R. Peck, I. (?) Mershon, j! 
Mortimer, John Graham, J. W. Klock, S. C. Churchill, D. H. Jack, Thomas. 
Benn, H. M. Chamberlain, J. Hildebrand, G. F. Reeser, J. R. Lyon, A. Keller, 
J. Whippo, J. Crum, S. Hollen, R. A. Crathers, D. M. Stever, J. G. Thomp- 
son, G. W. Moore, J. K. Mendenhall, R. Beaty, G. Dunmire, S. Coon, B. 



66 



1 This sketch is from data furnished by Rev, Clinton Jones. 



598 History of Clarion County. 

Marsteller, C. M. Heard, T. Graham, A. D. Davis, J. J. Bentley, R. B. Boyd, 
P. W. Scofield, W. M. Taylor, J. M. Zelie, E. R. Knapp, R. Peete, J. C. Mc- 
Donald, J. A. Hovis, Levi Beers, and since 1886, the present pastor, Clinton 
Jones. 

The congregation is united in a circuit with the societies at Lavvsonham, 
Sandy Hollow, Phillipsburg, and Wattersonville. 

Presbyterian Church. — The Presbyterian Church is near the southern end 
of town on the west side of Main street also. It is a frame, weather- boarded, 
white-painted building. The church is known as the Bethesda Church. 

The history of the congregation dates from 1834, when a Sunday-school 
was organized by a Rev. Mr. Andrews, a missionary of the American Sunday- 
school Union. The school was first held in a school-house near Sandy Hol- 
low, Madison township. Mr, Alexander McCain was the first superintendent. 
The Sunday-school was moved from place to place until the erection of the 
Bethesda Presbyterian Church, where it has been held ever since, except when, 
for a short time previous to the removal of the church edifice to Rimersburg, 
it was held in the latter place. Though started as a union school, it has 
always been under Presbyterian management, and the school led to the organ- 
ization of the congregation. 

May 19, 1836, the Bethesda Presbyterian congregation was organized in 
connection with the Allegheny Presbytery, by Rev. John Core, with thirty- 
five members. In 1841 a church edifice, a frame building, was erected about 
a mile west of Rimersburg, where there is a burying ground which has been 
used from that time to the present. 

About 1862 the building was moved to Rimersburg and placed in its pres- 
ent position. In 1886 repairs were made which enhanced the appearance of 
the building quite considerably. 

The first trustees of the church were Isaac Hull, S. T. Kerr, John Morris, 
and James L. Armstrong, and the first ruling elders were James Patton, Alex- 
ander McCain, and William Rankin. 

The following ministers have served the congregation : Revs. John Core, 
J. Coulter (twice), John Glenn, Abram Boyd, Dr. Young, John Turbet — these 
from the organization to 1840; since then the following: Revs. McGarrah, 
Montgomery, D. McCay, L. Greer, Crane, Moor, Sherrard, Simpson, Hawk, 
W. C. Beebe, T. S. Negley, and W. J. Wilson, the last being in charge at 
present. 

In connection with this church there is a Women's Missionary Society, 
which is deserving of notice as being in existence for over fifty years. Organ- 
ized February 27, 1837, it celebrated its semi-centennial in February, 1887. 
Mrs. Matilda Sawyers, the present president, has occupied that position unin- 
terruptedly for twenty years. 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows. — The Independent Order of Odd Fel- 



RiMERSBURG BOROUGH. 599 



lows have a lodge and hall in town. The lodge is known as Iron County 
Lodge No. 485, and was instituted May 20, 1853, in a room in the tan-house 
owned by Major Reed. This room was occupied until December, 1865, at 
which time the new lodge building was ready for occupancy. The hall, which 
is a neat frame building on Main street, near the center of the town, was dedi- 
cated January 17, 1866. From 1853 to 1887 about eight hundred members 
have been initiated into the order by this lodge. Six other lodges sprang into 
existence and drew a large part of their membership from this body. Some 
prominent men, as Revs. O. M. Sacket, J. C. McDonald, J. C. Rhodes, and 
John P. Norman, were initiated in this lodge; also the following gentlemen, 
who have held official positions in the county: Johnson Wilson, ex-commis- 
sioner; David McClay, ex-State senator; J. H. Wilson, present State senator ; 
also Major Newlen, iron dealer and furnace master, as well as other business 
and professional men. 

In the same building are held the meetings of Phoebe Lodge No. 123, of 
the Daughters of Rebecca. This lodge has been in existence some three or 
four years. 

Rimersburg is also the headquarters of the Rimersburg Anti-Horsethief 
Association. This society was organized July 16, 1883, and meets annually 
on the afternoon of the first Tuesday in March. At the organization the 
membership was small ; the roll at present contains the names of eighty-seven 
members. 

Business Houses. — Rimersburg now contains four general merchandise 
stores, those of W. H. Craig & Co., John Snyder, John Arner, and Alfred 
Warren. Mr. J. R. Wick, for many years postmaster, deals in groceries ; S. 
H. Raster & Brother have a well stocked hardware store, and do an extensive 
business in the sale of farming implements ; drugs are dispensed by J. W. 
Kerr and by Samuel Arner, M. D. ; there is a millinery and mantua-making 
establishment carried on by Mrs. B. Mcllhenny. From September, 1876, to 
September, 1879, a bank, known as the Farmers' Deposit Bank, was in opera- 
tion ; but since the latter date the town has been without any institution of 
the kind. The Western Union Telegraph has lines passing through the town, 
and an office located in John Snyder's store and operated by Mr. William D. 
Snyder. William Stopp and William Ditty are justices of the peace. 

Manufactories. — In former days there were two tanneries in active opera- 
tion in the town, one where 'Squire Stopp's blacksmith-shop now stands, 
erected by Reynolds Pinks, and afterwards owned and operated by Major P. 
Reed, lately deceased, and the other owned and operated by Mr. Pinks, on 
the lot of ground in the rear of the residence of Mr. George W. Wilson. 

Some time in the sixties a steam grist-mill was built by James Dickey, at 
the eastern edge of the town, on the road leading to the coal works. After 
running about eight years, and having passed into the possession of the Messrs. 



6oo History of Clarion County. 

Abrams, it was pulled down in 1873 and removed to Bear Creek, where it 
shortly afterwards was destroyed by fire. 

The principal manufactories of the town are the furniture and undertaking 
establishment of John E. McGuigan, and the foundry of S. H. Kaster & Brother. 
The foundry was established about 1855, and at present does a considerable 
business, producing a large annual output of plows, stoves, grates, and other 
castings. J. M. Steltzer carries on the manufacture of wagons in connection 
with his blacksmithing business. 

Mines. — Underlying the town are thick veins of excellent bituminous coal, 
which, outcropping in the ravines east of town, are extensively mined, both 
for home consumption and for shipment to foreign points. The nearest mine 
is within half a mile of the borough limits, and is generally known as the Sligo 
Branch Coal Company's mines. 

Professional Men. — Besides Rev. Jones, pastor of the Methodist Church, 
Rev. Boyd McCullough, provisional pastor of the Cherry Run U. P. Church, 
and Rev. Deatrick, principal of the Clarion Collegiate Institute, the professional 
men of the town are Rev. Samuel Coon, local preacher of the Methodist 
Church, and Messrs. John H. Hepburn and D. E. Wiles, doctors of medicine. 
Dr. Callihan for a number of years was a practicing physician here, until his 
removal to California several years ago. Dr. E. D. Sharpe also practiced 
medicine here for some years, until his death in 1876. The post of the Grand 
Army of the Republic of Rimersburg was named after Dr. Sharpe. Among 
the other physicians, resident and practicing in Rimersburg, were Drs. Elliott, 
William Wick, Skeer, Kelley, Graff, Norman, McDowell, McCandless, and 
Limberg. 



CHAPTER LXIX. 

HISTORY OF ST. PETERSBURa BOROUGH. 1 

THE land now included within the limits of the borough of St. Petersburg, 
in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, was granted by the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania by letters patent under the great seal of the State, in the year 
1794 to Jared Ingersoll, John Adlum, Alexander James Dallas, Charles Swift, 
and Benjamin Chew. They afterward sold it to Richard Peters, of Philadel- 
phia. He sold it to Daniel Ashbaugh, Daniel Snyder, and Mr. Moyer. By 
and by the place had several dwellings, and began to have the appearance of 
a village. It was then called Petersburg, in honor of Judge Peters, former 

1 By C. F. McNutt. 



St. Petersburg Borough. 6oi 

owner of the land. This name it retained until the post-office was established 
in 1862, when it was changed to St. Petersburg, to distinguish it from another 
post-office in the State. The village is situated on the P. and W. railroad, 
about two miles east of Foxburg, and was a part of Richland township until 
February, 1872, when by a decree of the Court of Clarion county, it became a 
borough. The court appointed Barney Vensel, judge, and Nelson Vensel and 
Daniel Whitling, inspectors, to hold the first election in the borough on the 
23d day of February, 1872. The following borough officers were elected at 
that time : Burgess, Barney Vensel; councilmen. Nelson Vensel, G. H. Fur- 
rel, Joel Fink, Daniel Whitling. and Charles Wilton ; school directors, Elias 
Ritts, M. C. Booth, Joel Fink, D. S. Herron, and Mr. Dittman ; justices of the 
peace, William Steffe and C. Reichard ; poor overseers, J. Johnson and Mr, 
Wilcox ; constable, Charles Sipler ; judge of election. Till Jackson. D. S. 
Herron, Joel Fink, and C. Wilton drafted the borough ordinances. 

First Settlers. — The first settler in what is now included within the limits 
of St. Petersburg borough, was Daniel Snyder, who came from Westmoreland 
county and built a log house in the northeastern part of the borough in 1820. 
He followed farming hpre until 1843, when he sold his place to Henry Steiner 
who afterwards sold it to John Boam. Philip Foust bought it from Boam in 
1847. Daniel Ashbaugh and Mr. Moyer settled near here soon after Mr. 
Snyder came. 

In 1836 Charles Sipler came from Allentown and settled where Fox's man- 
sion now stands, and in 1843 came to St. Petersburg, where he still lives. He 
is a stone mason by trade, but also followed farming and lumbering during 
part of his time. 

His mother, Catharine Sipler, bought four acres of land in what is now the 
borough, and erected thereon the first hotel in the town, in 1844. It was built 
on the present site of the St. Petersburg House. During the same year Samuel 
Laughner, a carpenter, came to the town, but moved to Salem township in 
a few years. Charles Ritts also came to the borough that year, built a log 
house, cleared some land, and afterwards engaged in farming. 

Lewis Collner was born at Eltman, Germany, in 181 1, and there in his 
youth worked at the shoemaker trade for forty cents a week. At the age of 
twenty-six he started to America with his kit of tools on his back, walking six 
hundred miles to the seaport on the Mediterranean. When he arrived in New 
York with scarcely enough money to pay one night's lodging, he commenced 
work at his trade at fifteen dollars a month, and soon afterwards started west, 
arriving at St. Petersburg September 10, 1837, where he has lived and been an 
influential citizen ever since. In 1849 ^^ built a stone house, with dwelling 
and store-room combined. His was the second store in the place. The build- 
ing was destroyed by fire in 1873. During the same year, the brick store now 
owned by his boys, was built. He had seven sons, all of whom are living at 



6o2 History of Clarion County. 

present in St. Petersburg, except William F., who was elected sheriff of Clarion 
county in 1879, and prothonotary in 1884. Mr. Collner owned several farms 
in the vicinity, and during the excitement operated extensively in the oil bus- 
iness. He has been quite successful financially. 

John Vensel, with his family, which then and afterwards included Nelson^ 
Charley, Hannah (Ashbaugh), Amanda, Albert, John, jr., Phoebe, Agnes, and 
Washington, came to Petersburg, erected buildings and started the first store in 
that place in 1848. His brother, Barney, became a clerk in the store in 1850, 
and subsequently became owner of it. Barney Vensel was the first postmaster 
in St. Petersburg; was elected county treasurer in 1870, and a member of the 
Pennsylvania Legislature in 1884; also has filled various borough offices, and 
was engaged extensively in the oil business during the excitement. 

Peter Jackson came from Berks county. Pa., to Petersburg on December 
10, 1836. He cleared thirty acres in part of the borough where Joel Fink 
now lives; was superintendent of the Sunday-school from 1851 to 1873, and 
was nineteen years an elder of the German Reformed Church of St. Peters- 
burg. He organized and superintended the first Sunday-school in his village. 
Mr. Jackson kept a correct record of the dead buried in the Union grave-yard 
until 1883. His record shows that the first person interred there was a child 
in 1811, and from that time until 1883 eleven hundred persons have been 
buried therein. 

Daniel Whitling came to Petersburg in 1858, and started, the same year, 
the first jewelry store in the town. He has been engaged in that business ever 
since. At the time he started his store there were twenty-eight houses in the 
village. 

Oil Movements. — In 1871 the first oil well in this vicinity was drilled at 
Antwerp by Hughlings & Co. It produced three hundred barrels per day. 
On hearing this report people flocked to St. Petersburg from all directions,, 
swelling the town to overflowing. Building was commenced extensively, and 
on a more substantial plan than in most oil towns. The first well in the 
borough was drilled within the limits of the race course by Alonzo Goss and 
Tip Johnston in 1871. It produced about twenty barrels per day. Near the 
same time another well was drilled below the railroad depot, but not much oil 
was found in it, still drilling and testing was continued. The surrounding ter- 
ritory proved to be more productive than that included in the borough. The 
greatest producing well in the borough yielded eighty barrels per day. It was 
located beside the school building. 

There were two boiler-houses erected, and also numerous stores, saloons, 
boarding-houses, etc., kept in active operation for a few years, but many of 
them have since been abandoned. There were two papers printed here during 
the excitement, TJie Progress, edited by M. Goughler & Bro., and the Daily 
Press, edited by Mr. Tozer. Water works were completed in 1873, and a 



w \ 




St. Petersburg Borough. 603 

fire company had been organized a short time before. The outfit was found 
to be incomplete without a lock-up for the " tuffs." Accordingly one was 
built, and many a straggler got his lodging there and paid his bill in the morn- 
ing. The first victim was R. Houston, the man who built it. Oil was then 
selling at about four dollars per barrel, with fluctuations. Common day labor- 
ers received three and four dollars per day. Drillers and mechanics received 
from four to six dollars per day for their services. Money was plenty, and 
business was booming. In 1873 the town reached its maximum in popula- 
tion, containing between four thousand and five thousand inhabitants, about 
four times the present population. 

Fires. — The first fire occurred October 10, 1872, at eight o'clock in the 
morning. It broke out at the east end of the town at the house of Mr. Patton, 
who had rented it to four families. There were nine houses burned, two torn 
down, and one rolled over the hill. 

The second fire broke out at the west end of the town, at half past six 
o'clock on the evening of February 21, 1873, starting in Fred Hepp's saloon, 
adjoining the opera house. In an instant the entire building was in flames, 
which shot high into the air, enveloping the opera house in a sheet of fire from 
end to end. The European House adjoining it took fire, also the Boston 
clothing house. Hall's restaurant, Seymour & Taylor's hardware store, Mat 
Colwell's billiard room, William Richard's barber shop, Michalisky's dry goods 
store, Wilson's dry goods store, Jamestown clothing store, Mr. Ritt's dwelling, 
Johringer's jewelry store, Wilcox & Butt's furniture store, J. H. Welsh's 
wholesale liquor store, post-ofiice, and Smith Cook's new residence. On the 
opposite side of the street the fire commenced with the Savings Bank, spread- 
ing eastward to Barney Vensel's office and residence, thence to the store of R. 
W. De Haven, and to St. Petersburg Hotel, then jumped across a wide street 
and caught Lewis CoUner's residence^ then leaped two hundred feet to D. 
Herron's office, taking the entire row of buildings to the Progress ofifice. By 
the noble efforts of the fire department, and the aid of thousands of people 
who flocked from Antwerp, Turkey City, Richmond, and Foxburg, the fire 
was extinguished, but not until it had destroyed nearly the entire business 
part of the town, together with many fine residences. In all about forty 
houses were destroyed. The loss amounted to $200,000. The burnt portion 
of the town was rapidly rebuilt. So great was the business activity that new 
lumber was hauled upon the dying embers. 

Another fire occurred in April, 1881. Several temporary houses, most of 
them vacant, were burned, but as no important buildings were included, the 
loss was consequently not heavy. 

In May, 1884, the small school-house and the Presbyterian Church were 
burned. They were not rebuilt. 

Bank. — St. Petersburg Savings Bank, the first and only one in the bor- 



6o4 History of Clarion County. 

ough, was established in February, 1872. Hon. John W. Hammond, of Erie, 
was president ; Hon. John Fertig, of Titusville, was vice-president ; and Chas. 
Horton, of North East, was cashier. Horton died in July, 1873, at which time 
John V. Ritts, was made cashier, and has held the position ever since. Ham- 
mond died in 1880, and Elias Ritts became president, which position he still 
holds. The bank was burned in the big fire of 1873, and immediately rebuilt 
on the same location. During the palmy days of the oil excitement, this bank 
did a large and profitable business ; their deposits ranging over $700,000 for 
a time, and their journal often footing over $i,000,000 daily. During the 
financial panic of 1884, when the Marine Bank of New York, Penn Bank of 
Pittsburgh, and many others failed completely, this bank suspended for about 
sixty days. The stockholders arranged with the creditors, and at the expira- 
tion of that time re-opened the doors, and have since been doing a regular 
banking business. 

Hotels. — There were several hotels in St. Petersburg at the time of the oil 
excitement, but for these pages, only the two existing at present will be 
detailed. 

As has already been referred to, Mrs. Catharine Sipler built on the present 
site of St. Petersburg House, the first hotel in the town, in 1844. She sold it 
to Barney Vensel in 1855. It afterwards became the property of William 
Goughler, who sold it to Daniel Whitling, in 1870. During the same summer 
Mr. Whitling sold it to Balliard & Dutt. Balliard died soon afterward, and 
Dutt became sole owner. The old one being burned in 1873, he erected the 
building that is there now in 1874, and subsequently sold it to Aikens & My- 
ers. Later Mr. Aikens became sole owner, and in 1885 sold it to Samuel 
Bostaph, in whose possession it remains at present. As it passed through the 
hands of the different owners, important additions and improvements have 
been made from time to time. 

The Adams House took its name from Charles Adams, the owner, who first 
used the building for a hotel. He sold it to Blakeslee Brothers in 1871, and 
they afterwards sold it to King & Myers. Prior to the fire of 1873, in which 
it was consumed, King became sole owner. After the fire he built on the same 
location a one-story house, and raised it another story in 1875. John Farr 
bought it at sheriff's sale in 1880, and sold it in 1886, to Charles Crossgrove, 
the present owner^and landlord. 

Schools. — The first school-house in St. Petersburg was built of stone, in 
1846, and stood on the present site of the Lutheran Church. However, school 
had been kept for two or^three years immediately preceding this in a log house 
built by Charles Sipler, for a dwelling. It stood where Myers's store now 
stands. Reuben Delo and Charles Haas were the teachers therein. The sec- 
ond house was built on Church street north of the present building in 1859. 
A second room was added thereto in 1873, and both were burned in the spring 




^S^It/SSBaTrs SoT-j. 2Si»"i" 




St. Petersburg Borough. 605 

of 1875. During the ensuing summer the present building containing four 
rooms was erected. In 1874 a school-house was built in the west end of the 
town, but was moved alongside the Presbyterian Church, near the large school- 
building, in 1 88 1, and used as room No. 5, for the advanced grade. It was 
burned in May, 1884. 

For several years select schools have been taught here during the summer 
vacations, usually under the supervision of the winter-term principals. Much 
excellent and thorough work has been done, and the schools have reached a 
high degree of proficiency. Part of their success is due to the efforts of Dr. I. 
J. Wireback, a citizen and director, who has taken an active interest in their 
welfare. He delights in the study of mathematics, and has done much toward 
cultivating in the school a taste for his favorite study. Other citizens and 
directors have also been quite active in the interests of the schools. 

CJiJirches. — When Judge Peters sold his tract of land in what is now the 
borough, he gave a portion of it to the German Reformed and Lutheran 
Churches, for the sum of one dollar. The graveyard is included in this tract. 
The German Reformed and Lutherans built a union church on their property 
in 1835. 

The Reformed congregation of Petersburg was organized in 1835 by Rev. 
George Koch. After a time, there being some dissatisfaction in the union, the 
■Reforms withdrew, and built a stone church in 1854. This building becoming 
somewhat dilapidated, it was torn down and the present brick building was 
erected in 1877. After Rev. Koch died, Rev. H. Hoffman, was pastor during 
1846-55 ; L. D. Leberman, 1856-58 ; J. S. Shade, 1858-65 ; D. O. Shoemaker, 
1865-73 ; when the charge was divided into Beaver and St. Petersburg. Of 
the latter charge Rev. D. W. Wolf was pastor during 1873-76; W. C. Shall- 
enbarger, 1876-83; and S. J. Beam, since March, 1885. 

The Lutheran congregation at St. Petersburg was organized in 1838 by 
Rev. George Ehrenfelt. They used the union church as a house of worship 
until 1873, when they erected the building occupied at present. Their pastors 
were Revs. J. B. Fox, Kline, and Titzell, 

The Methodist congregation was organized in 1872 by Rev. Fay. Their 
building was erected soon afterwards. Among their prominent workers are 
Welman, Murphy, Fritz, and others. 

The Catholic congregation at St. Petersburg M^as organized by Father J. 
P. Smith, and their church was built in 1877. Father J. P. Smith, of Emlen- 
ton, is their present pastor. 

The Presbyterian congregation built a church in 1876 on the site of the 
school-house that had been burned. This church building was consumed by 
fire, May i, 1884, and not rebuilt. 

Miss Alice E. Allen, Charles Sipler, M. E. Lougnaker, and Peter Jackson, 
assisted courteously in obtaining data relating to the history of St. Petersburg. 

67 



6o6 History of Clarion County. 



CHAPTER LXX. 

HISTORY OF SALEM TOWNSHIF.i 

SALEM township was erected in 1856, from parts of Richland and Beaver 
townships. It is bounded on the north by Venango county and Ashland 
township ; on the east by Beaver township ; on the south by Beaver and Rich- 
land townships, and on the west by Venango county. The length from east 
to west is about five miles; the breadth is nearly four miles; area, about six- 
teen square miles. 

The drainage is effected by five small streams. The northern part is 
drained by Mill Creek and its tributaries into the Allegheny River. The 
southwestern arm is drained by a stream, in the act erecting the county called 
ShuU's Run, now called Richey Run. The central and eastern parts are 
drained by the head waters of Turkey and Beaver Creeks, into the Clarion 
River. The drainage of the township is good, considering the lay of the land. 

The land is rolling, but there are only three high hills in the township. 
Two of these — the Beels and Dittman hills — are on the northwestern bound- 
ary. The other is a high knob in the northeastern part, called the Kline Hill. 
The Beels Hill is the highest point in the township, as leveled from the steeple 
of the Salem Lutheran Church. 

The pursuits of the people have been very stable. The most of them have 
always been engaged in farming and stock raising. The finest and most pro- 
ductive farms of Clarion county He in the western and central parts of Salem 
township. These farms are mostly small in extent, which perhaps explains 
the fact that they are under the most thorough state of cultivation. The yield 
of oats is from forty to eighty bushels per acre. The corn yield is generally 
about one hundred bushels in the ear per acre. One season W. P. Finley 
raised one hundred and fifty bushels of corn per acre. The wheat yield ranges 
from fifteen to twenty-five bushels per acre. In 1884 P- M. Neely's thirteen- 
acre field averaged thirty-four bushels per acre. This land also yields heavy 
crops of grass. 

The soil is of many different kinds. In the western part it is mostly lime- 
stone clay. There are a few chestnut ridges and a few farms of slate-land. 
Generally, the soil of the township is naturally productive, as proven by the 
much fine timber that has grown upon it, especially oak ; still much attention 
is given to fertilizing. A great deal of lime is burned. All manures are care- 
fully used. Some fertilizers are imported. The farmers have all taken advan- 
tage of all the improvment and invention of agricultural implements. All 
sowing and most reaping is done by machinery. There are six self-binders, 
beside many other reapers in the township. 

1 By C. E. Rugh, 



Salem Township. 



607 



In minerals Salem township is not over-productive, yet she has the good 
fortune of being able to supply herself for ages, perhaps forever. All the hills 
are underlaid with thin viens of coal, and the banks as yet are only fairly 
opened. The veins range in thickness from twenty inches to three feet. The 
heaviest vein is that called the Wenner vein in the Kline Hill. The next heav- 
iest is the Dittman vein. The Cromer Bank deserves mention, especially for 
the fine specimens of ferns and leaves found in the slate above the coal. 

The township is abundantly supplied with limestone of a superior quality. 
The veins range from five to sixteen feet in thickness. The tract of land of 
the McKee farm, underlaid with limestone, was leased by James Bennett, and 
a branch of the Narrow Gauge railroad run into it. This bank was extensively 
worked while this road was in operation, but now only supplies the farmers of 
the surrounding locality. The Rugh bank has been extensively worked for 
many years. 

In 1872 Rulings and Company drilled a well on the Delo farm, in the 
eastern part of the township, for oil. A forty-barrel well was struck, which 
raised an extensive excitement. Soon a number of wells was under headway 
on the Exley, Hummel, and Knappenbarger farms. Some good wells were 
struck, especially on Hummel farm. Many of the wells are yet producing. 
About the time of the Petersburg excitement, two wells were drilled on the 
Troutner farm. There was a good show for oil in both wells, but they were 
mismanaged and then abandoned. Other parts of the township have been 
tested, but the Delo tract has proved the only prolific one. 

A heavy gas well was struck on the Kurtz farm, but it was not used. The 
Nicholson well, on the Schefifer farm, had some oil, but was mismanaged in the 
torpedoing and had to be abandoned. 

In 1885 a well was drilled on the Cromer farm which produced only gas. 
It was bought by the Emlenton Gas Company. The same year (1885) Calvert 
drilled a well upon the P. M. Neely farm, which proved to be the most power- 
ful gas well then of the county. It was purchased by the Emlenton Gas Com- 
pany and carried to Emlenton in a three-inch line. The pressure now (1887) 
is forty pounds per square inch on the open line. 

In 1886 Myers Brothers drilled a well on the Myers farm, 2,300 feet deep, 
but found no oil and very little gas. 

The history of the early settlers is wrapped up in the past, perhaps never 
to be unfolded. Unfortunate for history the posterity of the most of the ear- 
liest settlers can not be found. We have no knowledge of any Indian settle- 
ments within the township, but we are sure that they frequented these parts, 
and reserved it for a hunting-ground. They camped along Sugar Run, espe- 
cially near the spring called the Kelley spring on the Rugh farm. There 
were many little knolls between the springs along the brow of the hill and the 
Run ; on these are little piles of stones called curly-backs, which have been 



6o8 History of Clarion County. 

burned. There are also many arrow-heads found in this ravine, especially 
small ones, which lead us to think that the Indians sometimes camped there. 
The early settlers remember when the Cornplanter Indians frequented this 
place. 

Mr. James B. McGinnis built the first house in 1803. Perhaps he was the 
first settler. Mr. Alexander McDonald soon after settled on the Shaner land. 
He was succeeded by a Mr. Burns. 

Mr. Daniel Cook improved the land now owned by E. B. Scheffer. 

Mr. David Beels settled on the farm now called the Herman Snyder place, 
in 1806. Mr. Beels was a German who smuggled his way on to a ship coming 
to America, and was not discovered for several days. When the ship arrived 
at Baltimore the captain sold him for his passage ; after serving out his time, 
he took up a home in Penn's Valley, where he was married. In 1806 he and 
his family, for they now had two children, emigrated to these parts on a wagon. 
The family stopped at Sligo, while Mr. Beels sought a location. Finding a 
fine lay of land, and finding no deed or article to cover it, he soon landed his 
family upon it, and began improving it. He afterwards was forced to abandon 
it. He then commenced improving the northwestern corner of the tract now 
comprising Salem township. 

Among other ea-rly settlers who deserve mention are Mr. James Pratt, 
though his first location in these parts was not within the limits of the town- 
ship. He arrived on the Corwin land on Hallow-eve night, 1806. His son 
William was born the same night. He soon afterward settled in Salem town- 
ship ; also Mr. Porter, Mr. Peter Downing, Mr. John Scheffer, Mr. William and 
Peter Hugh, and Mr. Snyder, et al. 

The history of the trials and hardships is the same as of all the pioneer 
fathers. Salt was a luxury. Their nearest store for some time was at Kittan- 
ning. One spring Mr. Beels had to dig up and eat his potatoes that he had 
planted. One summer the settlers had to live on greens, wild fruit and game, 
until the grain grew. 

The early settlers, like the Pilgrim Fathers, were conscious of the impor- 
tance of early training, and up to the time when the law established free schools, 
they established schools where they could unite and support them. The houses 
were of " long bricks," with paper windows, and a fire-place. 

The first school-house stood a little west from where Mr. William Scheffer's 
barn now stands. At present there are five districts — Salem, Sugar Valley, 
Delo, Pilgreheim, and Cross Roads, all furnished with fine new buildings, sup- 
plied with patent furniture. Each school is supplied with a fine set of reading 
charts and an encyclopaedia. In 1880, through the efforts of Dr. G. A. Knight 
and Mr. M. McGinnis, a building for a graded school was erected at Salem. 
It was a fine two-story building, well arranged and furnished. In the fall of 
1880 Professor N. Scheffer, a graduate of Theil College, opened the first term. 



Salem Township. 609 



His untiring efforts for two years placed his school on a good foundation. 
He left his school as principal to enter the ministry. Professor C. F. McNutt, 
a graduate of Edinboro, took charge of the school, and did splendid work. 
He resigned in the spring of 1884, to accept the office of county superintend- 
ent. During his last term he was assisted by Professor L. L. Himes, then of 
East Brady. Professor G. B. Johnston, of Lebanon, then took charge of the 
school. Under his management the school attained its maximum in numbers 
and interest. Rev. J. F. Hershiser assisted by teaching Latin and Greek. 
Professor Johnston was appointed by the government to take charge of a school 
in Alaska, which caused his resignation, taking effect January i, 1886. The 
term was finished by Professor S. W. McGarrah, of Grove City College. Pro- 
fessor W Lincoln McClure taught the term of 1886-87. 

The Salem Institute is supplied with the finest library of any common 
school of the county. It has a fine cabinet, gathered by the pupils and friends, 
also finely mounted specimens of all native woods. 

For a religious history, the reader is referred to the church history of the 
county, but the religious interest was apace with education. The first reli- 
gious services were under the management of the Presbyterians. Their first 
public service was held in the grove where the Brick or Richland Church now 
stands. Soon after the Methodists held services in Mr. Baker's barn and other 
places. 

In 1838 the Lutherans and German Reforms built a large church in Salem. 
They were in union for over a quarter of a century, when the German Reforms 
built a fine church in the south end of Salem. 

The Evangelical Lutherans built the finest building in the township in 
1875, at a cost of near $6,000. 

During the years 1874-5 the Evangelists built a small church at the cross- 
roads, in the northwestern part of the township. 

In 1873 the M. E. congregation built a large church. 

St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church was built at Pickwick. 

Churches and present pastors: Richland, Presbyterian, Rev. Elliot; Mt. 
Zion, Evangelist, Rev. Baumgardner ; Salem M. E., Rev. Laverty ; Salem, 
German Reform, Rev. Mackley ; Salem and St. Luke's, Evangelical Lutheran, 
Rev. Hershiser. 

The Laughner grist-mill is the first and only mill in the township. At 
present it is owned by Stephen Porter. 

W. B. M. Bashline and Samuel Sheakley operated a stave-mill, which was 
set up by the Messrs. Gates for a couple of years, until it burned. It was put 
in running order on the Conver place by Emanuel Lynn and Samuel Sheakley. 

Long & Weter erected a saw-mill near the first site of the stave-mill. Peter 
Sheakley and Harry King bought it and sawed a few seasons and then aban- 
doned it. 



6io History of Clarion County. 

In 1886 S. H. & C. H. Rossman built a saw-mill on Kurtz's land, near the 
Sugar Valley school-house, to saw up the hard wood timber in that section. 
They are doing a good thriving business. 

Among inventions deserving mention, are first, a cultivator by Mr. Philip 
Kribbs ; patented. 

Second, a plan for improved stabling, invented and patented in 1883 by Dr. 
G. A. Knight, of Salem. It is so arranged as to save money, time and labor, 
and shows thought and experience with cattle, and deserves the attention of 
wide awake farmers. 

Rev. McMichael, a Presbyterian minister, has written a few novels, one en- 
titled "The Minister's Daughter," and another entitled " Conneaute Lake." 

Salem township has furnished a county surveyor in the person of Dr. G. A. 
Knight in 1864. 

Mr. W. F. Collner was elected county sherift", and afterward prothonotary 
from Salem township. 

The doctors that have practiced in Salem township are in order, five : Dr. 
Meaker, Dr. Bower, Dr. Knight, Dr. Clover, and Dr. Fitzgerald. Dr. Clover 
deserves special mention as a surgeon. 

Lamartine is the only post-office now within the limits of the township. 
It was established in 185 1 or 1852. The first postmaster was Mr. Samnel 
Eshleman. It has changed hands seven times, and is now kept by Mr. J. M. 
Kurtz. 

Pickwick and Triangle were flourishing oil towns in the northeast part of 
the township. Now only a trace is left to show their location. Pilgreheim 
consists of a number of dwellings on the Shippenville road. 

Salem is the only town deserving of special mention. It has a population of 
213, who live in forty-five dwellings ; beside these buildings there are one hotel, 
one drug store, one doctor's ofiice, one millinery shop, two blacksmith shops, 
one meat shop, three carpenter shops, three dry goods and notion stores, two 
halls, the public school building, three large churches, and the post-of^ce. 
The first cleared land about Salem was four acres near Mr. Michael Lough- 
ner's barn, owned by John Heasley. Mr. James Piatt soon built the first 
building on this land. Thomas Herrington started the town by building a 
blacksmith shop about where Mr. J. M. Kurtz's dwelling stands. 

Mr. George Kribbs built the first store; Mr. Adam SchelTer, clerking. To 
say the least, Salem is a pleasant country town. The three churches furnish 
religious privileges unequaled in any town of the population of Salem. ]\Iucb 
attention is paid to education of all kinds. 



Sligo Borough. 6ii 



CHAPTER LXXI. 

HISTORY OF SLIGO BOROUGH.i 

THE territory embraced within the present Hmits of SHgo borough was set- 
tled at an early date, but by whom is not definitely known to the writer. 
The Craigs settled here early, and Richard Reynolds opened a store where 
A. B. Miller's house now stands. The furnace being built in 1845, made the 
furnace bank a lively village. The furnace used charcoal. It shipped its metal 
at Callensburg in boats on the Clarion. William Lyon, J. P. Lyon, and other 
gentlemen of wealth owned the furnace. The company had a store in connec- 
tion with the furnace and also several farms. 

About i860 or 1 861 the Western Union Telegraph Company established 
an office at this point, and in 1873 the Sligo Branch Railroad was built. Dur- 
ing war times, Sligo being a telegraph station, was a central point for gather- 
ing news from the field, and many an excited crowd assembled about the store 
and office in those days. 

The Lyon family lived in lordly style, and their houses and grounds, now 
owned by J. B. Miller, yet remain as monuments of their once proud state. 
Compared with the usual dwellings of those days, these houses were palaces, 
while their coachman and servants in attendance gave a southerly air to the 
surroundings, and even the employees of the store and offices affected to be 
hke their employers. The Lyon family were a genteel people. The work- 
men respected them as such, and when D. E. Lyon, the oldest son of J. P. 
Lyon, went into the army with Captain Ewing's company, the boys who went 
with him and their friends felt that a barrier between wealth and labor had 
been torn away. 

The new town of Sligo was laid out by the old furnace company in 187 1. 
Thomas Berrean, sr., built the first house in the new town. The company 
soon erected a new brick store building, now occupied by Hodil & Company, 
and in 1873 it erected the Sligo Hotel. Other buildings were soon erected, 
among which were the M. E. Church in 1873, and the Presbyterian Church in 
1873-4. About the same time the public school-house was erected. 

In 1878, on the 20th of September, the borough of Sligo was organized, 
with Dr. J. N. Bech as burgess, and John Anderson, D. C. Low, M. M. Con- 
rad, A. J. Switzer, Conrad Hahn, and George Wagner as council. J. B. Ayres 
was high constable, and J. M. Craig justice of the peace. 

The business houses at present are J. B. Miller & Son, Jacob Hodil, F. C. 
McEwen, J. F. C. Thomas, and George W. Craig in the general store business ; 
N. S. Coulter, drugs and groceries ; Conrad Hahn, boots and shoes, and John 
Hartle, watchmaker. 

1 By W. A. B. 



6i2 History of Clarion County. 

The blacksmith shops are Low's and Silvis's. M. Anderson and John 
Shrum have wagon shops. John P. Greer & Son, at the foundation of the 
new town, dealt extensively in hardware. J. B. Miller's new mill was erected 
in 1879. In 1874 an Odd Fellows' Lodge was established here, and held its 
meetings in the brick store. In 1886 the lodge fitted up a room in the Greer 
building and moved into it. The G. A. R. Post also meets in the same room. 

Near the railroad J. B. Miller has a fire-brick factory, where he manufac- 
tures and ships a great many fire-brick. These works were built in 1873. 

In 1864—5 ^ well was drilled for oil near the old furnace, and in 1886 
another was drilled up stream farther, near the railroad station. No oil was 
found, but a good vein of gas was struck, which is used for fuel and light. 
The well was purchased by J. B. Miller, who has laid lines to many of the 
houses in town. 

Rev. J. Mateer was the resident minister of the Presbyterian Church for 
several years. He was succeeded by Rev. W. J. Wilson, and later by Rev. 
J. M. McCurdy. The M. E. Church has had the following ministers : C. C. 
Hunt, Mr. Shepherd, D. C. Planett. S. J. Garnett, W. A. Baker, L. W. Show- 
ers, and Mr. Weldin. 

The medical men have been Dr. William Reichard, Dr. Fisher, Dr. J. N. 
Bech, Dr. McAuley, and Dr. Armstrong. 

At the time of Cleveland's election, Mr. Jaccb Hodil was postmaster at 
Sligo post-office. At the beginning of the new administration Mr. Hodil 
promptly resigned his office. Mr. N. S. Coulter was appointed his successor. 

The Sligo Branch Railroad has been used for transporting pig iron, tan 
bark, hoop poles, iron ore, timber, coal, and stock, all of these commodities 
being shipped at this point. 

One of the oldest industries in the limits of the borough is Craig's woolen 
factory. In former times this factory wove a great deal, in addition to card- 
ing, spinning, and dyeing. 

At one time the Atlantic Pipe Line Company shipped oil at this point. 
Their iron tanks were located on the hill across Licking. The enterprise was 
soon abandoned and the tanks torn down. Work is now in progress to open 
a large coal mine here this summer. 

As a rule, the citizens of the town are industrious and intelligent, and much 
more attention is given to education than was formerly done. The town is 
pleasantly located on the Licking Creek, and embraces quite a large area. Its 
possibilities are good for a first-class town. 



Strattanville Borough. 613 

CHAPTER LXXII. 
HISTORY OF STRATTANVILLE BOROUGH.i 

THIS borough, a handsomely located village, is situated wholly within the 
limits of Clarion township, on the " Turnpike," about three miles east of 
Clarion borough, and seven miles west of Corsica, Jefferson county. Pa. It is 
built upon a ridge, or watershed, about two miles south of the Clarion River. 
It is about one mile in length, and has a width of about one-fourth of a mile. 
Strattanville is one of the oldest villages in the county, being eleven years 
older than the county itself The land on which the village is built was first 
purchased by Philip Clover in 1817. Mr. Clover, in 1826, sold it to John 
Strattan, sr. Two years afterwards, Mr. Strattan laid out the village, which 
received its name in his honor. At that time the village was in Armstrong 
county, and so remained till March, 1839, ^ period of eleven years. In 1850 
the town was incorporated as a borough, and came under the general borough 
act of 1 85 1, by decree of court in 1877. The first building erected on the site 
of the town was built by John Ray ; the second by Captain Barber ; the third 
by W. H. Lowrey ; the fourth by J. R. Strattan ; and the fifth by Samuel 
Wilson. The first store was opened by Samuel Wilson, esq., in June, 1834. 
This was the only store between Brookville and Franklin, except one at Shippen- 
ville, opened by Richard Shippen in 1822. Goods were brought here from Phil- 
adelpha. Pa., in Conestoga wagons drawn by six horses. These wagons always 
returned laden with flax, clover seed, rags, and deer and bear skins. People 
came to this store from what are now Armstrong, Jefferson, Forest, Venango,, 
and Clarion counties. This village is regularly laid out — three long streets, 
running directly east and west, while shorter ones cross these three and extend 
north and south. The central street, extending east and west, is known as 
Central avenue, and is in width about fifty feet. The avenue is kept in good 
condition, and on either side is a banquette about six feet in width, for the 
accommodation of pedestrians. The other streets are also lined with side- 
walks, built of solid plank. Beautiful shade trees Hue its streets. The popu- 
lation numbers at present about three hundred. The vocations of the people 
are many. There are merchants, carpenters, mechanics, lumbermen, etc. 
The citizens are generally industrious, enhghtened, and moral. The private 
homes are, many of them, handsome, and all tastily furnished. The private 
residence of R. Rulofson, esq., who is one of Clarion county's best busi- 
ness men, and one of the most useful citizens of this section of country, is 
especially worthy of mention. The building itself is one of the handsomest in 
the county, and is built in the midst of a beautiful park in the west end of the 

I By S. C. Hepler. 

68 ■ ' .. 



6i4 History of Clarion County. 

town. The park is laid out in walks, while the great number of trees it con- 
tains, indigenous and exotic, evergreen and deciduous, illustrate Mr. Rulofson's 
taste. The large handsome brick dwelling, erected by Samuel Wilson and 
now occupied by his son, H. B. Wilson, is also worthy of note ; as is also the 
handsome new residence of Mr. and Mrs. James Cochran. Other residences 
that will compare favorably with the above are those belonging to and occu- 
pied by Dr. Barber and J. P. Jones, esq. The business portion of the town 
comprises four dr}' goods and grocery stores, a post-office, one drug store, one 
hardware store, one foundry, two boot and shoe shops, two millinery estab- 
lishments, one blacksmith-shop, one tannery, one furniture store and undertak- 
ing establishment, one barber- shop, a Western Union telegraph office, two 
hotels, one livery stable, and a lumber office. Our merchants, viz., J. A. 
Cochran, H. L. Young, Charles Strattan, M. D., and J. P. Jones, esq., are all 
courteous, enterprising men, and all have a splendid custom. Of the above 
named gentlemen, Mr. Cochran is a son of one of the earliest settlers of the 
county. Mr. H. L. Young, one of our most charitable and best business 
men, is a son of Thomas Young, deceased, who was the oldest male child 
born in the county of Clarion. Dr. Strattan is a direct descendant of the 
founder of this village. His store-room is commodious. Mr. Strattan is 
also proprietor of the drug store. Mr. Jones has, in connection with his dry 
goods and grocery store, a hardware store; he is also postmaster, being as- 
sisted by his son, James Jones. The foundry is owned and operated by Stew- 
ard Wilson, esq. Several men are given permanent employment in this 
foundry, and threshing machines, plows, stoves, etc., are manufactured. An 
excellent plow was invented by the proprietor of this foundry, and is called the 
S. Wilson plow. The boot and shoe shops, the proprietors of which are re- 
spectively J. W. Crooks and J. D. Smith, esq., do a large business. Mr. Crooks 
is also proprietor of the livery stable. The only blacksmith-shop is situated in 
the east end of the town, and is owned and managed by Mr, J. F. Green. 
Mrs. John Strattan and Mrs. Benjamin Hurley are each proprietresses of a first- 
class millinery store ; there are also several mantua-makers in the village. 
Charles Warner is the owner of the tannery. He keeps for sale leather of all 
kinds. The Messrs. Fulton are the owners and proprietors of the furniture 
and undertaking establishment. The barber-shop, of which Mr. B. M. George 
is proprietor, was but recently established. The telegraph office is presided 
over by Messrs. Clyde, T. S. Young and G. G. Williams. The two hotels 
are large, commodious frame structures, located on Central avenue, and are 
known as the American House and the Clover House. Charles Beatty, esq., 
is the proprietor of the American House, and Mrs. Clover, widow of Judge 
Clover, deceased, owns and keeps the Clover House. The lumber office be- 
longs to Mr. Rulofson above named, and is connected by telephone with his 
extensive lumber mill at the mouth of Big Mill Creek. 




I> 




/ 





^-c^ 



(^^^s:;::. 



Strattanville Borough. 615 

There are within the limits of the borough two church edifices, one a 
Methodist Episcopal Church, the other a Baptist Church. The M. E. build- 
ing is a modest, white frame structure, situated about the center of the town, 
on the north side of Central avenue. It is one story in height, and has a seating 
capacity of about two hundred. The building is surmounted by a handsome 
steeple in which is a large bell, used to call together the people during hours 
of worship. Church services are held every alternate Sunday by the pastor, 
Rev. Wharton. Sunday-school is also held every Sunday at two o'clock P. M., 
and is usually attended by a goodly number of people, large and small. The 
present superintendent of the school is Mr. J. W. Crooks. The Baptist edifice 
is also a frame structure, painted white, and is located at the west end of the 
town. It is somewhat larger than the M. E. Church, having a seating capa- 
city of perhaps two hundred and fifty. Its height is but one story, while it is 
surmounted by a spire containing what is said to be the best toned bell in 
Clarion county. Its beautiful peals as they ring out on a clear Sabbath morn, 
can easily be heard a distance of five miles. This church, at present, has no 
regular pastor, but services are held occasionally by the Rev. Jacob Booth, of 
Limestone. A Sabbath-school is also held in this building every Sunday at 
ten o'clock A. M., so as not to conflict with the M. E. school. The school is 
not very large, but it is quite interesting and is well conducted. Mr. Steward 
Wilson is superintendent of this school. 

The cemeteries, two in number, are nicely located, and well kept. The 
one near the M. E. Church is the older, and is pretty well filled up with graves, 
while the one lying west of the town is not so full of graves, on account of its 
more recent existence. Both cemeteries contain fine monuments. 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows has an organization here which is 
one of the most flourishing in the county. Their building is of brick, and is 
in size about thirty by forty-five feet, and two stories high. The upper part 
is exclusively used by the lodge, while the lower room, or basement, is the 
town hall. It is neatly furnished with benches and chairs, and has a speaker's 
stand. In it religious services are sometimes held by the Presbyterians. Lo- 
cal amateurs give entertainments in the hall for their own benefit, and for the 
amusement of the people. Two physicians and surgeons, viz.: Drs. Shirley 
and Barber are located in this village. Both are graduates of the best medical 
schools in the country, and are meeting with success in their profession. Dr. 
Barber has been permanently located in this village for many years, and Mr. 
Shirley has purchased property with a view of erecting thereon new buildings, 
and permanently locating also. 

The schools are under the direct control of a board of six directors: Messrs. 
C. Basim, president, H. Corbett, secretary, J. D. Smith, H. L. Young, J. 
Frazier, and J. F. Green. The building in which the schools are held is a 
frame structure two stories in height, and fifty by forty feet. There are three 



6i6 History of Clarion County. 

rooms, two below and one above. The building is surmounted by a belfry. 
The rooms are furnished with patent furniture, the upper one, known as room 
No. I, having seating capacity for seventy-two students. It is also plastered, 
the walls being papered, and hung with pictures. This room has a library. 
Among the books of the library may be mentioned the complete " Library of 
Universal Knowledge," fifteen volumes, which is a reprint of Chambers'sency- 
clopedia, with an addition of eighty thousand American topics, a Webster's 
Unabridged Dictionary, with patent index, and a large family Bible. In 
justice to the pupils of this room it must be remembered that through their 
exertions this room was papered and the walls beautified by pictures ; they 
also placed in the room the above mentioned books. The citizens of the 
borough are generally interested in the education of their children. They tax 
themselves heavily in order to pay good salaries. That they appreciate good 
work is evidenced by tlie fact that when they employ a teacher who does good 
work, they do not turn him oft" for a new man, but keep him as long as he 
continues to do well. The courses of instruction are thorough, being the same 
as those used by all graded schools of the county, viz.: The Primary, the Red 
Seal, the Yellow Seal, the Blue Seal, the Gold Seal, and the White Seal 
courses. Since the adoption of these courses, about six years since, several 
of the young people of the village have received diplomas from the county 
superintendent, evidencing the fact that they had finished the prescribed 
course. Among the gentlemen graduates may be mentioned James Jones, 
who is now a successful merchant ; T. S. Young, who will engage in the med- 
ical profession ; G. G. Williams, a successful telegrapher ; S. J. Williams, who 
will enter the profession of law, and J. B. Neil, who is a successful teacher. 
The lady graduates, two of whom. Miss Ora Gahagan and Miss Jones, are teach- 
ers. 

The surviving soldiers of the late war have, with their surviving comrades 
who reside in Clarion and Mill Creek townships, organized a Grand Army 
Post, having a good membership, the roster of which is as follows : Com- 
mander, George Johnson ; adjutant, U. L. Boyles ; quartermaster, J. D. Smith; 
chaplain, B. H. Hutley ; officer of the day, H. B. Wilson; junior vice-com- 
mander, Henry Shrum ; senior vice-commander, John Sherman. 

The sons of the veterans of the late war have also an organization of thirty 
members, known as the " Rankin Guthrie Camp," No. 70, the officers of which 
organization are as follows : Captain, S. W. Wilson ; first lieutenant, M. M. 
Strattan ; second lieutenant, S. J. Sherman ; orderly sergeant, S. J. Williams ; 
chaplain, E. C. McCoy ; quartermaster, J. F. Green ; sergeant of the guard, F. 
F. Fisher; principal musician, M. M. Strattan; picket guard, J. F. Sherman; 
camp guard, M. E. Showers. 

Strattanville has a brass band containing twelve pieces. There is also a 
martial band which was but recently organized. 



Toby Township. gi- 



The town is lighted by petroleum, and heated by bituminous coal ; but we 
believe the day is not far distant when natural gas will take the place of coal 
and oil. Some of the most influential citizens are at present considering the 
advisability of purchasing gas, and the supposition is that they will ere long 
decide so to do. 

The village is noted for its healthfulness, the sanitary regulations being 
good. The supply of water, which is freestone, and the best and coolest of its 
kmd, is supplied from wells, which are sunk into the earth to a depth of from 
twelve to twenty feet. 



CHAPTER LXXIII. 
HISTOEY OF TOBY TOWNSHIP.' 



TOBY township was one of the first townships in what is now Clarion 
county. It is extended from the present Hne of Porter and Monroe town- 
ships westward to the Allegheny River, and from Mahoning Creek northward 
to the Clarion River, or, as it was then called, Toby's Creek, from which stream 
the township derived its name. Some time prior to the erection of Clarion 
county this territory was divided by an east and west line, making two town- 
ships, Madison and Toby. Since then the territory of this mother of townships 
has been from time to time reduced by division, until it has acquired its pres- 
ent moderate dimensions of some twenty-eight square miles. 

Peter Walley and Joseph (?) Greenwald came to what is now the Independ- 
ence school district before the close of the last century. According to the state- 
ment of some old residents, Greenwald settled on what is now the McClure 
farm, and in 1797 erected a dwelling-house of logs. About 1831 when Mr 
John McGarrah purchased his present home from Mr. Walley, he boarded for 
a while with the Walley family, who told him that "they had cleared and 
seeded about three acres in wheat, in the year 1797." Mrs. Walley was a sister 
to Peter- Greenwald. 

^ John Miller, an honest old German, better and more familiarly known as 
Honnes " (Johannes) Miller, was here at a very early date, at or before the 
beginning of the century. He first squatted on the tract of land later owned 
by Rev. Henry Koch, and now by Mr. William Koch, and also was for a while 
on the "old Thompson farm." He took up in all a tract of seven hundred 
acres. The upper (southern) half of this he soon sold to William Thompson 
retaining the lower end. On this, in 1807 or 1808, he built a grist-mill, long 

iW. W. Deatrick. 

2 Is it not Joseph Greenwald ? vide supra. 



6i8 History of Clarion County, 

known as " Honnes Miller's" mill, and occupying the site of the present Mill- 
erstown mill. 

William Thompson came in about 1803 or 1804, emigrating from Indiana 
county. For twenty-two years he served as constable. He was a boatman, 
and was on the river a large part of his time, running keel-boats up and down 
stream to quite a distance. The old log house in which he lived is still stand- 
ing on the " old Thompson farm," as it is called, though now owned by Alex- 
ander Bole. 

The Mooreheads, David and John, were early settlers, or rather squatters, 
for they remained only a short time. 

Peter Wiles, an early settler, lived about half a mile from Miilerstown, and 
must have come in about the same time as Miller and Thompson. His sister 
was married to " Honnes " Miller. Joseph Whitmore at an early date made 
improvements on what is now the Elder farm. John Hepler came in probably 
about 18 1 2 or 18 1 5. In the latter year Jacob Rimer, father of Major David 
Rimer, moved into the township. He and several of his sons were itinerant 
tailors. 

Captain J. C. Kissinger was here in the year 18 19, having moved from 
Butler county. His first wife {iice Mary Steel) bore him nineteen children. 
Marrying again, several years after, he had by his second wife {ncc Mary Ste- 
vens), fifteen more children, in all thirty-four. Some time after the birth of 
the eleventh child, Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger left home on a business trip to But- 
ler county, leaving one of the children with Mrs. Kissinger's brother, and tak- 
ing the babe with them. During their absence their house took fire, and not 
only were their house and barn with their contents consumed, but their nine 
children also were burned to death in the awful holocaust, their bones being 
found amid the ashes of their home. 

In 1820 Adam Crick, father of the venerable John Crick, moved from 
Huntingdon, now Blair county, to a piece of land near " Honnes " Miller's milk 
Soon afterwards he moved to the William Courson farm, and thence to the 
Fullmer farm near Mount Airy. From that place he moved to the farm now 
owned by his son. John Hepler was also one of the early settlers, coming 
perhaps as early as 18 12 or 181 5. 

Among the first improvements were distilleries, of which there were 
several in this township. There was one about a mile and a half below Mii- 
lerstown operated by a man named Byers. Another was on the farm now 
occupied by G. W. Ramsey. In those days a bushel of rye could be ex- 
changed for six quarts of whisky, or for thirty cents in cash. The whisky was 
generally taken. When the harvest was ready to cut, the neighbors would 
gather in from far and near with their sickles and help their comrade to reap 
his field. As now-a-days at a vendue, a large supply of provisions and refresh- 
ments were necessary, and of these at that time an abundant supply of whis- 



Toby Township. 619 



ky was regarded as entirely indispensable. The farmer whose field was to be 
reaped would rise long before daylight, and with a one-horse sled, or a hand- 
sled (for other vehicles they had none) he would start for the nearest distillery 
to obtain his supplies. He would take with him a six or eight-gallon cask, 
and getting it filled would be back before breakfast. A quart was the regular 
daily rations of each man. Whisky was used in large quantities at log- 
rollings, at raisings, sales, " hutchings," in fact everywhere and by everybody. 

The Ramsey distillery was subsequently converted into a pottery, and still 
later it was, for a while, used as a school-house. Of the school-teachers of 
that early time, many were hard drinkers. The following is told of one of the 
old masters who wielded the birch in the distillery school-house : He was 
accustomed to get on a spree about once a week. The next day he would be 
very cross, and instead of giving the boys their usual recess, he would devote 
that time to the exercise of discipline, flogging the scholars for misdeeds actual 
or imagined, and doing it all without respect to person, inasmuch as he would 
flog a whole seat full at a time. On one occasion he got drunk, and while in 
the school-room he fell off his seat in a drunken stupor. While he was lying 
outstretched on the rough puncheon floor, two of the boys in a caper of fun 
seized him by his heels and dragged him at a lively rate around the room. 
When it became apparent that this rough usage was restoring him to con- 
sciousness, the boys abruptly fled, and prudently remained in concealment until 
their master's wrath had subsided. 

The school-houses, even when erected for that purpose, were primitive in 
style. Over sixty years ago one was built on the Riegel farm. It was of 
round rough logs. The floor was made of puncheons, and there were pun- 
cheon desks along the walls supported by pins let into the latter. The fire- 
place was immense, and the front of the chimney being supported by posts, 
there being no jambs, logs as long as eight feet were easily admitted into the 
fire-place. The chimneys were constructed beaver-like, of sticks and mud. 

Early in the century the manufacture of salt was carried on by the Robin- 
sons near Upper Hillville, for many years. From this place the country for 
many miles around was supplied with salt. 

The first good grist-mill in this section was Craig's Mill, on Licking Creek. 
It was built about 1829; was a frame building erected by James Craig and 
Christopher Over, practical mill-wrights. It has been remodeled and repaired 
several times, and now does the grinding for quite a considerable section of 
country. 

The abundant supplies of coal, limestone, and iron ore which underlie this 
township, are practically untouched. There has been no mining except of 
coal and limestone for home consumption. 

Some prospecting for oil has been done, but so far without profitable re- 
sults. In 1877 ^ well was drilled near Rimersburg by Watson and Brosius. 



620 History of Clarion County. 

Salt water was struck at 500 feet, and the well cased at 540 feet. Gas was 
struck in what was called the " First sand," at about 800 feet ; its quantity- 
was small, not enough being obtained to fire the boiler. The well was drilled 
to 1,350 feet without finding oil in paying quantities. In May, 1878, a well 
was drilled along Cherry Run, on the Plyer farm, near the Methodist camping- 
ground. A large flow of gas was struck and some little oil, but not enough 
to pay for pumping. Several other wells have been sunk, two in 1886, one 
on the John Myers farm, near Amos PoUiard's, and the other on a farm a 
mile or two distant. Both ventures were failures. 

Churches. — At present there are in the bounds of the township three houses 
for religious worship. These are the Methodist Episcopal Church, on Cherry 
Run, built shortly before the war, served by the pastor of the Sligo Circuit,* 
and the Independence M. E. Church, located in the southwest corner of the 
township. This latter church was built in 1876. Near the Watterson road, 
about two and a half miles northeast of Rimersburg, is the United Presbyterian 
Church of Cherry Run. The following account of this congregation has been 
furnished by Rev. Boyd McCullough, at present acting pastor: 

•' This congregation originated in a division of the Seceder Church of this 
place (Rimersburg) in 1858. Strange to say, this separation was caused by a 
union. It was in this year that different small bodies of Presbyterians coalesced 
to form the United Presbyterian Church of America. These small bodies 
originated mostly in Great Britain, and their division sprung from the evils of 
the union of church and state. 

" The main body of Presbyterians used to accept the royal bounty in the 
North of Ireland, and still depend on state support in Scotland. But they 
receive it on conditions which interfere with their spiritual liberty. In short, 
the sovereign is the head of the church, to the dishonor of Christ who has the 
only right to rule. 

" The Reformed Presbyterians for this reason refused to take the oath of 
allegiance, or to hold office under the king, because they considered this would 
be acknowledging his claim of supremacy over the church. 

" The Associate Presbyterians pursued a middle course. They accepted 
no royal bounty, but they held office and took the oath of allegiance, at the 
same time explaining that they acknowledged the king as sovereign of the 
state, but not of the church. 

" But the Associate Church divided again on the Burgess oath in Scotland, 
which all must take to enjoy all the privileges in a borough. The Anti- 
Burghers, while they took a general oath of allegiance, would not take this. 
The Burghers found their way clear to take it. 

" Emigrants settling in America generally sent back to the mother country 
for ministers. The result was that the different persuasions of the Presbyterian 
family soon had their counterparts in America. 



Toby Township. 621 



"When the independence of the United States was acknowledged in 1783, 
a union was effected among these churches here. As was natural, Christians 
in this country still retained their attachment to and connection with churches 
in the old country. These did not all approve of the arrangement. The off- 
spring of this union, known as the Associate Reformed Church, was, in the old 
country, only acknowledged by the Burgher Church. The Reformed Presby- 
terians and Associate Presbyterians of the Anti-Burgher school continued to 
send over ministers to preach to their members who emigrated to America. 

• " In 1840, when the old generation had all passed away, a movement was 
made for union again. They were so particular about the conditions, however, 
that eighteen years were spent in discussion and negotiation. In 1858, to 
the great joy of many, the union was effected. Rev. John McCauley, the pas- 
tor of Cherry Run, was opposed to the course. But forty-two of the members 
left a pastor whom they loved and respected to follow their presbytery and 
synod. They asked no division of the church property, but built a house of 
worship for themselves. Their pastors have been Revs. S. C. Reed, William 
A. Black, and M. S. Telford. Rev. Boyd McCuUough is at present provisional 
pastor." 

The Reformed people of the township now worship at Rimersburg and 
Curllsville, but to them must be ascribed the honor of erecting the first church 
in Toby township. Some fifty-eight or sixty years ago they built a church 
about three-fourths of a mile north of Mt. Airy, and about forty rods to the 
west of where Nail's school-house now stands. A school- house was also built 
at the same place. Rev. Henry Koch wa^ their minister at that time. The 
church was used, however, for but a short time, for almost before it was en- 
tirely finished it, with the school-house, was destroyed by fire. There were 
some dead buried at this place. Now, however, the passer-by would fail to 
note their resting place. After the loss of their church the most of the people 
worshiped at Churchville. At last a number uniting with others living about 
Rimersburg organized a new congregation, which, after holding service for 
some years in Arner's school-house, finally built the brick church in Rimers- 
burg, where now the Reformed people of Toby township generally attend. 

Prior to 1864 several camp-meetings were held by the Methodists at vari- 
ous places. It was then determined to establish a permanent camp ground. 
This has been successfully accomplished and the Cherry Run camp-meeting is 
a matter of annual interest to the people of the township. Under the name of 
the Cherry Run Union Camp Ground the association was chartered in 1864. 
The grounds embrace ten acres. In 1873 they were enclosed by an eight foot 
board fence. There are in the enclosure one hundred and three lots, a num- 
ber of private cottages, several boarding-houses, four two-story cottages, and 
one stable three hundred feet long, owned by the association. The amphi- 
theatre, eighty by one hundred feet, was erected in the spring of the present 

09 



622 History of Clarion County. 

year (1887). The association is controlled by nine trustees; of these three are 
are elected from each of the neighboring Methodist congregations, Rimers- 
burg, Curllsville, and Sligo. 

The original election place (about 18 12) for Toby township was at McKib- 
ben's, now in Perry township. When the first election was held there were 
not enough voters present to form the board at the opening of the polls. So, 
as it is related, McKibben, who was plowing, was called from his work to be- 
come a member of the board. The next election place was on the farm now 
owned by the heirs of Michael Reichard. Subsequently elections were held at 
McElvey's, near the present Gardner Station. Thence they were moved to 
Daniel Fullmer's, at Mount Airy. Then (about 1855) John Crick's house be- 
came the place. After some twelve years the polling place was removed to 
Myers's school-house, where the elections have been held ever since. 

Toby township has produced some men who have attained to prominence. 
Among these may be mentioned Rev. Huey Newell, a Presbyterian minister, 
now resident in Venango county; Dr. D. L. McAninch, of West Freedom, and 
Dr. J. T. Rimer, practicing physician at Curllsville ; Dr. Robert N. Huey, at 
one time principal of the C. C. I. at Rimersburg, but now in the West, and 
Thomas Stewart, associate judge. 



CHAPTER LXXIV. 
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

THIS township is situated in the northwest corner of Clarion county. It 
was formed in the year 1843 from ten warrants of Pine Grove, two of 
Elk and ten of Farmington townships ; afterwards, in 1854, three warrants 
were taken off when Knox township was formed. 

The first settlers were Christian Henlen, George Kapp, and John Siegwarth, 
in 181 5, in the part that was then Pine Grove township. Christian Henlen 
was born in the northern part of France, September 8, 1787, and when about 
eighteen years of age emigrated to Lancaster county. Pa. George Kapp was 
born in Lancaster county in 1784. John Siegwarth was born in Germany in 
1787, and in early age emigrated with his parents to Lancaster county. Pa. 

These three parties, with their wives and families, started from Lancaster 
county for the wilds of the western part of the State. They came by Harris- 
burg, Indiana, and the State road from Brookville, stopping the last night at 
Alex. McNaughton's (Highland Alex.), now Helen Furnace. 

Mr. Henlen bought a yoke of oxen and two cows, and Mr. Kapp two cows 



Washington Township. 623 

from Mr. McNaughton, and the two oldest children in each of the two families 
were selected to drive the stock to their destination. Each of the families had 
a covered wagon. They first encamped within a few rods of where now stands 
the residence of Seward E. Henlen, a grandson of Christian Henlen, having 
been four weeks on the way. One year before the War of 18 12, the three 
first settlers had been on the spot and selected their land, so that on coming 
with their families they immediately went to work. And here I would remark 
that they would have come sooner but they were drafted into the service from 
Lancaster county and served through the war. They lived in their wagons 
while they built log houses. Kapp's house was built first. All the tools they 
brought with them were axes, hand-saws, and a few augers. They made 
wooden plows and wooden tooth harrows. 

Their first years were the same as are common to most pioneers, but as 
their land became cleared they prospered. Most of their land was well tim- 
bered, as were the lowlands generally; the hills and ridges, however, were cov- 
ered with low brush, being burnt over annually by the Indians to make open 
woods for hunting. Near to where they camped was what was called Hicks's 
cabin, built for an hospital for sick and disabled soldiers in the War of 18 12. 
This shanty and about a dozen others within a mile or so on Hemlock Creek 
were occupied by Indian hunters of the Cornplanter tribe every winter for 
several years afterwards. The Indians being friendly while kept in good 
humor were a source of great amusement to the new settlers, as they would 
often get on a " drunk," go through their war dance, and dangerous looking 
exercises with knives and tomahawks, but would always have one sober Indian 
in all of their sprees. They took away large quantities of game, Henlen haul- 
ing it to the Allegheny River for them, then they would canoe it up the river. 
The squaws did all the trading with the white settlers. They would have their 
papooses strapped on a board hung on their back, and would set them down 
outside until asked to bring them in. They would have venison, or other 
game, and sometimes wreaths and other trinkets to trade for potatoes, garden 
truck, or bread. 

The Indians would come every fall, fifteen to thirty in number, and remain 
all winter. They had another camp on Step Creek, in the eastern part of 
Washington township, which was their last place of resort. Finally they quit 
coming when the township became more settled. 

This colony of settlers brought with them from Lancaster county three 
good dogs, guns, and ammunition, and being good marksmen, they supplied 
their tables with plenty of meat, as deer, wild turkeys, and game of all kinds 
were plenty. The streams also abounded with fish, which made up for other 
provisions that were difficult to obtain. 

Some five miles distant from the location of 'the first settlers on the west, 
was a large strip of low, marshy land, free from brush, extending two miles in 



624 History of Clarion County. 

a north and south line, and one-fourth of a mile wide, where the first settlers 
mowed grass to winter their stock for several years, until they had their land 
in condition to raise hay on their own farms. This land was called the Glades 
or Big Meadows. It was a source of great benefit to the early settlers, who 
would each have their certain place to cut as much as they wanted, and noth- 
ing to pay for the privilege. 

The Glades were badly infested with snakes, and when loading hay on the 
wagons, sometimes the snappers would be forked up with the hay ; however, 
they rarely suffered any injury from the snakes. 

Christian Henlen raised a family of seven children — four boys and three 
girls. The only one of the sons that made his permanent residence in the town- 
ship was John Henlen, the third oldest. In his father's declining years he pur- 
chased the homestead, also owning a large adjoining farm, and by industry and 
economy succeeded in laying up a competence, besides improving and leaving 
the two farms in good condition. Christian Henlen died January 25, 1852. 
Margaret Henlen, his wife, died April 22, 1854. John Henlen, their son, died 
July 8, 1884, being sixty-eight years old at the time of his death. 

In George Kapp's family there were eight children — four when they 
arrived, and four born to them afterwards. The boys were great hunters, and 
by their industry became well-to-do farmers, and useful members of the com- 
munity ; George Kapp in his time, and most of his descendants, being very 
skillful in the treatment of diseases of human beings, horses, and cattle. In 
those times bleeding was considered the principal remedy for all the ills that 
flesh was heir to, and the generosity of George Kapp will be shown further on 
in this sketch by the number of his country people whom he sheltered and 
befriended on their arrival in this wild country. George Kapp died in the year 
1836, being then fifty-two years of age. 

John Siegwarth's family consisted of himself and wife and nine children ; 
one son and four daughters when he moved here, and three sons and one 
daughter born to them afterwards. None of the family occupy the old 
homestead, they having gone into business, or owned farms of their own dur- 
ing the life-time of Mr. Siegwarth. There are several of his descendants in 
the township, and in good circumstances. The first birth in the township was 
Rosana, daughter of John Siegwarth, in 1817. The first wedding in the 
community was Henry Imhoof to Sarah, daughter of George Kapp, in 1828. 
Among the obstacles those settlers had to contend with was the difficulty in 
raising wheat at first, and in getting wheat or corn ground. They had to go 
twelve miles to mill, and sometimes could not get anything ground when they 
would go ; sometimes they would grind some corn in a coffee-mill, and some 
would hollow out a stump of a tree, and pound the corn with a stone. 

In 1824 Christian Henlen got a still started for the manufacture of whisky 
which was an indispensable commodity with the early settlers. In a few year 



Washington Township. 625 

there were four small distilleries started within a radius of two miles. In 
1823 Christian Henlen's house burned with all its contents, but in one week he 
was living in a new house. The pioneers from Clarion township came to the 
raising. 

David Reyner was agent for lands and lived in Kapp's settlement, near 
Hicks's cabin. He came soon after the Kapps, and subsequently moved to 
Tylersburg. Two of his children were buried about where the Henlen school- 
house now stands. 

About a year after Henlens, Samuel Zink came from Lancaster county, 
via Brookville and Clarion ; crossed the Clarion River at Bullock's fording, 
thence by Berlin's on old turnpike and John Zeller's across the country to 
State Road, at Kapp's settlement, then called Hicks's Cabin, which was occu- 
pied by Indians, there being a couple of squaws and some children there at 
the time. Kapps, Henlens, and Siegwarths were then living there. The In- 
dians told him the nearest neighbors from the settlement were on the east 
McNaughtons, and on the west, Franklins. Mr. Zink then went to Franklin's, 
but stayed only a short time, returned and traded a set of blacksmith tools to 
David Reyner for fifty acres of land. Mr. Zink then did the blacksmith work 
for the neighborhood. He had served in the war of 18 12, and also held a 
commission as militia captain under Governor Snyder. He served three years 
as county commissioner, and died at the age of eighty-nine years ; had three 
children when he came from Lancaster county, and eight more were born to 
him here. 

Adam Yale came about 1820, and settled near where Clinton furnace after- 
ward stood. He built chimneys around through the neighborhood. He had 
seven sons and two daughters. His boys were noted hunters, and they gen- 
erally kept seven guns and an equal number of dogs. They moved away about 
the time the furnaces started up. Mr. Henry Zink, son of Samuel, went to 
Yale's once, and found the old man beating his horse with a large club. The 
horse had bitten a piece out of his shoulder. 

The first school-house was built in 1821. Mr. Steelsmith taught German 
and English. Rev. Koch first preached in Kapp's barn, and afterwards in the 
school-house. Later Rev. Kile came and preached once in two months. 

Frederick Rickenbrode, his wife, two sons — Jacob and John — and three 
daughters came from Lancaster county in 1820, and bought a farm adjoining 
lands of all three of the first settlers, and although his land had been rejected 
from the first settlers' purchase, it proved to be the most valuable, having an 
abundance of iron ore and limestone. They soon got to be well-to-do farmers. 

Jacob Lilligh started from Lancaster county with Frederick Rickenbrode, 
but came through Westmoreland county, rented a farm and sojourned there 
two years, and arrived at Kapp's in 1822 in a covered wagon, afterwards going 
through some hard times, on one occasion not having much of anything to eat 



626 History of Clarion County. 

except lettuce for four weeks. They stayed two weeks at Kapps, until they 
built a log house on their farm adjoining Frederick Rickenbrode's. Their 
farm also turned out to be valuable, abounding in minerals which were util- 
ized by furnaces which started later on. 

Jacob Eisenman, a native of Baden, Germany, arrived in 1820. They 
took a wagon from home, and when they landed in New York they bought a 
horse and drove through to Harrisburg, and stopped there a while with a 
friend. Mrs. Frances Ditz, formerly Eisenman, says that she, in company 
with a little girl of the party they were stopping with, went to the State cap- 
itol building, which was then being erected, and picked shavings. They were 
told that there was good land along the State road, where Washington town- 
ship now is. They then decided to go out. After being on the way a few 
days, Mrs. Ditz says her mother, herself, and another sister started ahead of 
the wagon, thinking to find a house to stop at. Towards evening, not finding 
any habitation, they went back, but failed to get to the wagon before dark, so 
they sat on a log during the night. Occasionally they would fall asleep and 
roll oft" the log. They yelled repeatedly, and a couple of men encamped on a 
neighboring hill heard them and started to hunt them up, but thinking it might 
be a panther, returned to their camp. In the morning the rest of the party 
arrived, they having encamped at a forks of the road, some distance back, fear- 
ing they might take the wrong road. After a tedious and wearisome journey, 
they arrived at George Kapp's, and stayed there two weeks until they erected 
a house on a piece of land which they bought from Huidekooper. In 1822 
they built a barn which still remains, and is the only building erected by the 
first settlers that is left standing. It is now the James Eisenman barn. The 
Eisenman family, like the rest of the first settlers, suffered many privations. 
They had but one pair of shoes among them, which were worn by any of 
them going from home. Jacob Eisenman died in 1862 at the age of eighty- 
four years. Frances, now the widow of Ferdinand Ditz, is seventy-nine years 
of age, being the oldest of the first settlers living. 

Henry Mahle, with his family, arrived in 1824 from the eastern part of the 
State of Pennsylvania, having come from Germany a few years previous. He 
bought a farm about one half a mile east of where Fryburg now is, which still 
remains in the Mahle famil)^ 

John Ditz and family arrived in 1825 from Fryburg, Germany. They 
brought a wagon from home, arrived in New York, hired their wagon and 
goods hauled to Philadelphia, where they bought a horse to haul them, and 
then went to Ohio with some emigrants who had relatives there, after which 
they came to Kapp Settlement. The family consisted of John Ditz and wife, 
four sons and two daughters. One of the girls died in 1826, being the first 
death among the early settlers and the first corpse buried in the Catholic 
burying-ground in Fryburg. After arriving and resting from the fatigue of 



Washington Township. 627 

the journey hither, the Ditz family packed up to leave, and after starting on 
the road about seven miles, their wagon broke down, so they returned and 
located permanently. They bought a farm, went to work, and became pros- 
perous farmers. Two other sons were born to them in their new home, viz., 
John and Frank. John Ditz, sr., died in 1865, at the age of seventy-five years. 
Ferdinand Ditz died in 1883, and John Ditz, jr., died in 1887. Augustus 
Ditz, grandson of John Ditz, sr., is the successor of his father, Ferdinand Ditz, 
as proprietor of the Washington Hotel in Fryburg. 

The Fasenmyer family was the next to arrive from Germany — Balthasor 
and wife and four children, two sons and two daughters, in 1828. They after- 
ward had three children. Balthasor Fasenmyer was a soldier in Napoleon's 
army until Napoleon was taken prisoner, in 181 5, and used to tell of many 
thrilling adventures and severe hardships endured by the soldiers in their cam- 
paigns. His children are all in good circumstances. Joseph owns the old 
homestead and also is proprietor of the Jamestown Hotel ; Jacob is a prominent 
merchant in Fryburg. The Denslinger family came from Germany in 1827 
and bought land adjoining Fasenmyer's, which still remains in the possession 
of their descendants. The Weaver family came in 1827 from Redbank town- 
ship, having emigrated from Germany a few years previous. The family con- 
sisted of Anthony Weaver and wife, five boys and three girls. Sebastian, the 
oldest of the children, married a Miss Greenwalt, of Toby township. Clarion 
county. They are both living, and in their eighty-fourth year, being sixty 
years married. 

Henry Amsler, a native of Switzerland, wife and three children, moved to 
this township in 1830, from Big Meadow, having lived there seven years, and 
previously three years at Powel's, in Venango county, and three in Lancaster 
city, Pa. Two of the boys, Henry and Rudolph, are still living on adjoining 
farms. 

About the year 1830 other settlements were started. The Walters, 
Kniselys, Fulmers and Fellows in the northeast of the township, and the Mealys, 
Strubles, Leeches and Everharts south and east of them. Also the Lymans, 
Fullers, Lichts, Nicks, Strickenbargers, Groners, Siegels, and Sutters, all of 
whom, or their descendants, occupy farms in the township, together with many 
others who came later. 

Fryburg, the principal village in Washington township, has a population 
of about 175. It derived its name from Fryburg in Germany, from whence a 
number of settlers in the immediate vicinity came. When the name was given 
it, some were in favor of calling it Kappsheim, and others in favor of Fryburg. 
It was left to a vote, which resulted in favor of Fryburg. It is situated in the 
northern part of the township on the State road, and the intersection of the 
Shippenville road, and is surrounded by hills, one of which is the highest point 
in Clarion county. The first building in the village was erected by John Mark- 
ley in the year 1835, where now stands the residence of John Graham. 



628 History of Clarion County. 

The next building was built by Keyler, long known as the Grable house, 
now owned by Joseph Siegel, and standing yet. Simon Ullman had the first 
store in Grable's house. Ditz's Hotel was built in 1849. It burned down in 
1879, and was replaced the same year by a large, substantial brick hotel build- 
ing. There are now three general stores, one furniture and undertaking estab- 
lishment, two hotels, one drug store, foundry and steam grist-mill, two black- 
smith shops, wagon maker shop, grocery, and millinery. For business the 
town will compare favorably with towns similarly situated. The climate is 
healthy, and the water good and pure. 

Lickingville, situated on the road from Fryburg to Tylersburg, at the inter- 
section of the road to Newmansville and Tionesta, is a quiet village of one hun- 
dred inhabitants, having one hotel, four stores, two churches, and one school- 
house. The two first houses were built in 1861 and '62 by Solomon Sieg- 
warth. The next two and one store were built in 1862 by Shoup and Sieg- 
warth. The name was derived from Licking Creek. 

Lineville (now Venus P. O.). The name Lineville originated from the town 
being on the county line between Clarion and Venango counties. The first 
house was built in the year 1845, by Henry Zink, who afterwards disposed of 
it to Amos Owens, and is now owned by John Zigler. The business part of 
the town is now in Venango county. 

Newmanville is a village at the northeast corner of Washington township. 
The first building was a store-house built by David Bowman, in 1867, now 
owned by his son, J. C. Bowman. The name was given it by the post-office 
department. They refused to call it Bowmanville, and named it Newmanville. 
It also contains one hotel, one blacksmith shop, one stave mill, and one Free 
Methodist Church, built four years ago. 

Jamestown, a village one mile south of Fryburg on the Shippenville road, 
was started in the year 1873. Jacob Weaver built a store and commenced 
business. Joseph Fasenmyer built and started a hotel in 1874. Anthony 
Markley built and started a planing-mill in 1875. The planing-mill was after- 
terward moved to the Pittsburg and Western Railroad, near Tylersburg. The 
villages of Fryburg and Jamestown are connected by plank and board sidewalk. 
In the year 1843 ^^^ '44 three furnaces were started in Washington township. 
Clinton furnace, started by Moore and Seymour, afterward owned by Samuel 
Plumer ; Hemlock furnace, also on Hemlock Creek, started by Fetzer and Ma- 
guire, owned next by John Horner, and afterwards by Faber ; and Licking fur- 
nace, started by Ohler Siegwarth and Company, on Licking Creek. There 
were about two thousand acres of land owned by the Clinton Furnace Com- 
panies, on which they burned their charcoal. The other companies got theirs 
burnt through the country. The ore was taken from lands of Henlen, Sieg- 
warth, Kapp, Jacob Lilligh, David Dahle, and Jacob Ditz. The furnaces while 
they ran were a great help to the new settlers ; brought in a great many oth- 



Washington Township. 629 

ers, and times were livelier than they have been since. Clinton shut down 
after the frost in 1859, and the others about the same time. 

The streams that take their rise in Washington are Hemlock and Sandy, 
the source of both being near Fryburg. Hemlock flows into the Allegheny 
River at President, and Sandy, at East Sandy. 

The first church building erected in the township was a Catholic log church, 
near Fryburg, in the year 1836. It was raised on the 4th of July. After 
some years this was replaced by a large frame structure, and in 1882 a new 
church was commenced which was five years in building. The dimensions are 
one hundred and fifteen feet long and sixty feet wide, and briefly described as 
follows : On a beautiful knoll in Washington township, overlooking the quiet 
villages of Fryburg and Jamestown, stands a massive stone structure. The 
building is constructed on the early Gothic plan, of native white sandstone, and 
the walls built in broken ashler style and irregular courses, backed by brick. 
The tower is one hundred and sixty feet high. A statue of St. Michael in a 
niche of the outside wall, is the work of H. Flige, of Munster, Westphalia. It 
cost $450; eight feet high; is made of one solid stone, and weighs 3,200 
pounds. The interior of the building presents a picture of artistic arrange- 
ment and magnificence seldom seen inside of the walls of the finest city 
churches. The style is of the basilica order, with three naves, the center nave 
being twice the height of those on the sides ; height of center nave, fifty-six 
feet, and the side naves twenty-eight feet. The ceilings, with all their naves^ 
rest on arches usually called arcades, and between each four columns is a com- 
plete system with groined arches, diagonal ribs, and an ornamental keystone.. 
Two rows of columns, six in each row, carry the ceiling and support the roof. 
Pews, wainscoting, doors, etc., are of oak with cherry trimmings. The cost of 
the church can only be approximated, as the members of the congregation did 
all the hauling and work they could do themselves without any charge. If 
everything was counted, it would amount to about seventy thousand dollars ; 
and, notwithstanding several liberal donations were received from outside the 
congregation and from members of other denominations, the building is a 
credit to the united efforts of the congregation and an honor to Clarion county. 

In 1842 a large frame church was built one mile east of Fryburg, calcu- 
lated to accommodate the different Protestant denominations of the township,, 
the location being central, and the site being in every way desirable, but in 
five years after the Walters settlement for some cause withdrew and built a 
church of their own. Then the members of the western part of the township 
also built a church in Fryburg, and left the large church vacant. It was taken 
down in 1872, the grave-yard only remaining. 

There are now nine churches in the township of the different Protestant 
denominations: At Lineville, one Methodist and one AUbright; one half mile 
south of Lineville, on the Fryburg road, one Old Lutheran ; in Fryburg, one 



630 History of Clarion County. 

New Lutheran ; at Lickingville, one Allbright and one United Brethren ; at 
McMichaels, between Lickingville and Newmanville, one Methodist ; at New- 
manville, one New Lutheran and one Free Methodist. 

There are nine public schools in the township, all having patent furniture ; 
besides there is a large parochial school, of two rooms, in which are taught 
vocal and instrumental music in addition to the usual branches taught in com- 
mon schools. 

There were fourteen oil wells drilled in the township at different times. 
One well on Hemlock Creek, drilled by Richard Hunt on lands of Kendig and 
Hunt, pumped eighty barrels of oil, which was hauled to the Gas City pipe line; 
but being a small producer, and not warranting the laying of a pipe line, it was 
abandoned. Among the others, one was a strong gas well drilled by Kahl 
Brothers in 1878 on lands of J. W. Kahl. As gas at that time was not used 
much for fuel, there was no use made of it. The gas was struck at a depth of 
one thousand feet. 

ERRATA. 

The State road, connecting Bald Eagle's Nest, near Bellefonte, with Erie, 
was surveyed and partially opened in 1797 by General Andrew EUicot. In 
1799 the assembly authorized its completion and granted five thousand dollars 
for that purpose. The road was then finished in 1801 or '2. It was this road, 
and not the Bellefonte and Waterford turnpike, that was subsidized by the 
Holland Company. 

No stage line was established between Kittanning and Strattanville about 
1828, as stated on page 98. It was not till 1845 that one was started between 
Clarion and Freeport. 

On page 5 16 it is implied that Alexander McNaughton had settled in High- 
land township about 1812 ; it should be 1806. 

For " T. S. Calmont," on page 191, read "J. S. McCalmont ;" for "Joseph 
W. Coulter," on same page, read "James W. Coulter." 



Hon. James Campbell. 631 



CHAPTER LXXV. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

CAMPBELL, HON. JAMES.^ In the year 1774 Robert Campbell, a Scotch-Irish- 
man, together with his wife and family, emigrated from the State of Delaware and 
settled in what at that time was the " Backwoods," Kishacoquillas Valley, Cumberland 
(now Mifflin) county. Pa. The valley at that time was covered with a dense growth of tall 
timber, consisting of oak, chestnut, walnut, and hickory. Here he made himself a home, 
put up buildings, began farming, and raised his family. On the loth day of July, 1824, 
he died, at the age of almost ninety-four years, leaving four sons and two daughters sur- 
viving him. 

Of these, the eldest son, John Campbell, inherited the mansion farm. He was seven 
years of age when his father came to the valley. At the age of forty years he married 
Rachel, the eldest daughter of John Oliver, one of the early settlers on the Juniata 
River, near McVeytown. She was fully seventeen years younger than her husband. 

They commenced house-keeping in a double log story-and-a-half house, located 
near the mansion house. In this they lived until the decease of their father, and in it 
their three sons and two daughters were born. 

James Campbell, the youngest of the sons, and the youngest but one of the family, 
was born on the 25th day of July, 18 13, and named after an uncle James Campbell, 
who was drowned in the Chemung River, while traveling in New York State many 
years before. 

From a puny, sickly child, he gradually developed into a healthy, stirring boy. As 
he increased in years he grew strong, and like other farmers' boys in those days he was 
put to work, and educated to steady, every-day labor ; learned the shorter catechism ; 
attired in home-made clothes and home-spun Hnen he attended school in the winter and 
the Presbyterian Church on Sundays. 

From his father, who was a well informed man, he acquired a taste for reading, 
especially historical works. Being dissatisfied with farming, he resolved that he would 
earn a livelihood in some other manner; the result of which was, that at the age of 
eighteen years, he started to school at Germantown, Pa., with the intention of acquiring 
a classical education. The academy was under the care of George Junkin, D. D. In 
the spring of 1832 Dr. Junkin was made president of La Fayette College at Easton, Pa., 
and nearly all the pupils went witli him to Easton and started the new college with 
about one hundred students. 

While here the subject of this sketch read Latin, and began the study of Greek. In 
the fall of 1832 the bilious fever broke out in the college; he, with others, had an at- 
tack of the disease, and as soon as able he returned to his home. In the latter part of 
the year 1832 he went to Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., where he graduated in 
the class of 1837 ; then returned to Mifflin county and began the study of law at Lewis- 
town, Pa., under E. L. Benedict, and was there admitted to the bar in the spring of 
1840. In the same year he came to the new town of Clarion, which had just been 
made the county seat. 

1 By F. J. Maffett. 



632 History of Clarion County. 

On the first Monday of November, 1840, he, with twenty-five others, was admitted 
to the bar at the first court held in the county. 

At first the prospect was not flattering to a young lawyer, as the principal business 
was controlled by the older lawyers of Kittanning, Butler, and Franklin. Nevertheless, 
Mr. Campbell was counsel for one of the parties to the first suit tried in the courts of 
the county, and by patience and perseverance established a reasonably paying practice, 
which continued to grow to such an extent that a partner was necessary to assist in the 
business. 

He was a member of the committee who built the First Presbyterian Church of 
Clarion — we would infer a working member, as we have heard that he rolled stone, 
shoveled sand, and as a lawyer, kept off" creditors until money could be raised to pay 
for the church. In 1847 he married Nancy J. Hallack, daughter of Rev. J. K. Hallack, 
and raised a family of five children, all of whom, except the youngest, are married and 
have families. 

In the fall of 1861, without solicitation on his part, he was made an independent 
candidate for president judge of the Eighteenth Judicial District, composed of the 
counties of Mercer, Venango, Clarion, Jefferson, and Forest, and was elected by a 
handsome majority. This was a large and laborious district, Venango county at that 
time being the center of oil development, that occasioned a vast increase of population 
and much litigation. Judge Campbell held as high as thirty-two weeks' court in a year, 
traveling hundreds of miles by stage-coach, between the various county seats in his 
district. 

In 1866 the counties of Mercer and Venango were created into a separate judicial 
district, Judge Campbell remaining in the original district. At the close of his term, in 
187 1, he returned to the practice of law, and continued therein until the spring of 1886, 
when he retired from the practice to give his whole attention to his private business. 
Including the ten years on the bench, he was at bar forty-six years. As a lawyer he 
stood at the head of his profession. As a judge he acquired a wide-spread reputation. 
By those who knew him, he is esteemed for his ability as a lawyer, his honesty as a 
judge, and for his sterling integrity of character. He has prospered with the growth of 
the town and county. He has ever identified himself with the best interests of the com- 
munity in which he lives. At the age of seventy-three years, he is an active business 
man, retains all his early love for reading, enjoys the society of business men, and is hale 
and hearty, with a constitution but little impaired by a long and arduous business life. 
He is one of not more than five who remain of the first settlers of the town in 1840. 

At the organization of the Clarion State Normal School, Judge Campbell was elected 
president of the Board of Trustees, and has ever been one of the most active and labo- 
rious members of the board. His contributions to, arid labors in behalf of this institu- 
tion of learning are a fitting climax to a life of usefulness and beneficence in a com- 
munity where he cast his lot so many years ago. 



A RNOLD, GEORGE WASHINGTON, cashier of the First National Bank of 
i\ Clarion, was born on a farm in York county. Pa., November 5, 1820. At the age 
of seven years he was entrusted with the marketing at the neighboring stores of the lighter 
products of the farm. About the same lime he began his school life, attending such 
schools as were at that time maintained in the county by individual subscription, before 
the establishment of the common school system of the State. As there were but three 



George Washington Arnold. — Charles Kaufman. 633 

months' school in the year, young Arnold's educational advantages were very much Um- 
ited, nevertheless by energy and perseverance, he acquired in a few years a good Eng- 
lish education. The nine months of the year out of school were spent in the usual oc- 
cupations of a farmer's son. At the age of twelve years he followed the plow day after 
day in season. Thus alternating between three months' schooling and nine months' hard 
work, he remained on his father's farm until sixteen years of age. In the fall of 1836 he 
became assistant teacher in the common schools, and receiving as recompense therefor 
the sum of three dollars per week. He paid for his boarding by working morning and 
evening. 

In the spring of 1837 he removed with his parents to Clearfield county, Pa., and the 
following summer worked on the Musshannan and Packersville turnpike at one dollar 
per day and board. On the 7th of February, 1838, he left his home and went to Kart- 
haus furnace in the northwestern part of Clearfield county, and engaged with Peter Rit- 
ner, the then superintendent of the furnace, as teamster and expressman. In July of 
the same year he was promoted to the position of weighmaster, and in the following De- 
cember to that of salesman for the same firm. In February, 184.0, he came to the vil- 
lage of Strattanville, Clarion county, and entered the employ of W. H. Lowry, with 
whom he remained until 1843. 

In March, 1843 he married Hannah Smith, of Strattanville. They had born to them 
two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, James Turnar Arnold died July 18, 1877. 
Mrs, Arnold died January, 1879. From the date of his marriage in 1843, Mr. Arnold 
engaged in the hotel business at Strattanville. He removed to Clarion March, 1846, 
where he followed the mercantile business until January, 1865, when the First National 
Bank of Clarion was organized and chartered. Mr. Arnold was elected a director, and 
appointed cashier, a position which he has held continuously ever since. By his eftbrts 
and financial ability the institution has prospered, has paid five per cent, semi-annually on 
the capital stock, and has the confidence of its depositors and the public in general. 

In the year 1867 the Carrier Seminary of Western Pennsylvania was chartered, and 
Mr. Arnold appointed one of the trustees, and made treasurer. He was largely instru- 
mental in the procuring of fine grounds and the erection of a large and commodious 
building for the seminary, and still takes an active interest in the educational and mate- 
rial interests of the town. The extension of the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad from 
Edenburg to Clarion was largely due to the energy and financial aid of Mr. Arnold. In 
June, 1883 he married Mrs. Maggie E. Barnett, of Pittsburgh, Pa., with whom he is still 
livina;. 



KAUFMAN, CHARLES. Perhaps no man in Clarion borough has been more 
closely connected with the material prosperity and advancement of the place than 
the subject of this sketch. Born on the i8th day of November, 1832, in the village of 
Neckar Binau, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, of Jewish parents, where he resided 
until his twentieth year. At the age of fourteen years he taught a private school, and 
at sixteen a public school in his native place. This early training in the educational 
work no doubt infused into him that spirit of vigor in working for the advancement of 
the public schools of the borough which he has always shown, and that so frequently 
has received the recognition of his fellow-citizens. 

In his twentieth year he emigrated to the United States, arriving at Pittsburgh in 
August, 1852. He remained in that vicinity until 1853, when he settled in Clarion. In 



634 HiSTORv OF Clarion County. 

November of that year he started a clothing store on Main street, where he continued in the 
business until the war, when he engaged in general merchandising, to which he added a 
lumber yard in 1865, and in 1879 still further expanded his already extensive business 
by adding tobacco and cigars at wholesale, supplying many of the merchants of this 
and surrounding counties with these articles. Indeed it has long been a common say- 
ing that there is nothing he cannot sell you, nor is there anything that he will not buy. 
In 1854 he joined Clarion Lodge I. O. O. F., and in 1856 the Masonic Lodge. In 
both of these lodges he still retains an active membership, having been frequently elected 
to offices of honor and trust in both. At present he is, and has been for fifteen years, 
secretary of the Masonic Lodge and treasurer of the lodge of Odd Fellows. 

He has been connected with the First National Bank of Clarion since its organization 
in 1865, as one of its directors, and for years its vice-president. He has been the president 
of the Clarion County Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1875, and also president 
or director of the Clarion Water Company since its organization in 1875. ^^ ^^ ^ stock- 
holder in the Natural Gaslight and Heat Company, and in the Agricultural Association, 
being treasurer of the latter company. He was the only agent for the different express 
companies that transacted business at Clarion until 1884, when the P. and VV. Railroad 
Company went into the express business itself and refused to carry for other companies. 
He has been an acting member of the school board for a number of years, and has fre- 
quently served as a member of the town council. He is usually court interpreter in 
causes where witnesses are able to use only the German language, and attorney in fact 
for the majority of those here having business to transact in Germany, or for those there 
having personal or business interests here. 

Although a very busy man, Charley Kaufman, as he is familiarly known throughout 
the county, is always ready to do a favor or accommodate a friend or customer. He 
has made his adopfed country completely his own, and has never been found wanting 
by voice or deed in any public enterprise or good work. His large family has been 
brought up in accordance with the spirit of American free institutions, and with the cus- 
toms of the land. 



LOWRY, SAMUEL, 1 was born in County Down, Ireland, May 9, 1809. On his 
fourteenth birthday. May 9, 1823, he set sail, in company with his parents, for 
America. After a very tempestuous voyage upon the sea, and encountering many dif- 
ficulties in crossing the State, they landed in Redbank township, now Clarion county, 
April 8, 1824. His father purchased the farm now owned by Samuel Bowersox, and 
located in Porter township. Samuel Lowry passed his youth at this place, working 
upon the farm. He was bound out as an apprentice to a carpenter in Kittanning. 
After completing his trade he worked in Pittsburgh for six weeks, and went from there 
to Butler, Pa. While there he married Eliza Barnhart, March 12, 1835. Three children 
have been born to them, Mary Ellen, Susannah, and Ann Eliza. Susannah died Jan- 
uary 3, 1845, and Ann Eliza April 15, 1858. 

He purchased 185 acres of land adjoining his father's farm, from John H. Brodhead, 
November 9, 1835. After purchasing the farm, he worked at Butler and the " Great 
Western " until the farm was paid for, when he moved on it and followed farming until 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Regiment of 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and remained with the army during the war. He was severely 

1 By L. L. Himes. 





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^i %¥SjS.' 





Ck^-T-n^-^ ^ 



Ly^ 



Samuel Lowrv. — The Fox Family. 635 

wounded between two mules, and suffers yet from the effects ; also slightly wounded at 
the battle of Stone River. At the close of the war he returned to the farm and con- 
tinued farming until after the death of Mrs. Lowry, which occurred March 14, 1882. 
He purchased property in New Bethlehem, and moved there March 17, 1885, living 
with his daughter, the only remaining member of his family. One sister is the only 
remaining member, besides himself, of his father's family. 



FOX. The Fox family has been more or less identified with lands lying within what 
is now the boundary of Clarion county for nearly a hundred years ; warrants for 
several tracts of land, including those at the junction of the Allegheny and Clarion Riv- 
ers, having been taken out by Samuel M. Fox in 1796. A little over a quarter of a 
century later his son, Joseph M. Fox, went to live there, and the family has since made 
that place their home for a part of the year. Having been thus interested in the county 
since its formation, it seems not unsuitable that a short memoir of the family should 
appear in this book. Justinian Fox, who, tradition says, was a doctor, came from Ply- 
mouth, England, to Philadelphia, a few years after William Penn. He married Eliza- 
beth Yard, whose father emigrated from Devonshire, England, about 1688. Justinian 
Fox had seven children, Joseph being the only one who need be mentioned here. His 
father having died very poor (the inventory of his estate amounting to but sixty-seven 
pounds, and five shillings), Joseph was apprenticed to a carpenter. He afterwards be- 
came possessed of some means through a legacy left him in 1737, and married on Sep- 
tember 25, 1746, in Quaker meeting in Philadelphia, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and 
Thomazine Mickle [)ice Marshall). He built the large double house, now standing, Nos. 
46 and 48 North Third street, Philadelphia, which is still in possession of his descend- 
ants. On January 10, 1765, he was elected Speaker of the Colonial Assembly, at that 
time an office of high trust and distinction. He died on December 10, 1779. He had 
thirteen children, among them Samuel Mickle (born October 4, 1763, died xA.pril 30, 
1808), who married on November 27, 1788, at the Market Street meeting-house, in Phil- 
adelphia, Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Mary Pleasants {nee Pemberton). With a be- 
lief in the future value of lands in the interior of the State, he sold properties in Phila- 
delphia, and bought back lands, including the land in Clarion county on which his de- 
scendants now live. At his death one hundred and eighteen thousand acres, not includ- 
ing his land in then Venango, now Clarion county, were divided. He had thirteen chil- 
dren, of whom the oldest was Joseph Mickle (born October 25, 1779, died February 12, 
1845). He bought from the trustees under his father's will twelve tracts of land inAvhat 
is now Clarion county, containing thirteen thousand two hundred and eighty-four acres, 
the consideration paid being eleven thousand four hundred and twenty-nine dollars and 
forty cents. He married on April 6, 1820, Hannah Emlen, daughter of George and 
Sarah Emlen, [iiee Fishburne.) From her the borough of Emlenton derived its name, 
it being built on land owned by her husband. At the time of his marriage he was prac- 
ticing law at Bellefonte, Pa., and shortly after moved to Meadville. In the year 1827 
he decided to settle on and improve some of the land belonging to him, and with this 
purpose went to Foxburg, since then the summer home of his family. The county was 
then very sparsely settled ; the farmers (and there was no other occupation in the vicinity 
at that time) were Pennsylvania Dutch, far scattered, and, owing to the difficulty of 
transportation, almost entirely self-supporting. An old servant still with the family, 
who, as a boy, went with Mr. Fox to Foxburg in 1832, states that he was the first to in- 



636 History of Clarion County. 

troduce coffee into the district. The nearest post-office was Shippenville, sixteen miles 
away. Later Mr. Fox was instrumental in having one established on his own land, and 
was himself for a time postmaster. He served as State senator through an election held 
in 1829 to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Eben Smith Kelly, his district 
(the twenty-fourth) then comprising the counties of Venango, Warren, Armstrong, Indi- 
ana, Jefferson, and Cambria. He died in 1845, leaving one child — Samuel Mickle Fox, 
then twenty-four years of age. 

Samuel Mickle Fox was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and had been 
admitted to the bar at Philadelphia, where he was entering upon the practice of the law, 
when his father's death brought to him other duties in the management of his and his 
mother's affairs. He married at Wakefield, near Germantown, Philadelphia, Mary Rodman 
Fisher, daughter of William Logan and Sarah Fisher [?ice Lindley). He was a man of 
scholarly instincts and great culture, of a retiring and contemplative disposition ; he had no 
desire for the notoriety of public life, and was devoid of political ambition, although during 
the civil war his pronounced views made him in his district a leader and strong advocate 
for the cause of the Union. In 1861 he was the Republican candidate for State senator 
from the twenty-eighth district, composed of Jefferson, Forest, Elk, and Clarion counties, 
and although running far ahead of the rest of the party ticket, was defeated in his district, 
which was heavily Democratic. It is difficult to measure his life with words, as no great 
deeds marked it, and its worth and usefulness lay in the small acts of every day, of which 
no record can be made. It was a life of unobtrusive well-doing, and was passed with the 
calm quietness of a gentle nature in benefiting in many ways those with whom he came 
in contact, and whom, with his larger means, he was often able to assist. He was de- 
sirous for the improvement of his neighborhood, and was among the first to introduce 
the newer agricultural implements and the better breeds of stock into Clarion county. 
His manners were quiet and retiring, and he had a strong personal magnetism which 
commanded confidence and gained friends without effort. Once he bought a large tract 
of land which had long been in litigation and had been largely taken possession of by 
squatters, who declared that the land was theirs, and that they would shoot any one who 
claimed it. He quietly went alone on horseback among them, meeting no resistance, 
and some of the squatters became afterward his devoted friends. He died at Foxburg, 
on Christmas day, 1869, and his epitaph was not unaptly spoken by one of his friends, 
who, when he heard of it, said, ''A gentleman has died." A short time previous to his 
death petroleum was discovered on his lands. The Allegheny Valley Railroad had been 
built through them, and building was begun on the land where the village of Foxburg 
now stands. The face of the country rapidly changed, and while it grew in wealth it 
lost its isolation, which to him had been one of the chief pleasures in his home. 

He left four children — WiUiam Logan, Joseph Mickle, Sarah Lindley, and Hannah, 
of whom Joseph and Hannah survive. William Logan Fox was eighteen years old at 
the time of his father's death. He had passed through the Junior class of the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, and was then at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, N. 
Y., from which he graduated as a civil engineer four years later. He then spent a year 
in Europe, and on his return assumed, in conjunction with the trustees under his father's 
will, the active management of the business at Foxburg, then of some magnitude, owing 
to the recent developments of petroleum in the vicinity. About this time, and furthered 
by his energy and moneyed aid, the bridge across the Allegheny River at Foxburgh, and 




u 



The Fox Family. — Elias Ritts. 637 

the one across the Clarion, were built, and the turnpike from Foxburg to Petersburg 
was made. 

Early in 1879 the Foxburg, St. Petersburg and Clarion Railroad was projected, and 
he, believing it would be of material benefit to the village of Foxburg, entered into 
its construction with his usual energy. He was made president, and the road was vig- 
orously pushed toward completion. Later he bought a controlling interest in the Em- 
lenton, Shippenville and Clarion Railroad, running from Emlenton to Clarion, the total 
length of both roads being about fifty miles. He had in contemplation the enlarging of 
his railroads, and had acquired a charter to Kane, intending to make connection with 
the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. This has been done since his death, and the roads 
are now part of the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad. 

William L. Fox took a deep interest in politics, and was strong in his belief in and 
support of the Republican party, and in its interest started at Foxburg a weekly news- 
paper. The Republicayi Gazette. He was a member of the Electoral College of Pennsyl- 
vania, which voted for Garfield in 1880, but died before it met, and at the time of his 
death was chairman of the Republican County Committee. He died at Foxburg on 
April 29, 1880, leaving a widow, Rebecca Clifford, daughter of Samuel F. and Anna C. 
Hollingsworth {iiee Pemberton). He left no issue. His death was a distinct loss to the 
community about Foxburg, and indeed to his county, for already at the age of twenty- 
eight his enterprise in business matters had made itself felt, and his ambition and zealous 
work in the political field had stamped him as one who might in the future hope to re- 
ceive broad recognition. 

To his and to his father's memory the Memorial Church of our Father was built, 
overlooking the village of Foxburg, and serves not unfitly as a monument to two men 
whose life work was done, and whose death took place near where it stands ; and it is 
earnestly hoped that as in their time their influence was for the good, it may perpetuate 
their work by being a benefit to the community, and that the love for the dead which 
built it may be of lasting help to the living. It is dedicated to the services of the Prot- 
estant Episcopal Church, the first one in the county belonging to that denomination. 
While it was building another memory was added to it through the death of Sarah Lind- 
ley Fox, on June 20, 1882. She was deeply interested in its success, and her death was- 
the loss of an ardent worker in its cause. On the death of William L. Fox the manage- 
ment of the family property devolved on his brother, Joseph M. Fox, who married at 
Charleston on May 10, 1883, Emily A. Reed, daughter of Benjamin Huger and Julia 
Read {nee Middleton); issue, Mary Lindley, born December 12, 1884. j. m. f. 



RITTS, ELIAS. How far a man is made by his environments is perhaps an unsolved 
problem ; but there is no doubt a strong character is greatly influenced, developed 
or modified by the outside world with which he comes in contact. Had the subject of 
this memoir remained with his father and learned the trade of jeweler, in the respectable 
old county of Berks, he would probably have grown gray repairing his neighbors' watches. 
But he was destined to occupy another field. 

Elias Ritts was born in Berks county, Pa., on the 5th day of November, 1822. The 

family moved to Lehigh county in 1830, and in 1836, while Elias was still a boy, came 

to Richland township, Venango county (now Clarion). Here he grew to manhood 

among the Vensels, Shoups, Neelys, and other pioneers of that new settlement. His. 

71 



638 History of Clarion County. 

proximity to the Allegheny and Clarion rivers seemed to have determined his vocations 
in life. At an early period in his history he became familiar with the upper waters of 
the Clarion, and with a limited education, but full of energy, engaged in the trade of that 
river, building flat-boats and freighting metal to the Pittsburgh market as early as 1840. 
By care and skill Mr. Ritts became a successful carrier of freight, and a heavy dealer on 
the river and in Pittsburgh for many years. He carried all the metal made by Judge 
Keating's furnace, and had a still larger contract of freighting metal for Lyon, Shorb & 
Co., for a number of years. He also freighted a large amount of metal for Plumer & 
Crary from Buchanan and Jefferson furnaces. Few of his boats were wrecked or sunk, 
and by him no man lost a ton of metal, though the business was by no means free 
from risk. While thus engaged he became extensively acquainted along the river, and 
accumulated considerable property. 

In March, 1849, he married Elizabeth Vensel, by whom he had four children ; all but 
the youngest are still living. Plis wife dying in 1863, he married his second wife in 
1866, by whom he has had five children, all living. His active out-door life and ex- 
tended business relations gave him a strong constitution, and has made him prominent 
as a leading property owner and business man of the county. He retained nothing 
that he brought with him from Berks county but his pohtics and religion. He was never 
a noisy politican or an office seeker, but has quietly voted the Democratic ticket ever 
:since he became of age. In early life he connected with the German Reformed Church, 
and has ever since been one of its liberal supporters, and an officer therein. 

Mr. Ritts is tall and slender, with a well knit form, a pleasant face, social habits, and 
a kind disposition. In 1880 he bought a third interest in the Blake lumber lands for 
$50,000, and sold it in 1884 for about $85,000. He still holds considerable real estate 
in Richland and Beaver townships, also in other parts of the county, besides personal 
property of value. 

In the early days of the oil excitement near the mouth of the Clarion River, he be- 
came an oil operator and producer, a business he has made pay handsomely. Since 
selling his lumber lands he has to some extent retired from active work on the river, 
to rest on an ample competency secured by a life of industry. At the age of sixty- 
five he is still living where he started his business life, one of the respected patriarchs of 
St. Petersburg, with his family around him. He is still enjoying excellent health, with 
erect frame, and his chances are fairly good for several years more to live and quietly 
look back over a long and well spent life. 



KNOX, HON. JAMES B., son of William and Sarah Knox, was born at Knoxville, 
Tioga county. Pa., November 4, 1831. After obtaining a liberal education he be- 
gan the study of law in Franklin, Pa., with Hon. John C. Knox, his only brother. He 
was duly admitted to the bar, came to Clarion in 1853, and commenced life actively in 
his chosen profession. In 1855 he married Jennie Z. Stehley, of Harrisburg, Pa. Their 
union was blessed with six children, five of whom are yet living, and reside in Clarion. 

At the beginning of the Civil War Mr. Knox left his family and a lucrative law prac- 
tice to bear arms for his country. On the 14th of June, 1861, he was mustered into the 
service of the Union army as captain of Company E, of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment, 
Tenth P. R. V. C. He was promoted to major August 15, 1862, and later to command- 
ing officer of his regiment. On account of his health failing he resigned his position, ob- 
tained his discharge November 23, 1863, and returned to his family and practice in Clar- 



Hon. James B. Knox. — Michael Edic Hess. 639 

ion. During his service in the army he participated in the following battles : Dranes- 
ville, Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill, Newmarket Cross-roads, Malvern Hill, Fredericks- 
burg, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, and Mine Run. During the battle of Gettysburg a 
little incident occurred which will serve to show how regardless he was of his own life, 
and how he sought to save the lives of his comrades. He wanted to see the position of 
the Confederates in the Devil's Den, and for this purpose stood on a rock exposed to 
the enemy's fire, but told his men to keep down, that it was dangerous. While stand- 
ing there a shell struck a branch of a tree only a few feet from his head. This he 
treated as a trivial affair, making motions to the rebels, and still standing in his position, 
a target for their marksmen. His farewell address to his men at the close of his last 
dress parade was quite a touching scene. His remarks were full of pathos and patriotism. 

In 1873 he entered into a law partnership with Hon. James T. Maffett, which con- 
tinued until he took his seat on the bench, January 1, 1882, having been elected to the 
judgeship of the Eighteenth Judicial District in the fall of 1881. He performed the 
duties of his office faithfully until his death on December 22, 1884. He died at his post 
while holding court in Brookville. The disease, asthma, which carried him away, was 
contracted during his military services in the army. 

As a citizen, Mr. Knox was greatly respected, and regarded as stricdy honest and up- 
right in all his dealings. His intentions were good, and his private character exception- 
ally pure and above suspicion. As a soldier he was brave and daring almost to reckless- 
ness, and much loved by his comrades. In his profession he stood high in ability, integ- 
rity, and gentlemanly deportment; as a judge he was popular, sympathetic, and impartial; 
as a husband and father he was a model of devotion and affection. 



HESS, MICHAEL EDIC, the subject of this sketch, was born in South Columbia, 
Herkimer county, N. Y., September 25, 1826. He is descended from John Hess» 
who, with others, called Palatinates, came from Hesse Cassel, Germany, in 17 10, and 
settled on the Mohawk River in Montgomery county, N. Y. The locality taking its 
name from the settlers was called Palatine. Subsequently the family of John Hess moved 
farther up the river, and became one of the first settlers of Herkimer county, N. Y. The 
surrounding vicinity was then inhabited, by the Mohawk Indians, and Fort Herkimer 
was built as a refuge for the settlers. In an Indian raid on the fort in 1782, Augusden- 
nis Hess, son of John Hess was killed while driving cattle into the enclosure. Hanyost 
Hess, son of Augusdennis Hess, enlisted in the War of the Revolution in 1776, and 
served to the close, being under Alexander Hamilton in the battle of Yorktown. 

George Hess, son of Hanyost, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born and 
reared in Herkimer county, and moved to Cortland county, N. Y., about 1830, thence to 
Dewitt Center near Syracuse, and about 1842 to Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he died 
in 1857. He served in the War of 1812, was a farmer by occupation, and reared a family 
of nine children, the other three dying in infancy. Of the twelve the last three were 
triplets, named respectively George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van 
Buren, thus plainly indicating his political proclivities. M. E. Hess drove a team on the 
Erie Canal in 1840-1-2. The summer of 1843 he worked on a farm near Syracuse, N* 
Y.,and the following winter attended district school, doing chores for his board. In 
March, 1843, i-'^der the preaching of Rev. Cleveland, he received the " word" which 
gave bent to his after life. He afterwards worked for Joseph, his elder brother, at Fay- 
etteville, N. Y., and attended the Fayettville Academy, being a school-mate of William 



640 History of Clarion County. 

Cleveland, elder brother of President Cleveland. Grover, then a lad of nine or ten 
years, was attending a district school near by, and was often at the academy in company 
with his brother William. Mr. Hess afterwards taught district school, and in 1847 came 
to the lumber country in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he took a saw-mill to run by 
the thousand. He subsequently bought the mill, and continued in the lumber business for 
ten years. 

In 1849 he married CaroHne Shaver, of Jamestown, N. Y. He enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in August, 1862, and fought in the batde 
of Perryville, Ky., October 8th. Soon afterwards he became disabled by an attack of 
typhoid fever, and at the suggestion of his attending physician was discharged in order 
to regain his health. In the fall of 1863 he was elected drill-master in the Ohio Na- 
tional Guard, at Camp Cleveland. He received from Governor Tod, of Ohio, two 
commissions, the first for lieutenant, and the second for major. 

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Hess engaged in the oil business at Mecca, Ohio. In the 
summer of 1864 he came to Oil Creek, and operated for oil on Cherry Run, at Pithole, 
Petroleum Center, Shamburg, and McClintockville. In 1872 he moved to Franklin, 
Venango county, thence to Shippenville in 1874, and in 1877 to Edenburg, Clarion 
county, where he lives at present. He commenced operating for oil in Clarion county 
in 1873, putting down the first well on the David Shoup farm, also the first one on Dan- 
iel Knight's farm. In 1874 he drilled the first well on the Moon farm in Ashland town- 
ship, the first successful well on the R. J. Dahle farm, in Elk township, in 1875 ; one of 
the first wells on the J. I. Best farm at Edenburg, and in 1876 the first well on the Camp 
Ridge and David Whitehill farm. The same year, he, in company with E. C. Bradly> 
esq., put down the first wells on Egypt farm in Beaver township. At the assignment of 
Mr. Bradly, Hess became liquidating partner, and 'settled all the claims against Hess & 
Bradley. Mr. Hess brought with him to Clarion county $60,000, but testing so exten- 
sively for oil, and in consequence of endorsements he became financially embarrassed. 
However, he was afterwards able to make satisfactory settlements. He in company 
with others in 1887 secured extensive leases in Monroe township, and struck the first 
successful well in the Reidsburg field. In Edenburg he has been elected burgess twice, 
and has filled various other borough offices. 

He had a family of three boys and three girls. The eldest son, Eugene, is West ; 
the younger, Frank and Earnest, are minors at home. The eldest of the girls, Ida, mar- 
ried F. G. Sacket, the next. Bell, married G. S. Hamm, and the youngest, Mary, died 
in Franklin at the age of nine years. His wife and mother of his children died of can- 
cer at Edenburg. In September, 187S, he married Margaret E. Klotz, widow of Dr. 
Charles Klotz, of Richland townshi]). 

Mr. Hess has superintended the Methodist Sunday-schools of Petroleum Center, 
Franklin, Shippenville, and for the last ten years at Edenburg. 

At the age of twelve years the subject of this sketch had two hairbreadth escapes 
from death. The first was while sitting partly concealed under the bank beside the canal. 
A boat passing by had on deck a hunter looking for game. Seeing only the top of the 
oy's muskrat cap, and supposing it to be a genuine rat took aim and fired at it, just 
grazing the crown of Michael's head. The second was on board a canal-boat in enter- 
ing a lock near Syracuse. As the boat approached the foot of the lock the gates were 
opened in order to empty it. The sudden gush of water moved rapidly the tiller by 
which he was standing, and pitched him overboard, and the rapidly discharging waters 



Michael Edic Hess. — Ruloff Isaac Allen Rulofson. 641 

swept him under the boat. After passing under it for near its entire length he got his 
foot on the gravel, pushed himself out, and unaided waded ashore. 

In the fall of 1886 he edited the Prohibition column of the Clarioti County National, 
and in 1887 wrote " The Early Recollections of Edenburg," published in the same paper. 



RULOFSON, RULOFF ISAAC ALLEN, was born in Hampton, King's county. 
New Brunswick, B. N. A., October 18, 1822, and received a substantial education 
in the city of St. John, in his native province. Following the advice of Greeley, at the 
age of twenty-one he started west, crossed the St. Croix River, and began life actively 
as a self-made millwright. In the fall of 1843, ^t Milltown, Me., on the St. Croix River, 
he built the first successful live gang saw-mill in the United States. He afterwards mar- 
ried Amanda J. Emerson, and continuing his course westward came to Saccarapa, near 
Portland, Me., thence to Elk county. Pa., bringing with him considerable mill machin- 
ery. He remained in Elk county several years, engaging extensively in the lumber 
business. 

In 1858 he came to Strattanville, Clarion county, Pa., near where he had purchased 
an interest in a large tract of timber land. Here he became the managing member of 
the firm known as Marvin, Rulofson & Co., and built a large saw-mill, which has been 
improved and is still in active operation on the Clarion River at the mouth of Mill 
Creek, also a beautiful residence in Strattanville, in which he lives at present. His time 
being occupied closely, and being a man of few words, he found it necessary to abridge 
his name, and instead of writing it as at first given, adopted R. Rulofson as his signature. 

In the early part of his life he was in the British volunteer service, and acted as 
courier through snow seven feet deep during the Aroostook War, and was on the line of 
duty the day Queen Victoria was crowned. 

As a youth he had good habits, was healthy, active, and untiring ; an expert fisher- 
man, a skillful hunter, and was very fond of horses. In his twentieth year he was nursed 
in the arms of a bear, and at another time was buried in the snow in consequence of a 
deer getting fast in one of his snow shoes. While in Elk county he caught a live, sound 
buck by the horns, and held him in the water on logs and gravel until a friend went 
a good distance for a knife. He says, " I dare not let go." 

The night of April 16, 1851 was made memorable to him by a perilous trip on the 
ocean. He with his wife and three children, at 8 o'clock p. m., on that evening, went on 
board the steamer Admiral. After leaving the harbor of Portland, Me., the ship was 
unable to take her course on account of a terrific storm, and was compelled to put to 
sea for twenty-four hours. The fright of that trip baffles description. Many of the 
seamen became unable for duty; no food was eaten there for forty-eight hours. In his 
own words, " The water, ah, me ! it rolled mountains high, often covering the entire 
vessel." 

In 1842 Mr. Rulofson became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
and also a Free and Accepted Mason. He was elected for fifteen successive years Dis- 
trict Deputy Grand Master of the I. O. O. F., of Clarion county, but resigned before 
serving the fifteenth year, in order to have more time to spend with his family, to whom 
he was affectionately devoted. He served four or five years as Worshipful Master of 
Clarion Lodge A. Y. M., and received from its members a valuable past-master jewel 
as a token of the high esteem in which he was held by his brethren. He also received 
similar tokens from the O. F's. of the county, and from Clarion Lodge I. O. O. F. 



642 History of Clarion County. 



Mr. Rulofson's adventures in hunting, fishing, travel, etc., and his services in organ- 
ized societies are far ecHpsed by his brilHant business career. His business transactions 
have amounted to several million dollars. He has been a lumberman in every sense of 
the term ; he has erected large saw-mills, and managed their operations, cut and trans- 
ported a great deal of lumber, dealt extensively in timber tracts, and constructed 
machinery to work as desired. His thorough business qualities, sound judgment and 
good intentions have won for him the confidence and good-will of all with whom he 
has dealt. He has always been liberal, energetic, and courteous. 

SLOAN, WILLIAM C, was born in Clarion township, Armstrong county. Pa., now 
Clarion county, in 1827. His father, James Sloan, settled in this county in 1818, 
and for several years contracted for the transportation of iron, hauling it from Center 
county. Pa., to the Clarion River, near where Clarion is now, and boating it from there 
to Louisville, Ky. His grandfather, John Sloan, was one of the first settlers in West- 
moreland county. Pa., and had his share of fighting the Indians, hunting, clearing, etc., 
along with other new-comers. Sarah Sloan, daughter of William Corbett, who had 
brought her to Clarion county from Mifiiin county, Pa., when a child nine years old, was 
his mother. 

James and Sarah Sloan had a family of four boys and three girls. Three of the sons 
served in the Union army during the entire Civil War. One of them has since died in 
Clarion county of sun-stroke received in Richmond, Va., at the time of its capture; one 
is now living in San Francisco, Cal., and the other is living in Lancaster City, Pa. 

William C. Sloan learned the carpenter trade, and contracted for building when he 
was quite young, an occupation which he followed for several years. He also taught 
several terms of school, and rafted and ran boats on the river when not otherwise em- 
ployed, always making it a point never to be idle. In 1865 he purchased his farm in 
West Millville, and married Sarah J. Hepler, daughter of Jacob and Mary Hepler. They 
have since had five children, named respectively Carrie Bee, Flora M., J. Frank, Norman 
Jay, and Myra Pearll. 

He laid out the village of West Millville, Pa., in 1870, and has ever since taken an 
active interest in its improvement. From the time he bought his farm until 1872 he 
was engaged in the store business and improving his farm. Since that time, with the 
exception of the year 1852, which he spent among the Indians and buffaloes of British 
America and Dakota, he has devoted his entire attention to farming, and raising Jersey 
cattle and fine horses. Mr. Sloan has been an active worker in the Presbyterian ChurcK 
at West Millville. He has always been industrious and economical, and is a useful citi- 
zen in the community in which he lives. 

ANDREWS, CHARLES E., was born in the city of Philadelphia, October 9, 1828. 
His father was a merchant, and died soon after Charles was born. His mother re- 
married, and when Charles was eight years old the family came to Clarion county, settling 
on a farm. When about eighteen years of age Charles accepted a clerkship in the store 
of Thomas McKelvey, a merchant in New Bethlehem, at a salary of forty dollars a year. 
After serving faithfully for four years he was taken into partnership by his employers, 
which partnership continued for three years. 

In 1854 he started a small store in the same town on his own account, and soon 
after married Miss Catharine Duff", daughter of Samuel Duft", then a prominent iron 



Charles E. Andrews. — John W. Kahle. 643 

manufacturer in Clarion county. From this time forward Mr. Andrews has prospered, 
and has been identified with every enterprise of note in New Bethlehem. 

In i860 he built a large saw-mill and boat-yard, and in 1863 he added a planing-mill, 
and became largely interested in the lumber business, both in his own town and in Jef- 
ferson county. Pa. 

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews — three girls and two boys. Two 
of the daughters died in 1872. The two sons. Firman L. and William M., are engaged 
in business with their father. Firman is a partner in the lumber business, composing 
the firm of C. E. Andrews & Son. They have a saw and planing-mill in New Bethle- 
hem, and are interested in and handle the production of two large saw and shingle- 
mills in Jefferson county. They manufacture and ship lumber to various parts of 
several States of the Union. William is a young merchant and partner in a general 
store, comprising the firm of C. E. & W. M. Andrews. They have an extensive busi- 
ness, which they manage with prudence and skill. The daughter, Carrie, is married and 
lives in Reynoldsville, Jefferson county. 

In the year 1872 the subject of this sketch built a banking-house, and started the 
New Bethlehem Savings Bank. He was elected the first president of the bank, and has 
been re-elected annually ever since. John R. Foster is cashier, and the bank is one of 
the soundest institutions of its kind in Western Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Andrews, by his prudence and energy has secured a handsome competence and 
this coupled with his qualities as a gentleman, has won for him the respect of his neigh- 
bors, and he is regarded as a substantial and worthy citizen. 



KAHLE, JOHN W. Jacob Kahle and his wife Sarah, with the rest of the family, 
came from Huntingdon county to what is now Clarion county, and settled about 
two miles north of Shippenville, in Elk township, in 1826, and began clearing and im- 
proving a farm,. At that time this locality was somewhat of a wilderness. Bears were 
quite numerous, and would sometimes come into the yard in broad daylight. At one 
time the family was interrupted, while eating dinner, by the squealing of a pig, strug- 
ghng in the clutches. of bruin, who wanted some dinner also. At another time, while on 
the road to Shippenville, then a little village of four or five houses, Mr. Kahle, accom- 
panied by his sons George and John W., was again called to the rescue of a pig, squeal- 
ing for life, at the mercy of two bears. After being chased away from the pig, the bears 
came out on the road near where the boys were standing. The situation became fright- 
ful. The boys began to utter such terrific cries, which were mistaken for fierceness, that 
the bears soon made their way into the forest. Wolves, deer, and other wild animals 
frequently made their appearance on the premises. 

John W. Kahle, the subject of this sketch, was born in Huntingdon county. Pa., 
December 28, 182 1, and lived with his parents until 1844. That spring he was em- 
ployed as book-keeper by William B. Fetzer, at Elk Furnace, and at the end of the first 
month was given the general management of the furnace. In 1859 he built on the 
Allegheny River, a few miles above Brady's Bend, for Samuel F. Plumer, the first coke 
furnace in the county. He has served as manager of furnaces for fifteen years. 

In 1845 he married Ann Cheers, and has since raised a family of eight children, four 
boys and four girls, all of whom are living at present. He moved with his family to 
Lineville, in the northwestern corner of Clarion county, in i860, and there engaged in 
mercantile business, and also in farminsr. 



644 History of Clarion County. 

A company of bankers in New York city had purchased a large tract of land along 
the Allegheny River, between Oil City and Franklin, and in 1864 employed Mr. Kahle 
to superintend the development of the property for oil. During his connection with the 
company he was loyal to their interest. At one time he was offered one hundred thou- 
sand dollars if he would give certain facts concerning the wells tested to the party offer- 
ing the money one week before he gave them to the company employing him. He was 
urged by some of his friends to accept the offer, and become rich at once. His reply 
was, " The company are paying me a large salary to attend to their business. If there 
is anything to be gained by the first information given, the company shall have the ben- 
efit of it," — a reply, under the circumstances, worthy of being repeated for ages. In 
1865 he recommended the company to bring the operations for oil in that territory to a 
close. The company urged him to continue. After satisfying himself that the income 
would not pay expenses he resigned. 

In 1878 Mr. Kahle was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. He 
was there, as elsewhere, faithful and true to his constituents. He served eighteen years 
as school director, and also was postmaster for several years ; his last appointment 
being March 30, 1870. He resigned in October, 1880, and his daughter Mary was 
appointed to the vacancy October 25, 1880, and continued the office in his store until 
her resignation. He was a delegate to the National Convention of the Anti-Monopoly 
and Greenback parties, which met in Chicago in 1883, and served on the committee to 
adopt a platform ; also was a delegate to a National Convention of Greenback-Labor 
party, which met in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1884, and State delegate to the convention 
of Greenback- Labor party, which met in Erie, Pa., in 1885, serving again on platform 
committee. 

Mr. Kahle has always been a faithful worker in the church; before 1862 in the M. 
E. Church, and since then in the Evangelical Association. His wife and all his chil- 
dren are faithful servants of their Master. 



EAKER, PHILIP K., was born in Northampton county. Pa., June 11, 1831. When 
five years of age he was brought by his grandparents to what is now Clarion county, 
and soon after was bound out to Philip Kratzer, who lived near Rimersburg, Pa. After 
serving as bound boy for seven years, he lived three years with his mother, who had, in 
the mean time, been unfortunate in marrying a man of intemperate habits. Owing to 
these circumstances, the boy's opportunity of an early education was limited to four 
months in the common schools. After leaving his step-father, he followed chopping 
cord-wood, and driving team until 1849, when he engaged in mining ore for C. Myres, 
at Polk Furnace. In 1852 he went to Warren county and worked in the lumber woods 
for a short time. He then came back to Polk Furnace and engaged with J. N. Heth- 
rington, at that time owner and manager of the furnace. 

In 1854 Mr. Eaker left this place with five hundred dollars in money, and purchased 
a yoke of cattle, a wood sled, and a tract of wildcat land on the east bank of the Alle- 
gheny River, near where Oil City is now. While here he was engaged in clearing his 
farm and rafting on the river until 1857. About this time his step-father died, leaving 
his mother a poor and helpless widow. PhiHp then erected buildings on his property, 
moved his mother there and tenderly cared for her until her death, in 1863. He mar- 
ried Mary E. Sager, of Venango county, Pa., January 4, 1859. They have since had 
eleven children, only seven of whom are living at present. 



Philip K. Eaker. — William Shanafelt. 645 

Mr. Eaker's wildcat farm proved to be oil territory. He afterwards sold it as such 
and bought, for $14,500, the property known as the James Sloan farm in Limestone 
township, where he is living at present. He moved on this farm in March, 1865, and 
has since bought in that vicinity three other farms, amounting to about seven hundred 
acres in all, and also has purchased considerable property in New Bethlehem. 

He united with the Salem Reformed Church in 1866, and has ever since been one 
of its most liberal supporters. He has also contributed liberally to the building of other 
churches, both at home and abroad, and to home and foreign missions. He has always 
been good to the poor, and was never known to turn the hungry from his door without 
something to eat. He is an excellent farmer, and takes an active interest in raising 
fine stock. He has a choice outfit of the latest and most improved farm implements, 
and has cultivated his orchard and planted trees in his yard until he has an abundance 
of elegant fruit and a beautiful home. 



SHANAFELT, WILLIAM, was born in McConnellstown, Huntingdon county, Pa., 
March 4, 1825. His father, Nicholas Shanafelt, was born in Centre county, Febru- 
ary 4, 1799. His grandfather, Nicholas Shanafelt, was of German ancestry. He was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary War; was with Washington at Valley Forge, and while 
serving under General Wayne, near Wilmington, Del., was wounded in the neck, and 
reported on the army records as among the killed. He recovered, however, and lived 
in Centre county until 1820. His wife lived with one of her sons until her death at 
Edwardsburg, Mich., in 1846. He had six sons and several daughters. One of the 
daughters married Mr. Shough, and settled in the western part of Ohio. Three of the 
sons, William, John, and George, were soldiers during the War of 18 12, and the first two 
were in the army of General Hull when he surrendered to the British General Brock. 

Nicholas Shanafelt, the father of the subject of this sketch, was married March 30, 
1823, to Keziah Greenland, in Trough^Creek Valley, Huntingdon county. Pa. Their 
early home was at McConnellstown, where he labored industriously at his trade, that of 
gunsmith, and acquired considerable property. In 1835 he removed to what was then 
Redbank township, Armstrong county, and is now Porter township, Clarion county. 
The farm which he purchased is on Leatherwood Creek. Being among the early set- 
tlers, only a few acres were under cultivation. The land was cleared, and suitable build- 
ings erected. While superintending the development of the farm he continued success- 
fully his trade as gunsmith. In the spring of 1850 he removed to the village of Clarion, 
and erected and occupied until his death the residence now occupied by John Reid, esq. 
His wife, Keziah Shanafelt, died in Clarion, August 18, 1867, aged over sixty-six years. 
After this event he spent much of his time visiting his children in Pennsylvania, Michi- 
gan, and Iowa. Having lived a useful life he died at Clarion, October 13, 187 1, aged 
nearly seventy-three years. He was widely known and respected as a citizen. He had 
the confidence of all who knew him as a consistent Christian. In early life he became 
a Baptist, and for nearly forty years held the office of deacon. 

The children of Nicholas and Keziah Shanafelt were five sons and two daughters : 
William, born March 4, 1825 ; Ezra, born May 18, 1827; John R., born October 27,. 
1829; Andrew F., born March 10, 1832 ; Sarah A., born October 18, 1834; all at Mc- 
Connellstown, Huntingdon county. Pa.; Thomas M., born April 30, 1840; Mary J.,, 
born October i, 1842; in Porter township Clarion county. Of these Ezra and Sarah 



646 History of Clarion County. 

A. died in 1839. Three of the sons — John R,, Andrew F., and Thomas M., having 
graduated at Bucknell University at Lewisburg, Pa., and Rochester and Crozer Theolog- 
ical Seminaries, entered the Baptist ministry, and have been successful pastors on im- 
portant fields. Rev. John R. Shanafelt has been pastor at Berwick, Pittston, Shamokin, 
and Pittsburgh, in this State, and also in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. He is now liv- 
ing in Lawrence, Kansas. He married Miss Hannah Teressa Smith in Moreland, Mon- 
tour county. Pa. They have six children. Rev. Andrew F, Shanafelt was until his 
death one of the leading Baptist ministers in this State. He was pastor at White Hall, 
Sabbath Rest, and Chester. He was president of the Knight Templars' excursion to 
Europe in 1873. Before returning he made an extended tour through Egypt and Pal- 
estine. He baptized his dragoman or guide in' the River Jordan. He was married to 
Miss Eliza Potter, of this county. They have had five children ; three are living — two 
daughters and a son, Newton, who is one of the leading attorneys of Chester. Andrew 
died while pastor at Chester, March 16, 1875. Rev. Thomas M. Shanafelt, D.D., was 
ordained at Muncy, Pa., in 1864; served during the war in the Twenty-eighth Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Became pastor at White Pigeon, Mich., in 1867. Has 
been pastor at Monroe, Hudson, and East Saginaw; was for several years secretary and 
treasurer of the Michigan Baptist Education Society. Has been since 1874 secretary 
•of the Michigan Baptist State Convention. Has been sent by the Michigan Depart- 
ment of the G. A.R., to the National Encampment held at Minneapolis, Minn., Port- 
land, Me., San Francisco, Cal., St„ Louis, Mo. Was elected at Minneapolis in 1884 
chaplain-in-chief of the national organization. He is a member of all the Masonic 
bodies in existence, and is a thirty-second degree member of the Scottish Rite. He is 
now pastor at Three Rivers, Mich.; was married October 23, 1866, to Miss Phebe Gil- 
day, of Jersey Shore, Pa. They have had two children, one living, a son, William C, 
who is a stenographer. Mary J. was married in Clarion, to C. Jackson Rhea, of Clar- 
ion. They have four daughters and one son. Having served one term as sheriff of 
Clarion county ; Mr. Rhea has been for a number of years superintendent of the con- 
struction department of the United Pipe Line Company ; present residence, Oil City. 
William Shanafelt, the eldest of the family, a farmer by profession, owns and resides on 
the old homestead, purchased in 1835, of which he bore the principal part in clearing 
and bringing under cultivation. He was married May 2, 1844, to Catharine Thomas, 
daughter of Rev. Thomas E. Thomas, from Glamorganshire, Wales, for many years pas- 
tor of Zion Baptist Church, and sister of B. H. Thomas, D.D. She was a devoted and 
faithful wife and mother. She died October 26, 1876. Of fourteen children eight died 
in infancy ; five are living. William Lewis, the eldest son, married Emma Sample, of 
Clarion county, and removing to theAVest, they were among the first settlers in Platte 
Valley, Dawson county, Neb. He died there October 8, 1882. He had three chil- 
dren — Lottie, Ralph, and Lulu. Arminda, the eldest daughter, married Curtis Sloan, 
of Clarion county, and they reside in Limestone township. They have five children — 
William, Catharine, Annie, John J., and Edna. John was married to Minnie Arthur, of 
Jefferson county, and for a number of years was an attorney and justice of the peace in 
this county. They have two children — Carl and Maun. Margaret E. is married to Her- 
bert Phillips. They^have one child — Earl. H. Wick married Annie Martin, of Porter 
ownship, and is living in Platte Valley, Dawson county. Neb. They have four children — 
Benjamin, William, Merle, and Pearl. Keziah P- is living at home. 

Mr. Shanafelt's second marriage was to Armina Jane McNutt, daughter of Robert 



William Shanafelt. — A. J. Davis. 647 

McNutt, and granddaughter of Colon McNutt, an early pioneer, who settled in this 
township in 1806. To the old homestead he has added what was formerly the W. D. 
Latimer farm, and other additions, making 250 acres. He and his wife also own an- 
other tract of 112 acres. He has always been a progressive farmer, and was among the 
first in this county to adopt improved methods and implements of farming. He has de- 
voted much attention to raising blooded stock, especially Shorthorn cattle, adding at dif- 
ferent times to his herd selections from the best known stock growers of Ohio and Ken- 
tucky. All of his herd are registered in the American Shorthorn Herd Book. 

Mr. Shanafelt's early education was obtained in the common school. He taught 
some ; has been a diligent reader of the Bible, history, and current literature, and has 
always been strictly temperate. In early life he united with the Baptist Church, and for 
many years has held the office of deacon. 

His maternal ancestors were Nathan Greenland and Sarah Corbin, his wife. They 
came from Maryland to Huntingdon county, Pa., about the beginning of the present 
century. They were descended from Richard Greenland and Benjamin Corbin, of Eng- 
land. 



DAVIS, A, J.^ Professor Davis is probably more fully identified with the educational 
interests of the county than any other man. He was born in the county June 21, 
1847, attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, and then a term at the 
Clarion Collegiate Institute at Rimersburg. In 1863 he was employed as a farm hand 
at six dollars per month, working from early morn to evening twilight. 

On the 20th of February, 1S64, he enlisted as a private in the Civil War, and was 
assigned to Battery B, Third Pennsylvania Artillery, One Hundred and Fifty-second 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers ; was attached to the " Naval Brigade," and did 
gunboat service in Eastern Virginia and Eastern North Carolina ; was with the armies 
of the James and the Potomac during the siege of Richmond and Petersburg. On his 
discharge, in July, 1865, he returned home and again took up his studies at the school 
in Rimersburg; then taught in the public schools of the county, alternately teaching and 
attending schools, among others the State Normal School, until the summer of 1869, 
when he took charge as principal of the West Freedom Academy, which position he 
held for three years, conducting the institution with marked success. 

In 1874 Mr. Davis was elected principal of the Clarion Collegiate Institute, 
where he remained until chosen superintendent of public schools of Clarion county, May, 

1875. He entered upon the duties of his office with a degree of energy, perseverance 
and tact, that merited the two re-elections to the same position that followed in succes- 
sion, and during the eight years and fifteen days that he remained superintendent it is 
safe to say that no other county in the State experienced a more rapid advancement in 
the grade of her common schools or in the proficiency of her teachers. 

While at West Freedom Professor Davis organized the first company of the National 
Guard of Pennsylvania in the county, and was elected captain of the same. In May, 

1876, he was elected major of the Seventeenth Regiment National Guard of Pennsyl- 
vania, and in 1877 was appointed judge advocate of the Seventh Division on the staff 
of General Huidekoper. 

He was married December 23, 1875, to Miss Anna M. Kerr. In March, 1883, he 
was tendered a position as statistic clerk in the department of public instruction, which 

1 By F. J. MatTett. 



648 History of Clarion County. 

he accepted after some deliberation, and was appointed April ist. During the incum- 
bency of this clerkship he was sent to Alaska under the joint auspices of the National 
Bureau of Education and the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, and 
spent several months in that territory, organizing industrial and training schools for native 
children at Sitka. On his return he resumed his position in the department of public 
instruction, and continued to hold the same until February, 1887, when he resigned, 
having accepted the position of principal of the State Normal School at Clarion, Pa. 

He is a regular graduate of Edinboro State Normal School, and holds an honorary 
diploma from the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio. In 1886 he was ten- 
dered the nomination for Congress in his district, which he declined. 



CRESSWELL, Dr. JOHN, was born in Indiana county. Pa., November 8, 1830. 
He taught in the public schools of his native county about six years. While en- 
gaged in teaching he educated himself by attending school during the summer vacations; 
one term being spent in Indiana Academy, and the remainder of his academic course 
was acquired in Jacksonville Academy, same county. In 1852 he commenced the 
study of medicine, completing his course in the medical college in Cleveland, O., in 
1855-56. He then came directly to New Bethlehem, Clarion county, Pa., where he 
has ever since resided, and been continually engaged in the practice of medicine. 

December 24, 1856, Dr. Cresswell wedded Eliza Ellen Wilkinson, of West Lebanon, 

Indiana county, Pa. She bore him one child, John Ackley, who died in 1880, at the 

age of twenty-three. Two weeks later- the wife and mother also found rest from the 

'"cares of this world. On February 7, 1882, he married Lallia M. Boyd, by whom he 

has a son, Austin B., born July 17, 1883. 

As a physician, Dr. Cresswell has been quite skillful and successful, and has always 
had the confidence of his patrons. He is a man of liberal views and excellent judg- 
ment ; and his cool and deliberate manner of expressing himself always gives weight 
to what he says, and leaves no doubt about what he intended to convey. 

He has been connected with the Presbyterian Church since 1852, part of the time 
having; served as elder. 



BERLIN, GEORGE NEELY, was born near the present site of Valley post-office, 
August 15, 1820, and lived with his parents until his marriage. 

His father, George Berlin, was born in York county. Pa., September 12, 1782. Dur- 
ing his youth he learned the blacksmith trade. He married Elizabeth Neely, of Greens- 
burg, Westmoreland county, in 1805. He settled and built the first blacksmith shop in 
East Liberty (now Pittsburgh), Pa., the same year. Their children are Jesse, now liv- 
ing in Clarion; Sarah, who married William Black; Mary Ann (Booth), Henry Nich- 
olas, a hotel-keeper in Rimersburg; Fanny (Hugus), George N., Margaret, Hezekiah, 
Solomon, Jeremiah, William M., and Paul; also a daughter dying in infancy. In 1810 
he moved to the wilderness in Venango county, settling near where his son George now 
lives. Part of his time was spent in clearing and improving his land, and during wet 
and cold days he worked at his trade. Men would often plow or grub for him while 
he would sharpen their mattocks and do other smithing for them. During the War of 
181 2 most of his neighbors left their work and bore arms for their country. Mr. Berlin 
having lost the sight of his right eye was left at home, but made himself useful in har- 
vesting his neighbors' crops, working day and night, and to increase his burdens mid 
disadvantages his wife was bitten by a rattlesnake while assisting in the harvest-field. 



George Neely Berlin. — J. Frank Ross, M. D. 649 

During the grading of the turnpike which crossed their farm, Mrs. BerUn did the 
baking for the graders, receiving one dollar a barrel for converting twenty-six barrels of 
flour into bread. Mr. Berlin kept hotel after the pike was finished for fifty-three years, 
and at the time of his death owned five hundred acres of land, which is now as good 
farms as are in the county. He died November i, 1844, and his son Henry, then the 
main helper at home, died shortly afterwards. His wife and mother of his family died 
February 5, 1879, at the age of ninety-three years. 

George N. Berhn wedded Susan Cook, of Forest county. Pa., January g, 1848, and 
moved to present site of Valley post-office, where he has lived ever since; living at first 
in a log-house ten by twelve feet. The farm at that time was all woods but three acres. 
Since then it has been nearly all cleared, and is at present under a good state of cultiva- 
tion. In 1849 ^^^ built the present brick building in which he has kept hotel nearly ever 
since. In 1856 he had the contract for carrying the mail from Warren to Franklin, 
using twelve horses and six men. Mr. Berlin has been engaged in the oil business ever 
since the first excitement about Oil Creek and Oil City. His first adventures did not 
prove profitable. He devoted most of his time to testing territory, but found no oil. 
In 1872 he had a test-well drilled on his own farm at Valley. The well is yielding some 
oil yet. He was subsequently interested in the locality of Elk City, and was one of the 
first persons to open the Cogley field. He has profited by his early experience in the 
business, and of late years has operated quite extensively and with much success. He 
has some thirty producing wells at present. 

Besides the farm containing two hundred acres on which he lives he has three other 
fine farms. 

The Kossuth post-office was moved to his place during Buchanan's administration, 
and Mr. Berlin was postmaster. He is at present postmaster at Valley, an office kept 
at his place. He sold farm machinery for twenty-five years. He has raised a family of 
seven children — William H., an oil merchant living near Eik City; Harriet L. 
(Phipps), Lizzie J., who married J. H. Marten ; John C, an oil merchant, also has a 
hardware store and the post-office at Fern ; Lettie S. Milton, their first child, and 
Jacob, their youngest, each died at the age of three years. 

Mr. Berhn has always been active and industrious. He will be gratefully remem- 
bered by the many friends he has made during his active and successful business and so- 
cial life. 



ROSS, J. FRANK, M. D., was born in Clarion, Pa., January 27, 1844. After acquir- 
ing such an education as was afforded by the public schools of Clarion, he took an 
academic course at Elder's Ridge Academy, Indiana county. Pa., and upon graduating 
from this institution returned home and began the study of medicine in the office of his 
father. Dr. James Ross. Later he attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, 
graduating in March, 1868, and entering upon his professional career in his native town 
the same year. Here he has remained ever since, enjoying a large and lucrative prac- 
tice, extending over the greater portion of the county. 

Dr. Ross is a member of the Clarion County Medical Society, also of the State Med- 
ical Society, and the American Medical Association. During the Centennial year he 
was elected vice-president of the State Medical Society at its meeting held in Philadel- 
phia. He is Assistant Medical Director of the P. and W. R. R., and has been presi- 



650 History of Clarion County. 

dent of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions, located at Clarion, ever since 
the organization of the board. 

June 12, 1877, Dr. Ross was married to Miss Sadie Markillie, of Hudson, O. This 
union has been blessed with two interesting daughters — Alice B. and Mary M. Ross. 



ARNOLD, FRANK M., was born in the village of Reidsburg, Clarion county, Pa., 
on the 14th day of October, 1847. ^^'^ March, 1848, with his parents, he moved to 
the borough of Clarion, Pa., the county seat, and has resided there ever since. 

In July, 1865 he became teller in the First National Bank of Clarion, and is at pres- 
ent acting as assistant cashier in the same bank, making nearly twenty-two years in the 
banking business. In 1869 he was commissioned by Governor Geary as notary public, 
and was re-commissioned in 1872, and has held the same position during the adminis- 
trations of Governors Hartranft and Hoyt, continuously until 1884. He was elected the 
first president of the Clarion Fish and Game Association in , and has held the po- 
sition to the present time. He has been engaged in the lumber business in the firm of 
Leeper, Arnold & Co., and he has been very successful. He is also one of the firm of 
C. Leeper & Co., which is a lumbering firm, and has over forty million feet of pine 
timber. 

Mr. Arnold by his industry and business sagacity has acquired a handsome compe- 
tence, and is now one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Clarion. He is lib- 
eral in his gifts to worthy charitable institutions, and his beautiful homestead attests his 
taste, which his ample means enables him to gratify. 

He has a family of five interesting children — Frank M., George E., Turner S., Al- 
vin F., and Clara. 



SIEGWARTH, ANTHONY L., was born near Fryburg, in what is now Clarion 
county. Pa., January i, 1826. 

His father, John David Siegwarth, was born in Metzingen, Province of Wurtemburg,. 
Germany, May 16, 1786. When seventeen years of age he started to America without 
any money. At that time emigrants who had no money to pay their passage were sold 
on reaching America, to the highest bidder, and in this way their passage was paid. 
John Siegwarth was one of those emigrants, and worked to pay his ship-fare three years 
in Lancaster county. Pa., for the party to whom he was bound. This obligation being 
fulfilled, he married Rosanna Henlen, of Lancaster county, started West, and became 
one of the early settlers in the present locality of Fryburg, Clarion county. Pa., where he 
bought a tract of land, improved it, and endured the many hardships along with the dis- 
advantages of early pioneer life. He had a family of eleven children, four sons and 
seven daughters. Mr. Siegwarth took an active interest in organizing the Fryburg Lu- 
theran Church, and during his subsequent life was one of its earnest and liberal support- 
ers ; he also took an active part in establishing schools, and gave a helping hand to va- 
rious other improvements. He died January 30, 1858, and his wife died ten years after- 
wards. 

A. L. Siegwarth was educated in the schools of his native township, and spent his 
youth on the farm with his father. Soon after he set out for himself he became a part- 
ner in Licking Furnace, and kept the books of the firm. He was afterwards book- 
keeper for two years at Hemlock furnace, for F. & W. M. Faber, who owned the furnace 
but lived in Pittsburgh. 



Anthony L. Siegwarth. — John V. Ritts. 651 

In May, 185 1, he wedded Eliza Moore, of Farmington township. They have had five 
sons and five daughters — Mary (Magee), Rose A., Horace G.,now clerking in the store of 
M. Arnold, in Clarion ; Elizabeth A., John M., telegraph operator in Columbus, O., An- 
thony J., Jacob, Loretta J., Alice C, and Lewis F. Three of the children — Jacob, Lo- 
retta, and Lewis were called home before they reached the age of five years. 

Mr. Siegwarth was book-keeper for Judge Cook ten years ; for Buzard, Ritts & Co. 
three years; and for C. Leeper & Co. one year. He was commissioner of Forest county 
for six years, being elected in 1859; was auditor of Clarion county, the first Repubhcan 
elected to that office in the county ; was also engaged in the lumber business. At pres- 
ent he is a well-to-do merchant in Scotch Hill, and owns and superintends the cultiva- 
tion of a fine farm where he lives. It is located near Scotch Hill. As a book-keeper 
he is neat, careful, and painstaking, and has always had the entire confidence of his 
employers. He has always been strictly honest and straightforward in all his dealings 
with his fellow-men ; believed, trusted, and respected by all who know him. His cour- 
tesy and liberal hospitality also are deserving of special mention. 



RITTS, JOHN v., a son of Mr. Elias Ritts, one of the leading pioneers, and an esti- 
mable and successful business man of Clarion county, was born in St. Petersburg, 
in the year 1852. His early life, outside of school days, was devoted to agricultural em- 
ployments on one of his father's farms. He received an academic education, and after- 
wards entered the Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburgh, Pa. His aptitude and stu- 
dious habits won for him not only class honors, but the esteem of the faculty and patrons 
as well. Upon his graduation he was tendered, without solicitation, a special profess- 
orship in book-keeping and banking in the institution, which he accepted and filled with 
marked ability for nearly two years. Desiring to complete a classical education, he 
determined to enter Yale College and resigned his position, notwithstanding persistent 
efforts made to induce him to remain permanently in the faculty of the Iron City Com- 
mercial College. 

But fate determined otherwise, and the crisis was precipitated by the discovery, 
development, and large production of petroleum in territory contiguous to St. Peters- 
burg. The necessity of banking facilities was soon apparent, and resulted in the estab- 
lishment of the St. Petersburg Savings Bank, in the year 1872. Its organization was 
effected by the election of the officers named : Hon. Jno. W. Hammond of Erie, presi- 
dent ; Hon. Jno. Fertig of Titusville, vice-president ; and Charles Horton of Erie county, 
cashier. 

Young Ritts, who was then not twenty years old, was called home, and assumed 
charge of the books and accounts. The business rapidly increased, and within a year 
he was promoted by the unanimous vote of the board of directors, to fill the vacancy 
occasioned by the death of the then cashier. The original stockholders, in obedience to 
the demand, established additional banking houses at Foxburg and Turkey City. The 
business at the St. Petersburg bank exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the 
parties in interest, and required the employment of several assistants. During the years 
1876 and 1877 the price of oil advanced from below one dollar to four dollars and 
twenty-five cents per barrel. Deposits increased in proportion until the amounts exceeded 
seven hundred thousand dollars daily. 

The resources of the " Boy Cashier " responded to this volume of business, which 
culminated in a daily aggregation in excess of one million of dollars. This immense 



652 History of Clarion County. 

business continued down to the year 1878, when the owners of the three banks men- 
tioned conferred on Mr. Ritts the honorable and responsible post of general mana- 
ger of their banks. After the first few years the personal attention of the stockholders, 
who were non-residents of the county, gradually decreased until after the year 1878, 
their visits were limited to the semi-annual dividend periods, and they recorded on the 
minute books of the banks resolutions attesting their approval of all the efforts made by 
Mr. Ritts to advance the welfare and prosperity of the several banks, and expressing 
their personal regard for his integrity and ability in management. Certainly few men of 
his age in the State were ever more rapid in advancement, more implicitly relied on by 
the commercial community, or more deserving of that advancement and reliance. After 
these years of prosperity the oil production declined in Clarion county, and active ope- 
rations were transferred to the Bradford and Richburg regions. Many of the bank's 
largest customers removed, but continued their banking business with Mr. Ritts. The 
Turkey City and Foxburg banks were disposed of, and subsequently the stock in the St. 
Petersburg bank was purchased by Elias Ritts, J. V. Ritts, C. H. Martin, J. J. Ashbaugh, 
S. Foust, W. S. Blakslee, and others, and Elias Ritts was elected president, J. V. Ritts 
continuing as cashier, and C. H. Martin assistant cashier. The retiring shareholders 
expressed their satisfaction with the result of their financial ventures, and indorsed the 
high reputation of their cashier for business knowledge, justice, and economy. 

Prior to this time Mr. Ritts became largely interested in the field production of oil in 
the upper oil districts, and having opportunities to sell, disposed of the greater part of 
his interests, realizing a handsome competency. He is yet extensively engaged in pro- 
ducing oil in Pennsylvania and Ohio. 

Enterprises of importance were constantly seeking his advice and co-operation. In 
railroad interests he was identified with the Foxburg, St. Petersburg and Clarion Rail- 
way (now the Pittsburgh and Western) as its treasurer, and was for many years a director 
of the company, and was also treasurer of the Foxburg, Kane and Bradford Railroad ; a 
large stockholder in the Parker, Karns City and Butler Railroad, and in the Parker 
Bridge Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Foxburg and St. Petersburg Turn- 
pike Company. 

He was interested in, and assisted in organizing, the following banks : the Eldred 
Bank; First National Bank, of Salina, Kansas; Seaboard National Bank, New York; 
Dallas National Bank, of Texas ; Meridian National Bank, of Mississippi, and the Key- 
stone Bank, of Pittsburgh. None of the banks mentioned in Clarion county were in- 
volved in unsuccessful litigation, and their per centage of uncoUectable assets was the 
lowest average known in the history of banking. The counsel retained for the banks 
were Hon. Theophilus S, Wilson, now president judge, Hon. George A. Jenks, solicitor- 
general of the United States, and John W. Reed, whose successors are Reed & Wilson. 
In the year 1884 the St. Petersburg Bank had hundreds of thousand of dollars loaned 
out, principally on oil collaterals, and when the financial panic of that year caused a 
rapid and ruinous decline in the price of oil, the safety of the institution seemed endan- 
gered, and it was deemed prudent by the management to withhold general payments for 
two months ; at the end of that period business was resumed, and has continued unin- 
terruptedly in the usual way. 

During this time it was fully developed that Mr. Ritts was possessed of an energy 
which no ordinary impediment could resist, and an ambition that difficulties only served 
to strengthen. 



John V. Ritts. — David Bowman. — T. J. Payne. 653 

In August, 1882 he was united in marriage to Irene C. Blakslee, daughter of the late 
W. Z. Blakslee, of New York City, an amiable and accomplished lady. Their conjugal 
relations have been most happy, and the union blessed with two lovely and interesting 
children. For the past fifteen years Mr. Ritts has been a member and officer of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. To this, as to all other Christian churches in the neigh- 
borhood, he has been generous, and his liberal contributions have established a record 
that has endeared his name and acts as worthy of emulation. 



BOWMAN, DAVID, was born in Scotland, May 24, 1814. When he was ten years 
old his father, Thomas Bowman, died, and his mother died one year afterwards. 
David was one of a family of eight children, all of whom died before the age of matu- 
rity, except himself and his brother John, who came to Canada in 1833, where he lived 
until his death in 1880. David Bowman came to America in the spring of 1834, land- 
ing in Quebec, Canada, but went to Pittsburgh the following October. After staying 
in Pittsburgh about two years he went to Pottsville, Schuylkill county. Pa. While here 
he married Ellen Robinson, a resident of Pottsville, June 22, 1839, and the following 
October came to Lucinda Furnace, Clarion county, Pa. He was a coal miner and fol- 
lowed that occupation in Scotland and in America until 1843, when he bought a farm 
of one hundred acres near Tylersburg, in Farmington township. He dug coal and ore 
for three years at Beaver Furnace before coming to Tylersburg. After spending some 
twenty years on his farm he built a store at Newmanville, in Washington township, in 
1866. He came to Tylersburg in 1871 and engaged in the mercantile business, which 
he has followed in that place ever since. 

In 1873 he, in company with C. Leeper, Porter Haskell, and Daniel Curll, purchased 
a fourteen-hundred-acre timber lot, known as the Higbee tract, at and around Leeper. 
After he sold his interest in this tract he bought a one-fourth interest in a seventeen- 
hundred-acre tract of timber land in Forest county in 1881. He is at present a stock- 
holder and director in the Second National Bank of Clarion. He has lately taken six 
thousand dollars stock in the Clarion State Normal School, and is one of its trustees. 
He is now postmaster at Tylersburg, and was the first postmaster at Newmanville, an 
office established through his influence. 

He was blessed with a family of thirteen children — ten boys and three girls. 
Thomas, James C, Frank S., William W., Edward, Charles R., and Jane (Alt), are liv- 
ing at present, most of them near Tylersburg. 

Mr. Bowman has profited by the adage, " Industry and economy means thrift." 
When he reached Pittsburgh in 1834 he had but one English sovereign left, was in a 
strange land with not a relative in this great republic. His excellent judgment and 
force of character, along with his successful business career, has won for him a promi- 
nent place in the community in which he lives. 



PAYNE, T. J. Mr. T. J. Payne was born in Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., in^ 
1839. -^^ received his education in the public schools of his native city, and at the 
age of eighteen he began an apprenticeship at carriage manufacturing, completing his 
term in three years. He then worked at his trade as journeyman until the breaking out 
of the Civil War. During the years of 1862-64 Mr. Payne served the government in a 
civic capacity, building bridges for the Army of the Cumberland, having fifty men un- 
der his charge. 



654 History of Clarion County. 

In December, 1864, he removed to Warren county, Pa., where he engaged hi the 
lumber business. Three years later he came to Tylersburg, Clarion county, where he 
has been engaged in the lumber business, and along with the same has conducted a mer- 
cantile business during most of the years of his residence in this county. 

He has been interested in the oil business since 1S72, and since 1880 has had inter- 
ests in the Bradford oil field, which have engaged a portion of his attention up to the 
present time. 

In 1858 Mr. Payne married Miss L. L. Lewis, of Broome county, N. Y., who con- 
tinued to share with her husband the vicissitudes of life until her death in October, 1885. 

While at Tylersburg, Mr. Payne erected a fine residence, but after occupying it two 
years he sold it on account of the ill health of Mrs. Payne, and in company with his wife 
visited a number of cities and watering-places in the hope of restoring her health. In 
August, 1886 he married Miss M. E. Hicks, of Clarion county. During the present year 
(1887) he purchased from the Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company their extensive prop- 
erty in Paint township, and on the first of x\pril moved to Arthurs to take personal 
<:harge of this business. Mr. Payne has been successful in his business career, and by 
his integrity and executive ability has attained a high position in the estimation of his 
neighbors. 

REYNOLDS, DAVID, was born in Kittanning, Armstrong county. Pa., October 12, 
1840, and received bis education in Turtle Creek, and Sewickly ^Academy in Alle- 
gheny county. His father, Alexander Reynolds, was born in Huntingdon county. Pa., 
in 1808, and married Martha Deniston, of Indiana county, Pa., in 1838, to whom 
-were born David, Sarah D. (Cunningham), John D., at present a partner in Redbank 
Furnace), Ellen T. (Thompson), Ehza P., who married Captain Mays, now in the regu- 
lar army ; and Alexander, jr., living in Kittanning. He, in company with Ritchey, built 
Redbank Furnace, in Armstrong county. It is located about eight miles above the 
mouth of Redbank Creek. He afterwards became a partner in Redbank Furnace, in 
Clarion county. Pa. He was a substantial business man, and thoroughly understood the 
manufacture of iron, and the management of furnaces. Died in October, 1881. 

David Reynolds married Martha M. Detrich, of Birmingham, Huntingdon county. 
Pa., January 31, 1867, by whom he has had two sons and two daughters, all Hving — Sa- 
rah D., Harry A., Kizzie D., and David, jr. In 1859 Mr. Reynolds came to the present 
site of Redbank Furnace, where he has lived ever since, taking charge of the store and 
superintending the building of the furnace, in which he was a partner. He has had the 
general management of all connected with the furnace through all its changes in own- 
ership, improvements, etc., a position which he still holds. 

The firm known as McCuUough & Reyonlds purchased at and about the mouth of 
Redbank, in 1859, fifteen hundred acres of land rich in iron ore, coal, and fire-clay, and 
built the furnace during the same year. McCullough retired from the firm in 1865, 
John Moorhead buying his interest. Moorhead retired in 1879 and the firm became 
Alexander Reynolds &:^Sons. After the death of the senior member of the firm, it be- 
came David and John D. Reynolds, the present owners and managers. During the panic 
of 1873, and during all the fluctuations in the iron industry, this furnace under the effi- 
cient management of David Reynolds has stood the severest tests. During the Parker 
oil excitement he was engaged to some extent in the oil business, and is at present deal- 
ing in real estate in West Virginia. Though scarcely in the prime of life, yet he has 



David Reynolds. — Col. Calvin Augustus Craig. 655 

already accomplished a fair life's work. He is courteous to everybody, always trusted 
by the other members of the firm and all persons with whom he has dealt; his word is 
never questioned. His modesty, untiring energy, and excellent judgment, have been of 
value to him and all others with whom he has had business relations. 



CRAIG, COLONEL CALVIN AUGUSTUS, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania 
Veteran Volunteers. " Calvin Augustus Craig, third son of Washington and Nancy 
(Thompson) Craig, was born in Clarion county December 7, 1833. At an early age he 
gave evidence of an unusually active and studious mind, and, with only the advantages 
of the public schools, made rapid progress in learning, soon mastering the branches there 
taught. He was a careful reader, profiting by what he read, and was more intelligent 
and cultivated than many who possess all the advantages of a collegiate course. In the 
fall of 1858 he graduated from Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburgh, Pa., having de- 
termined to devote himself to a business career, for which he was eminently fitted." 

Afterwards, in the spring of 1859, he spent some time in traveling in the South and 
Southwest, with a view to enlarging his knowledge by coming in contact with the citi- 
zens of these localities. Rev. James S. Elder (now pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
of Clarion), his friend and pastor, in the address delivered at Colonel Craig's funeral, 
says of this trip : 

" His opinions and criticisms showed how closely and narrowly he scanned the cus- 
toms and views of the people among whom he sojourned, and proved him to be a shrewd 
and careful observer. He closely scrutinized the workings and influence of the institu- 
tion of slavery. His observations, confirming what every intelligent man knows to be 

true, that whoever seeks to degrade the low himself must sink He had 

witnessed the evil workings of slavery himself, and ever afterwards cherished an in- 
creased antipathy to the inhuman institution." 

On his return from this trip he engaged in lumbering, afterwards engaging in the 
mercantile business with his father, at Greenville, Clarion county. His success in both 
these enterprises showed him eminently fitted for a business career. But when the 
tocsin of war rang through the land, his soul was filled with patriotic ardor, and he at 
once enlisted in Captain A. A. McKnight's company of three months men, and at the 
close of that term of service he returned home and recruited a company in Clarion county 
for Colonel McKnight's regiment, which company was known as Company " C," of the 
One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, his commission as captain bearing 
date of September 6, 1861. On the 2gth of May he was promoted to the lieutenant- 
colonelcy, made vacant by the resignation of Colonel Corbet, and to colonel. May 4, 
1863, upon the death of the gallant McKnight, his friend and cousin, whom he deeply 
mourned. In asking his promotion, General Graham, commanding the First Brigade, 
First Division of the Third Corps, to which the One Hundred and Fifth was attached, 
wrote to Governor Curtin as follows : 

"Colonel A. A. McKnight, of the 105th Reginent Pa. Vols., having been killed 
while gallantly leading his men in a charge against the enemy, on which occasion Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Calvin A. Craig succeeded him in command, and behaved with equal 
coolness and courage, I consider it a duty to the service to recommend that Lieutenant- 
Colonel Craig be promoted to the vacancy occasioned by the death of the heroic Mc- 
Knight. In soliciting this promotion, I am influenced alone by a desire to keep up the 



656 History of Clarion County. 

high standard of the 105th Regiment, one of the noblest regiments in the United States 
service." 

That he was worthy of this confidence and capable of fiUing this responsible posi- 
tion, the conduct of Colonel Craig on many desperately fought fields bore witness. His 
heart was ever true to his country ; his letters to his friends all breathed of this great 
devotion to the cause for which he was fighting. With him, duty was a watchword, 
and duty to his country paramount to all other considerations. This is exemplified in 
the following extract from a letter received from him by the writer, just after the fall of 
Colonel McKnight, and his own promotion : 

" When I entered the army, during the three months service as a private, I did so 
because I thought it was a duty I owed my country. I have risen from the ranks to be 
colonel of this regiment; and as private, captain, and lieutenant-colonel, I think I have 
had but this one object in view, and that is to serve my country to the best of my ability. 
If I have failed, it has been an error of the head and not of the heart." 

Colonel Craig was ardently attached to the brave men of his command, and they in 
turn gave him their love, respect, and prompt obedience. This feeling of pride and 
confidence in the officers and men of his regiment is fully illustrated in the following 
extracts from letters written by him while in the service. In writing of the battle of 
Gettysburg, he says : 

" The regiment never fought better in the world It rallied some eight 

or ten times after all the balance of the brigade had left it. I could handle them just 
as well on that field of battle as though they had simply been on drill. This is a state 
of perfection in drill that is gained by but few regiments. Confidence on the part of 
ofiicers and men in one another is what makes troops perfect. This is the case in this 
regiment. I have full confidence in my men, and I believe that they have confidence 
in their ofiicers ; that they will not ask them to do anything that they are afraid to do 
themselves." 

Again, of the same battle : 

" The regiment never did better. When they moved forward on the charge at 
' double-quick,' and with scarcely an inch of difference in their glittering bayonets, every 
man at his post — oh ! but I did feel proud of them. I know I have a kind of weakness 
for this regiment; for I tell you, it is a regiment to be proud of." 

In the same letter, in writing of the dangers attending his position, he says : 

"I love my country, and am willing to fight for her; and, if needs be, to die 
for her." 

In writing of the battle of Auburn, he says : 

" I know it is in bad taste to write or talk about one's self, and I suppose it is equally 
as bad to write or talk about one's own regiment or company, and you may think that 
I write this in praise of my own regiment to make ;/iyse// appear in a favorable light; 
but I trust that you, who know me so well, will not think so. When I speak of the 
regiment, 1 mean the regiment, and not myself. People are at liberty to think of me as 
they will ; but I do insist that the actions of the regiment shall appear in a proper light, 
whether that places me in an honorable or disgraceful position. I will close this by 
simply saying that the One Hundred and Fifth is one of the best regiments in the ser- 
vice. At the affair at Auburn, no men could have behaved better, and the officers 
equally as well ; in fact, not a man shrank from duty, but each stood up manfully, as if 
the destiny of the Republic rested on his individual shoulders." 



Col. Calvin Augustus Craig. — Hon. W. W. Barr. 657 

These extracts go to show the true patriotism of the man, and the unselfishness of 
his character, for he was no reckless adventurer, but one for whom the ties that bound 
him to his home were of the strongest nature. On the ist of February, 1864, while at 
home on veteran furlough, after the re-enlistment of his regiment. Colonel Craig was 
married to Miss Elmira J. Craig, of Greenville, Clarion county, and when he again re- 
turned to the field it was not only affectionate parents and fond sisters and brothers, 
but a loving wife, the bride of a few short weeks, with whom he was called to part. 

Colonel Craig was in all the battles in which his regiment took part, from the siege 
of Yorktown to that of Petersburg, with the exception of the battles of Spottsylvania 
and Cold Harbor, when he was at home on account of wounds. He was wounded in 
the head slightly during the Seven Days battles before Richmond ; at the Second Bull 
Run his horse was killed, and he was severely wounded in the ankle ; at Gettysburg 
he had three horses shot under him ; at the battle of the Wilderness he was shot in the 
face, severing the facial artery, and but for the devotion of some of his men, who, for 
thirty-six hours, stood with fingers pressed to the wound, until he could obtain surgical 
aid, he would have bled to death ; at the siege of Petersburg he was slightly wounded 
in the shoulder by a piece of shell; and at the battle of Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 
1864, while in command of the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Second Corps, 
he was mortally wounded in the head, and lingered in unconsciousness until the next 
day, when he redeemed his pledge to " die, if needs be," for his country. 

Colonel Craig's remains were taken in charge by his young brother, J. H. Craig, 
who had served with him all through the war, and sadly borne to his home, where, 
amid the tears and bitter grief of the young wife, who yet mourns her dead hero, and of 
the aged father and mother, brothers and sisters, who so dearly loved him, and the sor- 
row of the entire community, he was laid to rest in the shadow of the pines overlooking 
his boyoood's home.' 



BARR, HON. W. W., was born in Penn's Valley, Centre county, on the 15th day of 
February, 1827. In early life he worked on a farm and attended the public schools, 
and later attended Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, Pa. In August, 1850, he com- 
menced the study of law in the office of Joseph Alexander, esq., at Lewistown, Mifflin 
county. Pa., and two years afterwards was admitted to the bar of that county. 

In April, 1853 he removed to Clarion and began the practice of law, and soon ac- 
quired a lucrative business. After a residence here of one year Mr. Barr was elected dis- 
trict attorney of the county, and was re-elected in 1857. In 1861 he was elected county 
treasurer of Clarion county, serving two years, and in 1864 was elected a member of 
the Pennsylvania Legislature. He was re-elected in 1865, and served two full terms. 
He was again elected district attorney in 1869, and re-elected in 1872, having served in 
that office four terms, covering twelve years. He also served many years as a member 
of the town council of Clarion. In all these positions he served with integrity and ability. 

In politics Mr. Barr has always been a Democrat, and an active worker. He was 
chairman of the County Committee as early as 1856, and has served in the same capac- 
ity several times since, as well as in that of delegate to County and State conventions. 
He has also on several occasions been a member of the State Central Committee of his 
party. 

1 Principally condensed from sketch of Colonel Craig, in History of One Hundred and Fifth Regi- 
ment P. V. 



658 History of Clarion County. 

Mr. Barr has been a Mason since 1854, being a member of the lodge in Clarion. 
He served as master during the years 1859, '64, and '68, and was District Deputy Grand 
Master for the district composed of the counties of Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Indi- 
ana, and Jefferson, for the years 1868, '69, and '70, and has always been a close attend- 
ant on the meetings of the lodge, and taken an interest in the success of the fraternity. 

On the 31st of March, 1859 he married Mary, daughter of Dr. J. T. Pritner, of Clar- 
ion. Two children, a son and a daughter, have blessed this union. The son died in in- 
fancy, and the daughter is married to W. A. Hetzel, of Allegheny. 

Mr. Barr assisted in the organization of the first agricultural society in Clarion county, 
and was the first secretary of that association. For a number of years he has been a 
trustee of the Presbyterian Church of Clarion, and has been liberal in his contributions 
for charitable purposes. 

Before the war, Captain Barr commanded a military company, and thus acquired 
the title by which he is generally known. In manner Mr. Barr is modest and pleasant,, 
having a kind word for all whom he meets. These traits have made him many friends. 
Having earned the money to pay for his education, he may truly be said to be a self- 
made man. By close application to business and judicious investments, he has gained a 
moderate competence, and his fair dealing has placed him in the front rank among the 
substantial business men of Clarion. 



COLLNER, W. F., was born in Richland township, November 21, 1845. ^^^ ^^^^7 
life was spent in the public schools of his native township, and at eleven years of 
age, along with his school duties he kept the books in his father's store. He remained 
his father's book-keeper until July, 1862, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Cap- 
tan Charles Klotz's Company (G), One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Pennsylva- 
nia Volunteers. After entering active service he was appointed fifth sergeant of his 
company, and was promoted successively to orderly sergeant, second lieutenant and first 
lieutenant. The last named grade he held when he was discharged June 2, 1865. 

Mr. Collner commanded his company in several engagements, and participated with 
his regiment in the following pitched batdes : Antietam, Fredericksburg, in which hig. 
brigade lost 1,760 out of 4,000 ; Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, where his division wrested 
Little Round Top from the enemy after a desperate struggle ; Rappahannock Station, 
Mine Run, the Wilderness, on the fifth day of which battle he was wounded ; Spottsyl- 
vania, Jericho Ford, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg. In a single charge on the 
enemy's works the regiment lost, in the space of ten minutes, eighty-three men in killed 
and wounded. The regiment was engaged in numerous severe actions during the siege 
of Richmond and Petersburg, as Reams Station, Peeble's Farm, Hatcher's Run, Dab- 
ney's Mills, Deep Bottom, the Quaker Road, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, 
and Appomattox Court-House, in the last of which the regiment was in the skirmish 
line, and was hotly engaged when the word was brought that Lee had surrendered, and 
all fighting ceased. The subject of our sketch passed through all these batdes, receiving 
two wounds, which attest his gallant service for his conntry. 

He was discharged at the close of the war after serving within one month of three 
years, and on returning home he worked on his father's farm, and assisted in the store 
until the autumn of the same year, when he went to Forest county to engage in the lum- 
bering business. 



f 



-v^ 






W. F. CoLLNER. — Jacob Black. 659 

November 14, 1866, he married Miss Celia F. Brandon, at Clarington, Forest 
county, Pa. 

In April, 1868, he went to Salem, Clarion county, and there engaged in the mercan- 
tile business in which he continued with success until January, 1880. when he removed 
to Clarion to assume the duties of sheriff of Clarion county, to which office he had been 
elected the preceding November. He held the office three years, and at the expiration 
of the term he returned to Salem and resumed business in his old store. 

In 1884 he was elected prothonotary of the county, which position he now holds. 
When he returned to Clarion to assume the duties of his new office, he erected a hand- 
some residence on Wood street, and will probably make his home at the county seat for 
some time. 

Mr. Collner has always been a Democrat in politics, and is an influential member of 
his party in the county. He is a genial companion, a trusty friend, and possesses many 
elements that combine to make him popular. As a business man he is industrious and 
attentive, and as a public officer he has proved himself courteous and efficient. 



BLACK, JACOB, ^ was born in the State of Maryland on the 25th day of January, A. 
D., 1809. He was the son of Frederick and Mary Black, who emigrated to this 
State early in this century, first to Waynesburg, in Green county, and a year or two after- 
wards to Beaver township, Venango (now Clarion) county, Pa. Jacob was the next to 
the oldest of a family of five children, four boys and one girl. When he was not over 
eight years old his father was killed by the falling of a tree. His maternal grandfather, 
William Rupert, was the owner of the land on which Shippenville Furnace was after- 
wards erected, and which on his death became the property of his favorite grandson, 
Jacob Black, who has resided on the property ever since. 

In 1832 John Shippen, Richard Shippen, and "Jacob Black formed a co-partnership 
for the purpose of manufacturing pig metal and iron, and in 1833 the Shippenville Fur- 
nace was built, metal made and hauled to the Clarion River above the turnpike bridge, 
and run to Pittsburgh in boats. Some years afterwards the other partners bought out 
John Shippen's interest, and the furnace was operated by Shippen & Black for many 
years. Jacob Black lived at the furnace, and was the active partner and manager. The 
firm built the forge a mile below on the creek, and made blooms and bar iron. A saw 
and grist-mill were erected, and a large number of hands found employment in cutting 
cord-wood, digging ore, burning charcoal (all the smelting was done with charcoal), 
hauling coal, ore, and metal, and operating the works. The " furnace " became the mar- 
ket for all kinds of produce. Farmers came there with grain and marketing from all 
over the county. Money was paid out for everything and circulated throughout the 
county, and the " works " became an important factor in developing and improving the 
neighborhood around. By able management and careful financiering, the firm success- 
fully weathered the disastrous times of 1837, 1847, and 1857. The partners became 
large real estate owners. At one time they bought three thousand acres of timber land 
on the upper waters of Paint Creek. 

Mr. Black was recognized as one of the most successful and able iron masters in the 
county, and the poor or unfortunate had no better friend than he. Many of his workmen 
became farmers and property owners through his assistance and liberality. Although in 

1 By F. S. Maffett. 



66o History of Clarion County. 

years of great depression the firm lost money, it was more than made up in prosperous 
times, and throughout the years the furnace was operated the partners accumulated a 
handsome competence. On the i8th day of July, 1833, Mr. Black was married to Mar- 
garet, the sister of his partner, Richard Shippen. The issue of the marriage was nine 
children, five of whom, three boys and two girls, are still living. In 1859 the furnace 
blowed out, and the partnership was dissolved. At that time the firm owned a large 
amount of land in Beaver, Elk, and adjoining townships, and it was agreed that Mr. 
Shippen should make a division of all the real estate owned by the firm, and Mr. Black 
was to have the choice of the two parts into which it was divided. In this way an am- 
icable partition of the property was made, and deeds were executed to each for his purpart. 
The awkward result of Mr. Black's choice was that it left the house and property at the 
furnace, where Black lived, in Shippen's division, but a subsequent trade again vested 
the homestead in Mr. Black, and he continues to live where he started in business almost 
sixty years ago. After retiring from the manufacture of metal he bought and sold real 
estate. The timber tract north of Shippenville, some fifteen hundred acres, was sold to 
Hahn, Metzgar & Wagner for about fifty thousand dollars. 

When the First National Bank of Clarion was organized Mr. Black became a stock- 
holder, has been an officer, and is now president of that institution. 

When the oil excitement broke out in Clarion county he became an operator and 
producer in the vicinity of Edenburg and Shippenville, having wells drilled on his lands 
in several localities, and spending a considerable amount of money in developing new 
territory, and is still interested in that business. Being now in his seventy-ninth year, 
with impaired health, he has retired from active business, but still overseeing his private 
interests and discharging his duties as president of the bank. 



KLINGENSMITH, JOHN, was born August 26, 1809, in Westmoreland county, Pa. 
In 181 1 his parents, Peter Klingensmith and Susannah (Kifer) Klingensmith, 
came to this county and settled near Madison Furnace. The following year they re- 
turned to Westmoreland county. In 1824 his father came again to this county and 
settled with his family on what is now called the Cribbs farm, in Monroe township. 
After a few months' residence here he removed to Williamsburg, and a year later to 
the Cathers farm. From thence he went to Reidsburg. During the residence of the 
family at Reidsburg the subject of this sketch, assisted by his brother Samuel, cleared 
a farm at WiUiamsburg, to which the family removed, and where they lived about 
twenty years. 

In 1838 John Klingensmith was married to Catharine Smith, who was his faithful 
helpmate until 1885, when she died. They had four children, Celinda, Reuben, Fianna, 
and Clarissa, all of whom except the eldest are married. 

Mr. Klingensmith's public life began with his election as sheriff of Clarion county, 
in- 1849, as an independent Democratic candidate. He served three years in this office, 
and at the expiration of his term removed to Westmoreland county and purchased the 
farm on which he was born. He remained about four months, then sold the farm and 
returned to Clarion county. The following year he moved into Madison, in which 
township he has resided ever since. 

Mr. KUngensmith has been both a farmer and a miller. He had charge of the 
grist-mill at Reidsburg one year, and of Corbett's mill on Leatherwood for the same 
period. For eight years he had charge of the grist-mill at Madison Furnace. He has 



John Klingensmith. — Manasseh Arnold. 66i 

a well-improved farm, on which his homestead is, in Madison township. Along with 
farming he conducted the business of a saw-mill, near Corsica, Jefferson county, which 
he had built at a cost of about $10,000. He continued in the lumber business eight or 
nine years, until the memorable flood of 1865, by which he lost 300,000 feet of lumber 
in the Allegheny River, and soon after the mill was burned, entaiUng an additional loss. 
Mr. Klingensmith is a respectable citizen, a true type of the early settlers of our 
county, and by his industry and enterprise has contributed much toward the develop- 
ment of Clarion county. 



ARNOLD, MANASSEH. 1 Manasseh Arnold was born in York county, Pa., Sep- 
tember 17, 1830. In 1837 his parents removed to Clearfield county, Pa., which 
was then a comparative wilderness. The family was one of moderate means, and its 
members were subject to the privations incident to the lives of the pioneers of civiliza- 
tion. The facilities afforded the children for acquiring an education were of the most 
limited character, and had it not been that their father, Peter Arnold, was a man of 
superior learning for his time, and took great interest in the common school system 
then being introduced in the State, their education might have been entirely neglected. 
The instruction received at the primitive common school during the day was supple- 
mented by the father's supervision of the children's studies in the evening, and in this 
manner the subject of this sketch acquired what would at the present time be considered 
a fair common school education. 

Up to the age of sixteen years Mr. Arnold remained with his parents, assisting in 
clearing up a farm and tilling the ground for the maintenance of the family, when, in 
1846, he left the parental roof to seek his fortune. Coming to Clarion county, he secured 
a position in a country store at a salary of seventy-two dollars per year, boarding fur- 
nished. After one year's employment his salary was increased to one hundred and 
forty-four dollars, and subsequently to one hundred and ninety-two dollars per annum. 
His services were so satisfactory to his employer, Mr. James Laughlin, that on the ist 
day of October, 1850 (Mr. Arnold then being in his twentieth year), that gentleman pro- 
posed a partnership on very favorable terms, which proposition, after due consideration, 
was accepted, and a partnership was formed under the firm name and style of Laughlin 
& Arnold, for the purpose of carrying on the mercantile, lumbering, milling, and boat 
building business, and dealing in live stock, at Leatherwood post-office, near St. Charles 
Furnace, Clarion county. Pa. About one year subsequent to the formation of this part- 
nership, the senior member of the firm met with an accident in the flouring-mill, which 
nearly cost him his life, and for a long time incapacitated him for attending to business, 
although he eventually recovered sufficiently to assist to some extent in the minor affairs 
of the firm's extensive dealings ; yet he remained an invalid until the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1870. Thus, in a great measure, the management of the large busi- 
ness to which the firm had already attained was assumed by the junior partner, and 
carried on by him successfully until the death of his senior, a period of nearly twenty 
years. 

On September 3, 1857, Manasseh Arnold was married to Amanda Ross McKelvey, 
second daughter of Thomas McKelvey, esq., of New Bethlehem, Pa., and the young 
couple immediately went to house-keeping at the husband's place of business. The 

1 By F. J. Maffett. 
74 



662 History of Clarion County. 

union was a very happy one, and was followed by a family of seven children, three sons 
and four daughters, all of whom are living. 

Mr. Arnold continued the business of merchandising, etc., at Leatherwood from the 
time of the death of Mr. Laughlin, in 1870, until December, 1875, when he disposed of 
his interests at that point, and in the following spring removed to the borough of Clarion, 
where he has since resided. This step was the result of the fact that in November, 
1875, he had been elected prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Clarion county, in 
the face of one thousand majority adverse to his party. He assumed the duties of his 
office on the first Monday of January, 1876, and discharged the same to the entire sat- 
isfaction of the people until the expiration of his term, in 1879. 

During that time and since, Mr. Arnold acquired valuable real estate in Clarion 
borough, upon which he has erected large and extensive buildings, and in various other 
ways has given evidence of commendable public spirit and enterprise. For several 
years he has been engaged in the dry goods business in Clarion, and has attained a 
leading position in the trade, while in connection with other parties he owns large and 
profitable lumber interests on the Clarion River, in the northern part of the connty. 



WILSON, HON. J. H., was born in 1841, in Monroe township, Clarion county, on 
the farm where he lives, and which he has owned for a number of years. He 
received his education in the pubhc schools of Monroe township and in Reid Institute, 
at Reidsburg, Pa. At sixteen he began teaching in the public schools, and followed that 
vocation until he was twenty years of age. Afterwards he engaged in the mercantile 
business, in which he continued for ten years. 

In 1874 Mr. Wilson was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the 
Pennsylvania Legislature, and served two terms. For a number of years he has been a 
successful farmer, while at the same time he has extended his operations in other lines 
of business, which gave him a large acquaintance in this and adjoining counties. 

In 1886 Mr. Wilson was nominated and elected State senator for the Thirty-eighth 
senatorial district, consisting of the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Elk and Forest. Dur- 
ing the biennial session of 1887, just closed, he has served his constituents faithfully, and 
won the confidence and esteem of the people and his fellow senators. 

His course in the performance of his legislative duties was such as to enable him to 
obtain for his constituents the enactment of such laws as they desired without delay of 
their bills either in committee or elsewhere, and thus he has proven himself useful to his 
people, as well as capable. 

On September 18, 1866, Mr. Wilson married Miss Minerva J. Frampton, daughter 
of Samuel Frampton, and the years that have passed brought them conjugal happiness 
and worldly prosperity. Seven children, four boys and three girls have blessed this 
imion. 



KEATING, JOHN, the subject of this sketch, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., 
December 24, 1804, being the youngest of a family of seven, five sisters and two 

brothers ; all now dead. John was the last survivor. In he came with his five 

sisters to Muninsville, Butler county, and in 1838 or '39 he removed with his family to 
Emlenton to engage in mercantile business. He formed a partnership with John Ven- 
sel in 1846, and erected Richland Furnace in this county, beginning the manufacture of 
charcoal iron the following year. This he prosecuted successfully for a number of years. 



John Keating. — John R. Strattan. — John Yeany. 663 

About 1850 he moved with his family and took up his residence at the furnace, where 
he continued to Uve till his decease. In 1866 he was elected associate judge as a Dem- 
ocratic candidate, his term expiring 187 1. Hon. Hugh Maguire was his colleague. 

Judge Keating was conspicuously identified with the industrial interests of Richland 
township, and his correct and honorable business principles were rewarded by a com- 
fortable income. At his death he was possessed of considerable real estate, much 
of it having proved valuable oil territory. In social life Mr. Keating was one of the 
pleasantest of men; of a kindly and equable temperament, he always preserved agree- 
able relations with his fellow-men. He died as he had lived — a consistent Roman 
Catholic, January ist, 1881, at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Catharine, daughter of 
Michael McCullough, deceased, of Pittsburgh, survives him. Of a family of seven chil- 
dren, three, two daughters and a son, Mr. Hugh Keating, of St. Petersburg, are now 
living. 



STRATTAN, JOHN R., son of John and Sarah Strattan, was born near Haddanfield, 
N. J., October 21, 1807. He came with his father to what is now Strattanville in 
1826, the village taking its name from this family. 

John Strattan, sr., was of English descent. After leaving the State of New Jersey 
he came to Ridgeway, Elk county, Pa., then a howling wilderness, where he remained 
about two years before coming to Clarion county, Pa. He bought the tract of land on 
which Strattanville now stands, from Philip Clover, September 15, 1826, and laid out 
the plan for the town in 1828. He was married twice. His second wife lived several 
years after his death. John R. was a son of his first wife, and Joseph S., who is still 
living, being at present seventy-three years of age, was born to his second wife. Mr. 
Strattan died in Strattanville March 26, 1857, in his eighty-fourth year. While on his 
death bed he offered a prayer for his wife and children. He had it written in order to 
leave them something to ponder over and look upon when he was gone. In his prayer 
he expressed his trust in the Savior, and committed his family to the love and care of 
Him v>^ho gave them life. He was an honest and upright business man, and a useful, 
man in the village bearing his name. 

John R. Strattan, the subject of this sketch, married Mary Ann Barber, August 26, 
1830. They had only one child, Charles B., who is yet living. On October 15, 1873, 
he married Emma Forguson, his first wife having died September 8, 1872, at the age 
of sixty-six years. This union was blessed with two sons, Harry F. and Curtis F., who 
are both alive at psesent. 

Mr. Strattan followed farming in the early part of his life. He taught school in 
Strattanville during the winter of 1845-46, and was justice of the peace for several 
years. In 1846 he engaged in the mercantile business in Strattanville, and continued 
thus engaged until 1873, when the store was transferred to his son. Dr. C. B. Strattan, 
who owns it at present. He was a heavy stockholder and a director in the First National 
Bank in Clarion at the time of his death, which occurred in Strattanville, January 8, 
1881. 



YEANY, JOHN, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., December 5, 1810. In 1814 
his father, John Yeany, a native of Switzerland, came from Lancaster county to 
what is now Redbank township. Clarion county, where the subject of this sketch has 
made his home ever since. Mr. Yeany had little schooling, about six months all told, in 



664 History of Clarion County. 

the subscription schools of his day ; yet, as we shall see presently, he was able to trans- 
act business on a large scale. He lived with his father until he was twenty-four years 
old, when he went into the forest to clear a farm for himself. Early in his career he 
would till his farm in the summer and work in the lumber-woods in the winter. Thus 
by close apphcation to business and untiring industry he in time accumulated consider- 
able property, which he increased by careful investment. Entering into the lumber bus- 
iness he bought large quantities of timber, which he sold at a good profit, realizing 
handsomely thereon. His judgment never failed him, and no matter to what he turned 
his attention, his business sagacity enabled him to succeed in his enterprises. Among 
the several branches of business operated by him was the raising, buying and selling of 
cattle. This proved very remunerative as conducted by him. 

Mr. Yeany married Miss Elizabeth Swartz in 1834. Fourteen children blessed this 
union, eight of whom are now living. Mrs. Yeany died in January, 1874. In June, 
1875, Mr. Yeany married Susanna Edder, by whom he has five children, four living. 
Notwithstanding this large family of children he has been generous in aiding each one 
of them as they started in life. 

Mr. Yeany is a quiet, unassuming citizen. He has never aspired to hold office, nor 
has he thirsted for fame. With a natural adaptability for business he has applied him- 
self closely in looking after his own affairs, and with a spirit of enterprise and energy 
worthy of imitation he has established himself as one of the " solid " citizens of Clarion 
county. 

SWENY, HON. JAMES, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, near Union- 
town, the county seat, June 14, i8ii. He is of Irish ancestry, his father, Charles 
Sweny, and his mother, Mary (Griffen) Sweney being natives of Ireland. He was 
brought up in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church and has ever held that faith. 

When he was six years old, his father moved with his family to Butler county. Pa. 
At the age of eighteen, James went to Butler town, where he served an apprenticeship 
at cabinet-making. He continued working at his trade and at carpentering until 1844, 
when he was elected justice of the peace in Clarion borough, whither he had came three 
years before. 

For fifteen successive years, or three consecutive terms, Mr. Sweny served as justice, 
and, after an interval of ten years, was again elected to the same office, but only served 
one and one-half years, when he was chosen associate judge of Clarion county. 

Judge Sweny held his oflice two full terms, or ten years, and vacated the bench, 
January ist, 1882. Since the close of his official career, Mr. Sweny has led a retired 
life, and, with the exception of three trips across the continent, to Denver, Colorado, he 
has spent most of his time in the town where had served his neighbors in responsible 
positions during so many years. 

Judge Sweny was one of the pioneers in the county seat of Clarion county, and is 
one of a very small number yet remaining who came here " when the town was in the 
woods." His integrity and his careful attention to the business of the several public 
positions which he has filled have won for him the esteem of his fellow citizens. 



BRIEF PERSONALS. 



ALEXANDER, GEORGE, Licking p. o., Washington, was born in York county, and 
was one of the children of Wilham and Nancy Ann Alexander. The family came to 
the township in 1840, when Mr. Alexander bought 100 acres of land, paying two dollars 
per acre for it. He married Caroline M., a daughter of Horace R. Peck, of Rochester, 
N. Y. Their children were Wilham E. and Albert E. William Alexander died in 
September, 1875; George died in April, 1875. During life George Alexander was one 
of the most successful farmers of his township. He commenced life poor, but at the 
time of his death was in comfortable circumstances. His family are now respected 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. William E., the oldest living child, en- 
listed in 1862 in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, and served two years and eleven months. 

Alexander, Henry, Callensburg p. o., Licking, was a son of Samuel and Mary (Shirey) 
Alexander, and was born in Westmoreland county in 1801 and settled in Armstrong 
county in 181 2, worked at farming until he was eighteen years of age. He served an 
apprenticeship to the carpenter trade, but on account of ill health became engaged in 
the mercantile business in Monroe township. He settled in Callensburg in 1831, and 
there opened his general store. He was appointed postmaster in 1832, an office which 
he held for eighteen years. He was appointed deputy marshal in 1840 to take the cen- 
sus of part of Armstrong and Clarion counties, in which year the first agricultural and 
manufacturing statistics were taken in the United States. He also served as first lieu- 
tenant and major of a regiment. He was engaged in the iron business from 1845 to 
1850. He was married in 1836 to Nancy Hays. They had a family of four children — 
Elmira P. (Risher), Alvin H., Mary (deceased), Sarah E. (Klingensmith). Mr. Alex- 
ander's mother died in 1868, at the age of 104 years, eleven months and two days. 

Alsbach, G. W., Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington. The family of George Alsbach 
came to Scotch Hill, Clarion county. Pa., in the year 1837. In the family were several 
children, a part of whom were natives of this county. These children were David K., 
Rachel, Samuel J., John, George W., Aaron W., Levi P., and Oliver P., and of these 
children all but Levi and Samuel are now living. George W. Alsbach was born on 
January 29, 1830. At about the age of nineteen years he learned the trade of black- 
smithing, a trade which he has since followed. He married Eliza Henry for his first 
and Eliza Kribbs for his second wife. David K. Alsbach was born on December 30, 
182 1. He married Lavina Neely. They had a family of four children. John M. 
Alsbach was born on February 4, 1827, and married Euphemia Bartlett, who bore him 
three children, and who died in 1862. He then married the widow of his deceased 
brother Samuel. These brothers are all substantial citizens of Scotch Hill; well-to-do 
and highly respected, and are all firm Republicans. 

Arblaster, G. W., New Bethlehem, was born at East Liverpool, Columbiana county, 
O., in 1848, and was a son of George R. and Susan Arblaster. George R. was born in 
Staffordshire, England, and settled in Clover county. Pa., in 1855, where he died in 
1880, leaving a widow and six children, all of whom are now hving. He was a hollow-' 



History of Clarion County. 



ware manufacturer, and at his death his son George became his successor, in 1881. He 
largely increased the business and facilities, and in 1886 introduced natural gas in the 
manufacture of stone ware. He also took into partnership P. W. Boyd, the style of the 
firm being G. W. Arblaster & Co. The firm are making preparations to go into the 
manufacture of drain tile and sewer pipe quite extensively. In 1866 G. W. Arblaster 
married Sarah Rader. They have had one son. 

Armstrong, Robert, West Freedom p. o.. Perry, was born in Fayette county, and 
settled in Clarion county in 1868. He married Lydia McLean, and they had a family 
of nine children. He enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry and served to the close of the war. He is engaged in the oil business, 
having charge of a number of wells. His parents were James and Mary Ann (Wilson) 
Armstrong, who had a family of seven children. 

Armstrong, Robert C, Knox p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born in Ashland 
on December 4, 1831. He was a son of Robert and Sarah (Harrold) Armstrong. 
Robert, sr., was born near Enniskillen, Fermanagh county, Ireland, and settled on the 
farm which is now owned and occupied by his son Robert C, in 1809, cleared and im- 
proved the same, and died in 1854, at the age of seventy-one years. He was a soldier 
in the war of 181 2, and his children were Barbara, Martha, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary 
Huldah, Sarah, Jane, Mary A., Susannah, Caroline M., and Robert C. The latter now 
occupies the old homestead. He was married in 1859 to Priscilla Kribbs, a daughter 
of John and Elizabeth (Best) Kribbs, of Ashland. Robert C. and Priscilla have had a 
family of seven children — Sarah E., Mary J., John W., Robert L., WilHa K., Flora L., 
and Ida May. 

Ash, Rev. Jacob, Shannondale p. o., Redbank, the Evangelical Lutheran clergyman 
of Shannondale Church, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1846, and in 1856 in company 
with his parents. Urban and Sophia Ash, settled in Chester county, Pa., near Phoenix- 
viUe. They had a family of eight children — Levi, William, Rev. Jacob, John, Joanna, 
Charles, Frederick, and Mary. Jacob in early life learned the blacksmith trade, and 
afterwards fitted himself for a teacher, and graduated from the Evangelical Lutheran 
Seminary at Philadelphia in 1876. He was married in 1877 to Annie B. Welty, of 
Allegheny county. They have had three children — Lula B., Frank W., and Samuel L. 

Ashbaugh, Henry, St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born where he now resides, 
in 1841 ; is a farmer, and owns a farm of ninety-six acres. His parents were John and 
Dorothy (Whittling) Ashbaugh. John was born in Westmoreland county, but came to 
Clarion county at an early day. Henry was married on February 9, 1865, to Susan 
Eddinger, a daughter of William and Susan (Ditman) Eddinger, of Turkey City, Pa. 
Henry and Susan have had a family of four children — William O., John E., Ida M., 
and Charles E. 

Bailey, P. H., West Monterey p. o., Perry, manufacturer and dealer in boots and 
shoes, and having an extensive business in the oil country ; was born in Buffalo, N. Y., 
in 1848. He was married on September 29, 1851, to Catharine Gates, who died on 
November 18, 1873, at Shamburg, Venango county. They had four children, two of 
whom are now living — Catharine (born April 14, 1868), Elizabeth (born December 25, 
1869), Peter (born August 31, 1871, and died June 21, 1874), and John (born June 9, 
1873, and died December 12, 1873). Mr. Bailey enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Sixty-eighth New York Infantry. He is now an enterprising business man, and owner 
of his residence and store. 

Barger, Abraham, West Monterey p. o.. Perry, was a son of Jacob and Anna (Lash) 
Barger, and was born in Clarion county. Pa., in 1827. He married Elizabeth Young, 
a daughter of David Young. She died in November, 1885, at the age of fifty-eight 
years. They had a family of six children — Susan, Isaiah, Mary C, Mansel P., Sarah 
E., and Jacob F. (deceased). Mr. Barger was in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth 
Pennsylvania Infantry. He is now engaged in mining and farming, and owns and 
occupies a farm of twenty acres. 

Barger, Peter, West Freedom p. o.. Perry, was a son of Abraham and Elizabeth 
(Snider) Barger, and was born in Clarion county in 1833. He was married in 1859 to 



Brief Personals. iii 



Margaret Jordan. They had a family of six children — Silas, Siloamus, Priscilla, George, 
John, and Mary. Mr. Barger is now engaged in farming and mining interests. 

Barlett, James Wilson, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born in this township on 
October i8, 1848. He was the oldest of four children born to Samuel and Euphemia 
Barlett, one of the highly respected families of the township. When James was but 
seven years old his father died, leaving the duties of the farm and household a charge 
upon his widow. James lived at home until 1863, when his mother died. He then 
worked on the river and in the lumber woods, and saved some money. With this he 
educated himself, taking a course of study in a mercantile college. He also worked as 
a clerk with business houses, and finally became engaged in business with Daniel Steiner 
at Scotch Hill, which relation has continued over fourteen years. Latterly he has en- 
gaged in oil production. Energy and perseverance on his part has been amply re- 
warded, and to-day he is one of the most respected and successful young business men 
of the township. Mr. Barlett is a member of the M. E. Church. His wife was Lu- 
cinda Jane Magee, whom he married in 187 1, and who died in 1886, leaving three 
children. 

Barnes, Elmer, Alum Rock p. o.. Licking, a son of Albert Barnes, of Foxburg, was 
born in New York in i860, and came to Clarion county in 1876. He was married in 
1882 to Anne Ryan. They have had two children — Harry Albert and Bessie. Mr. 
Barnes follows the oil business, drilling and tool dressing. 

Barnes, John C, New Bethlehem, the artistic photographer of the borough, was 
born in Allegheny county. Pa., in i860, and settled in New Bethlehem, Pa., in his pro- 
fession in 1880, where his rooms are the attraction of the town. He was a son of Simon 
and Amelia (Kennedy) Barnes. Amelia was born in Clarion county, and her husband 
Simon was born in Indiana county. Pa., and died in 1865, leaving a widow and four 
children. 

Barnett, Daniel, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Beaver township on August 13, 
1845; is a farmer, and owns a farm of thirty acres with a coal mine, employing three 
men. He enlisted on March 31, 1864, in Company E, Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and served during the war. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Bennett) 
Barnett. He was married on July 2, 1867, to May Albert Stanford, of Beaver town- 
ship. They have a family of five children — James M., Etta M., Calvin O., Laura B., 
and Cora E. 

Baum, Joel, Kossuth p. o., Ashland, a farmer, was born in Schuylkill county on 
September 5, 1853, and was a son of Levi and Rebecca (Mowry) Baum, who settled 
in Ashland in 1857. They have four children living — Joel, Milton, Alice D., and Ida. 
Joel now occupies a part of the farm on which his parents first settled, has cleared the 
portion which he occupies, and made all the improvements in buildings. His wife was 
Elizabeth, a daughter of Daniel and Teenie (Whitehill) Starr, of Ashland. Joel has a 
family of five children — Daniel C, Teenie L. and Rebecca E. (twins), and Jennie. 

Beals, Benjamin, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Lehigh county on February 15, 
1833, and came with his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Bry) Beals, to Clarion county in 
1841. Mr. Beals is a farmer and owns thirty-seven acres, and is also engaged in the 
oil producing business. He was married in March, 1864, to Mary M. Himes, a daugh- 
ter of William Himes, of Lawrence county. They have two children living — Edwin J. 
and Mary E. 

Beals, Samuel, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Lehigh county on September 5, 
1831, and came with his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Bry) Beals, to Clarion county in 
1841. He is a farmer, and now owns and occupies a farm of five hundred and forty 
acres, part of which is oil producing. He was married on December 25, 1852, to 
Catherine C. Marsh, of Beaver township. They have had seven children — Frank A,, 
born November 8, 1853; Henrietta L., born April 10, 1858, now the wife of James 
Laughner; Emma E., born September 2, i860, married John Adams; Hiram K., born 
December 3, 1862; Isabella F. A., born March 6, 1865, married Elmer Buckelow ; 
Clara E., born July 24, 1868; Catherine A., born April 14, 1870. His second wife 



iv History of Clarion County. 



was Lizzie Leavy, to whom he was married on January i8, 1881. She was a daughter 
of Jacob and Lizzie (Mong) Leavy. They have had three children— Clydie L., born 
September 13, 1881 ; Jacob W., born January 21, 1883; and Mabel L, born January 
18, 1884. 

Beatty, Dr. Smith Graves, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, the youngest of eleven 
children born to Absalom and Sarah Beatty, was born in Armstrong county, on Decem- 
ber 23, 1854. His parents were farmers, but young Beatty had no inclination for that 
pursuit. He worked in stores, taught music and school, and finally at the age of twenty- 
four years came to commence the study of medicine with Dr. J. H. Smith, at Millville. 
He attended a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, 
and graduated honorably in the spring of 1882, and at once commenced the practice of 
medicine at Scotch Hill. Here he married Sadie E., a daughter of William Thompson. 
Doctor Beatty is a most successful practitioner, whose fame is rapidly spreading through- 
out the county. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, 

Beck, James, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born on October 25, 1817, in Armstrong 
county, Pa. He is a farmer, and now owns a farm of 260 acres. His parents were 
John and Susan (Schall) Beck, who were natives of Armstrong county, and came to Clar- 
ion county in 1831. James Beck was married on February 18, 1847, to Caroline Mas- 
ter, a daughter of George Master, of Berks county. They have eleven children — Mari- 
etta (deceased), John F., George W., Charles (deceased), Lena F., William A., Edwin 
J., Alferetta, Lemuel L. (deceased), David S., and Calvin N. (deceased.) 

Beck, Simon R., Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Beaver township. Pa., on May 11, 
1848. He is an oil-producer, and has been a school director. His parents were Will- 
iam and Catharine (Hank) Beck, natives of Clarion county. He was married on De- 
cember 14, 187 1, to Mary Donaldson, a daughter of John and Emaline (Ryant) Don- 
aldson. They have one child — Frank W. 

Beer, Henry, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was born in Armstrong county, on July 20, 
1 82 1. His father, Jacob Beer, was a carpenter by trade, and when Blacks & Shippen's 
Furnace was in blast, he worked for them, doing carpenter work for three years. His 
wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Maccafoose, who was of German descent, her parents 
being both natives of Germany. Jacob and Elizabeth had a family of twelve children ; 
two boys and one girl are dead — William, George, and Susan. Those children now 
living are Jacob, Elizabeth, John, Henry, Martha, Christina, Samuel, Mary Ann, and 
Eve. Henry Beer was married in 1851, to Elizabeth Stroup. Their first child, Mary 
Ann, died while young. The rest of their children, four in number, are all living — Will- 
iam L., Anna M., John, and Alvaretta J. Mr. Beer has been engaged in farming and 
lumbering. He has forty acres of farm land on which he now resides, much broken 
down in health. He enlisted on August i, 1861, as a private in the War of the Rebell- 
ion ; was through the seven days' fight and other engagements, and was honorably dis- 
charged on account of disability, in October, 1862, for which he now receives a pension. 

Beil, A. S., Alum Rock p. o., Richland, was born in New Hamburg, Mercer county, 
on January 27, 1850, and came to Clarion county in 1882, and purchased about fifteen 
acres of what is known as Alum Rock, located on the Clarion River about one and a 
half miles from Richmond Station, on the P. and W. Railroad ; is located in a fine grove, 
and is much sought after by picnic parties. There is a hquid oozing from the rocks 
which forms a crystal of very strong alum, hence the name. Mr. Beil was married on 
July 21, 1874, to Francis Snyder, of Mercer county. They have had three children — 
Clyde A., Eva H., and Glenn A. 

Bell, James, West Monterey p. o.. Perry, was born in Clarion county in 1834, and 
was married in 1853 to A. Davis, who died in 1859, leaving two children. In i860 he 
married Sarah E. Bushey. They have had a family of six children, three of whom are 
now living. Mr. Bell is engaged in farming and lumbering, also saw-milling and boat- 
building. 

Bell, Robert, West Freedom p. o., Perry, was born in Clarion county in 1816, and 
was married in 1841, to Christine Wilson, who was born in 1819, and died \n 1852^ 



Brief Personals. 



They have had five children, two of whom are now hving — John W and MeHssa. In 
1862 he married Mary E. Cobler, who was born in 1847. Mr. Bell worked as a carpen- 
ter and builder for twenty-five years, but of late he has been engaged in farming, and 
now owns thirty-seven acres. 

Berlin, George A., Turkey City p. o., Richland, was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pa., on February 20, 1823, and came to this county with his parents, Frederick and 
EHzabeth (Ammant) Berlin, in 1822. He is a farmer, and owns 307 acres of land; six- 
teen wells were drilled on his farm, all of which were producers at one time, but four of 
which are now producers. He was married on November 27, 1845, to Leah Will, of 
Clarion county, Pa. They have had a family of nine children born to them — Israel, 
Mary G., wife of R. G. Wilby ; Elizabeth, wife of William H. Francisco : Catharine, 
wife of John Page; Emily, deceased, was the wife of J. R. Clark; Sarah, wife of An- 
drew Edinger; Leah A., wife of George Way; George, deceased; and Rachel A., wife 
of William Dunkle. 

Berlin, John C, Fern p. o., Ashland, a hardware merchant, was born in Elk town- 
ship. Pa., on May 27, 1859, and was a son of George N. and Susan (Cook) Berlin. He 
was married in February, 1884, to Wilda, a daughter of David and Maria (Davis) Oaks, 
of Rockland, Venango county. Pa. He embarked in his present hardware business at 
Fern City, Pa., April i, 1886. 

Berlin, Levi, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born where he now resides on April 14, 
1829. He is a farmer and owns seventy acres. His parents were Frederick and Eliza- 
beth (Ammon) Berlin. He was married on July 4, 1878, to Christina Beal, of Venango 
county. They have had a family of five children — Eli A., Emma A., Frederick B., 
George W., and Alberta. 

Berhn Noah, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Beaver township, Clarion county, 
Pa., on May 30, 1831, and died on February i, 1884. He was a farmer, and at the 
time of his death owned a farm of seventy-three acres. He was a son of Frederick and 
Ehzabeth (Ammond) Berlin. He was married on October 14, 1857, to Mary Conner, a 
daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Boyer) Conner, of Richland, Pa. They have four 
children — Elizabeth A., Catherine A., wife of George F. Exley ; Esther L., and Fran- 
cis C. 

Best, George, Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was a son of George and Elizabeth (Lan- 
ner) Best, and was born in Westmoreland county in 181 7, and came to what is now 
Clarion county in 18 18. He married Francis Nevil. They had a family of five chil- 
dren, three of whom are now hving — George N., Katie, and Elizabeth. His early life 
was passed on the farm. He built a flour and grist-mill on the Clarion River, but has 
now retired from active business life, and now resides on a farm of forty-seven acres. 
His father was born in 1786, and died in 1868, and his mother, who was born in 1793, 
died in 1875. 

Best, George C, Barnes Corners p. o., Beaver, was born at what is now known as 
Best's Mills, on September 8, 1820. His grandfather, Henry Best, came from Greens- 
burg, Westmoreland county, to what is now Beaver township, in the year 1804. In 
1806 he built a grist-mill, the only one then in the county, and on the same spot where 
his grandson now runs a grist-mill. George C. was a son of Michael and Elizabeth 
(Sherry) Best. Michael was a soldier in the War of 181 2. George C. was married on 
February 7, 1847, to Susannah Switzer, a daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Swab) 
Switzer, who were born in Germany. George C. has had a family of six children — Sam- 
uel, Lavina (wife of Joel Best), Lizzie (wife of Eugene Turner), Amanda, Elie, and 
Emily. 

Best, Godlieb, Church p. o., Beaver, was born in Beaver, Pa., on March 3, 1840. 
He is a farmer, and now owns and occupies a farm of 288 acres. His parents were 
John and Margaret (Small) Best. He was married on August 23, 1866, to Elizabeth E. 
Best, a daughter of Michael and Lucy Anna (Edinger) Best, of Beaver, Pa. They have 
six children now Hving — Irvin W., Charles C, Francis E. A., Sarah L. F., Laura C., and 
Oliver U. 



History of Clarion County. 



Best, Michael, Church p. o., Beaver, was born where he now resides, on February 
13, 181 5 ; is engaged in farming and oil producing, and owns 326 acres. His parents 
were William and Mary M. (Everhard) Best. Mr. Best came from Westmoreland 
county in 181 1. Michael Best was married in December, 1839, to Lucy A. Edinger, a 
daughter of Andrew and Mary (Wagoner) Edinger, formerly of Lehigh county, who 
came to Clarion county about 1834. Michael and Lucy have eight children living — 
William F., Josephine F., Uriah, David, Charles, Simon W., Samuel, and Elizabeth, 
wife of Godlieb Best. 

Best, Simon W., Church p. o., Beaver, was born in Beaver township on May 24, 
1854; is a farmer and oil producer, and owns sixty-seven acres. He has been consta- 
ble and collector of the town. His parents were Michael and Louisiana (Edinger) 
Best, natives of this township. The family of Bests settled in this township as early as 
1804. Simon W. was married on January 21, 1877, to Susie Fulk, a daughter of John 
and Mary E. (Wentling) Fulk, formerly of Berks county. They have had a family of 
four children — Minnie L., George M. W., Orrin F., and Lillie L. 

Black, George, Fern p. o., Ashland, a merchant and oil producer, was born in Elk 
township on October 26, 1831, and was a son of William and Sarah (Berlin) Black. 
His paternal grandfather, Frederick Black, and his maternal grandfather, George Berlin, 
were both pioneers of Clarion county. George Black is a merchant, and was brought 
up in Elk township. He married Margaret M. Martin, a daughter of Barnhart and 
Elizabeth (Harrold) Martin, of Ashland. They have had a family of six children — Tra- 
villa F., Ida R., W. Mart, Lutellas F., John Q. W., and Jennie M. Mr. Black has 
been engaged in the oil producing business for five years, and in the mercantile for the 
past ten years, in Elk and Fern City. He was formerly engaged in farming. 

Black, Paul, Valley p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Elk township on Feb- 
ruary 2, 1836, and was a son of William and Sarah (Berlin) Black. His paternal grand- 
father, Frederick Black, and his maternal grandfather, George Berlin, were both pioneers 
of Clarion county. William Black was a pioneer of Elk, where he cleared and improved 
a farm. His children were George, John R., Paul, Mary E., Fanny, Martha, and 
Maggie. Paul Black was married in iS6;^ to Martha J., a daughter of Hugh and Mary 
(Lucas) Magiffin, of Shippensville. They have had a family of eight children — Willis, 
Edward, EUia, Minnie, Harry, Burton, Myrtle, and Earl. 

Black, Travilla F., Fern p. o., Ashland, is a merchant and liveryman, and was born 
in Elk township. Pa., on February 8, 1857. He was a son of George and Margaret M. 
(Martin) Black. He was married on June 30, 1881, to Susan, a daughter of Wesley 
and Caroline (Cramer) Oglesby, of Elk township. They have had one child — Fred. 
Mr. Black embarked in the mercantile business in Fern City in 1886. 

Blair, John R., Leatherwood p. o.. New Bethlehem, was born in Armstrong county 
in 1810 and settled in Clarion county in 1824. He was a son of Alexander and Eliza- 
beth (Reed) Blair, who were born in Franklin county, and settled in Clarion county in 
1824. They had a family of eight children, three of whom are now living — John R., 
Elizabeth, and Samuel. John R. Blair was married in 1839 to Elizabeth Miller, who 
died on October 4, 1885. They had a family often children, seven of whom are now 
living — Rebecca J., Harrison, David, Samuel, Elizabeth, Lovina, and Nancy A. Mr. 
Blair in early life was engaged in lumber and timber shipping, and an expert river pilot, 
but is now retired. He built three large saw-mills, and the latter part of his business 
life he was engaged in farming. 

Blatt, jr., Peter, East Brady, carriage, wagon and farm implement manufacturer, and 
havingfa general smithing and repair shop; was born in Prussia in 1848, and settled in 
Pittsburgh in 1849 with his parents, Peter and Barbara (Stuppy) Blatt. They had a 
family of eight children, seven sons are now living — Valentine, Joseph, Peter, jr., Mat- 
thias, Henry, John, and August. They settled in Armstrong county, at Brady's Bend, 
in* 185 1. Peter, jr., was married in 1871 to May Truatwein, of Brady. They have had 
a fLunily of six children — Mary Emma, Agnes, Clara, Albert, Ida, and Philla Minnie. 
Peter became engaged in the business in 187 1, upon his settling here. He is a promi- 



Brief Personals. vii 



nent musician, a leader and instructor of the band. He is engaged in the sale of organs 
and pianos, and gives instruction on the same. He is also teacher of a string band. 

Blatt, Valentine, East Brady, manufacturer of tin, copper and sheet-iron ware, dealer 
in shelf hardware, stoves and house furnishing goods, crockery, glassware, and all kinds 
of farming machinery, reapers, mowers, portable engines and threshers, was born in the 
village of Schiffweiler, Prussia, in 1844. He was a son of Peter and Barbara (Stuppy) 
Blatt, who, with their family, emigrated to Pittsburgh in 1849, and in 1851 settled at 
Brady's Bend. They have had a family of seven sons — Valentine, Joseph, Peter, Mat- 
thias, Henry, John, and August. The parents are now engaged in farming in Butler 
county. Valentine Blatt was married in 1867 to Ehzabeth Fuchs, of Elk township. 
Clarion county. They have had a family of eleven children, eight of whom are now 
living — William J., Mary, Joseph, George, Amalia, Cecelia, John, and Helen Dorothea. 
Valentine became engaged in his hardware business on settlement here in 1871, and 
the firm was then doing business under the name of V. Blatt & Brother. In 1886 Mr. 
Blatt became sole proprietor. He settled in East Brady, Pa., in 187 1. 

Bodenhorn, Martin Thomas, Frogtown p. o., Millville, was born in 1848, and was a 
son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Holdman) Bodenhorn, of Lebanon, Pa., who settled in 
Rose, Jefferson county, in 1835, and came to Redbank township in 1867. They had a 
family of eleven children, seven of whom are now living — Mary, Jacob J., Elizabeth, 
Lydia A., Gideon H., Martin T., and Margaret M. Jacob was born in 1807 and died 
in 1879, and his wife Elizabeth was born in 1815. They were married in 1834. Mar- 
tin T. was married in 1879 to Mary Stewart, who was born in 1856. They had a 
family of four children — two died at an early age and two are now living — Carrie 
Blanche, born in 1881, and Rulofif Ruloffson, born in 1883. 

Booth, Nelson, Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in Chester county on November 
17, 1840, and came to Clarion county in 1877, is a lumber dealer and oil producer, and 
is now justice of the peace. His parents were George VV. and Emily (Stevens) Booth. 
His wife was Sarah Betts, a daughter of John and Esther (Herb) Betts, of Schuylkill 
county, to whom he was married on February 12, 1869. They have had a family of 
five children — Alpharata, Nelson H., Grace I., Howard A., and Maud E. 

Bostaph, Andrew James, North Pine Grove p. o., Farmington, a son of Andrew and 
Catharine Bostaph, was born on December 16, 1842. His parents were among the early 
and prominent pioneers of the township, who endured the trials and hardships of pioneer 
life, and who were among its most respected families. At the age of twenty-three years 
Andrew started out in hfe in the lumber district and met with indifferent success at first, 
but by perseverance and tact he at last succeeded, and enjoys the fruits of a hard-earned 
fortune. At the age of twenty-eight years he married Mary A. Black. They had a 
family of seven children. In addition to his extensive real estate interests, Mr. Bostaph 
has for twelve years past conducted a hotel at North Pine Grove. In political life he 
is an ardent Democrat, and has been postmaster since 1873. The family are members 
of the Catholic Church. 

Bostaph, Joseph, Vowinckle p. o., Farmington, the second child of Andrew and 
Catharine Bostaph, was born in the township of Farmington December 6, 1840. He 
was brought up and still lives on the old home farm, and has never left home for any 
considerable length of time. At the age of thirty-five years he married Margaret Davis. 
They have had a family of five children. His father gave him the old homestead farm, 
but left to him the care of a blind brother, and his aged mother. Upon the gift of the 
farm Joseph has somewhat enlarged, and is now in comfortable circumstances. He is 
a Democrat in politics, and has frequendy held town offices. During boyhood he went 
to school but little, and improved the opportunities offered. He was raised under the 
teachings of the Catholic Church, but takes no active part in church affairs. 

Bostaph, Samuel, St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in Richland township on 
October 30, 1845, and is now proprietor of the St. Petersburg Hotel. His parents were 
Daniel and Sarah (Frederick) Bostaph, who were of Prussian descent. Daniel came 
from Westmoreland county to Clarion in 18 17, and died in 1881. Samuel was married 



viii History of Clarion County. 



on January 20, 1865, to Hannah Shoup, a daughter of David and Lavina (Gaughler) 
Shoup, of this town. They have had a family of six children — William C, Alice (wife 
of J. Shingledecker, of St. Petersburg), Edward J., Harvey P., Cora E., and Fred. 

Bowman, James Clinton, Newmansville p. o., Washington, was born in Farmington 
on January 31, 1847. He was the fifth child born to David and Ellen Bowman, an old 
and respected pioneer family. James's early business life was spent in the lumber woods 
of Forest county, and here he "got his start in life. At the age of twenty-five years he 
married Elizabeth, a daughter of Daniel A. Walters. They have had three children. 
Mr. Bowman is a conscientious Christian gendeman, class leader, and local preacher of 
the Free Methodist Church at Newmansville, and is active in all that pertains to the 
welfare of the society. Since 1875 he has been engaged in the mercantile trade, and is 
now the leading merchant of Newmansville. From principle, Mr. Bowman is a strict 
prohibitionist. 

Bowser, A. J., West Monterey p. o., Perry, was a son of Peter and Jane Bowser, and 
was born in Armstrong county in 1854. He was married in 1876 to Mary E. Kribbel, 
of Clarion county. They have had four children — Edward M., Myrtie R., Charles, and 
Clyde. Mr. Bowser is engaged in farming and milling. His father, Peter, was born in 
1815 and died in 1879, and his mother was born in 1821. 

Boyd, P. W., New Bethlehem, a member of the firm of G. W. Arblaster & Co., was 
born near Rimersburg, on the old Thompson homestead, now the property of Alexander 
Bols. He was a son of Samuel and Mary Jane (Thompson) Boyd. Samuel M. in 1843 
associated himself with J. M. Thompson and Charles D. Hatchison, under the style of 
Franklin Furnace Company, but owing to the unfavorable tarift' legislation, and during 
the Polk administration the concern failed. Mr. Boyd then became book-keeper and 
manager of the Mahoning Iron Works of Armstrong county. Mr. Boyd's health failed 
in i860, and in 1868 he settled on a farm near Rimersburg, which was the property of 
his wife. He died in 1868, at the age of forty-seven years, leaving a wife and nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are now hving. Their sons are W. H. Boyd, who now owns the 
old homestead; J. A. C, now engaged very extensively in the mercantile business in 
Uniontown, Fayette county; L. C, a member of the firm of L. H. Smith Woodenware 
Co. of Pittsburgh, also manufacturers of brooms, brushes, etc. ; and P. W. Boyd, a mem- 
ber of the firm of G. W. Arblaster. Mrs. Mary Jane Boyd is still living at the age of 
sixty-five years. 

Boyd, William, Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, a son of William and Mary (Laver) Boyd, 
was born in Armstrong county on October 25, 1813. He was married in 1840 to Mary 
McNaughton, who was born in 1824. They have had a family of twelve children — 
Sarah C, Colon (deceased), Washington L., Daniel McC. (deceased), Hannah M., Will- 
iam A., Franklin P., Rosanna, Amanda A. (deceased), Matilda M., Stephen E., Rebecca 
N. (deceased). Mr. Boyd has been engaged in lumbering and farming the greater part 
of his life. He lives on the farm now owned by Frank P. Beck. His father was born 
in 1771 and died in 1821. His maternal grandfather, William Laver, served in the 
Revolutionary War. 

Brenneman, J. W., Callensburg p. o., Licking, was a son of Christian and Maria 
(Smith) Brenneman, and was born in Clarion county in 1852. He was married in 1876 
to Mary Davis, of Clarion county. They have had a family of four children — Mabel, 
Adah (deceased), Rhoda, and Maud. His father. Christian, settled in what is now 
Clarion county. Pa., in 1810, and became engaged in the lumber and boat-building busi- 
ness, which business, J. W. is now engaged in. 

Brothers, Joseph M., Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Mifflin county. Pa., on De- 
cember 14, 1843, and is now engaged in the oil business. He is also councilman of 
Edenburg borough, and has been school director. He came to Clarion county. Pa., in 
1876. His parents were Joseph and Catharine (Steele) Brothers, natives of Mifflin 
county, Pa. He was married on May 8, 1871, to Laura M. Barr, a daughter of James 
and Lavina (Kelley) Barr, of Strattanville, Clarion county. Pa., who were among the 
early settlers. They have a family of six children — James S., George W., Joseph, Will- 
iam M., Laura M., and Clara E. 



Brief Personals. ix 



Butler, James Harvey, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, the oldest of six children of 
Alphonso and Sarepta Butler, was born in Elk township on May 8, 1832. He was 
brought up on the farm, and at the age of twenty-one years went to Clarion River and 
became engaged in building coal boats. He married Sarah Cornish. They had a fam- 
ily of six children. For many years the family have lived in Farmington, near Tylers- 
burg, on a nicely located and well appointed farm of one hundred acres. Mr. Butler is 
a breeder of thoroughbred Norman horses, and has some of the finest specimens found 
in Pennsylvania. Although not an active partisan, Mr. Butler is a staunch Republican, 
and is frequently called upon to hold town office. 

Buzza, W. R., Knox p. o., Beaver, is a lumber and coal merchant, on North Main 
street. He was born in Cornwall, England, on March 29, 1848, and came to the United 
States in 1868, and settled in Clarion county in 1877. His parents were William and 
Mary A. (James) Buzza, natives of England. W. R. Buzza was married on June 16, 
1873 to Mary J. McFarlane, a daughter of Duncan and Ann A. (Evans) McFarlane, of 
Liverpool, England. They have had a family of six children — Daniel Herbert, Richard 
Alfred, William Malcom, Amy, Arthur Blaine, and Robert Duncan. 

Carley, John, Mill Creek, one of the substantial farmers of Mill Creek, owning two 
hundred and forty acres, was born in Beaver county, in 1833, and settled in Clarion 
county in 1859. He was married in 1869 to Rebecca J. McCloskey, of Clarion county. 
They have had a family of nine children — Alice J., Emma M., George L., Flora E., John 
S., Anna M., Arthur W., Frankie (deceased), and one who died in infancy. Mr. Carley 
held the office of justice of the peace for fifteen years, and has also been constable and 
school director. His father, Job M., was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1796, 
and now makes his home with his son John. His mother, Elinor (Hickman) Carley, 
was born in 1800 and died in 1882. 

Carmody, Daniel, East Brady, dealer in furniture, picture frames, wall paper, and 
carrying a full line of fancy goods, was born in Armstrong county in 1855, and was a 
son of Patrick and Mary (Parker) Carmody, who settled in East Brady in 1881. Daniel 
was married on April 15, 1878, to Kate Yung, who was born in Germany in 1853. They 
have had a family of four children — John Edgar, Clara May, Rosa Myrtle, and Joseph 
Addison. Kate was a daughter of Christjohn and Mary Yung, natives of Germany, 
who came to Pennsylvania in 1855. Daniel Carmody was engaged in the grocery bus- 
iness in 1877, was burned out, and after embarked in the furniture business in 1883. 

Carroll, S. A., Alum Rock p. o.. Perry, was born in Clarion county. Pa., in 1852, and 
married Barbara Heeter. They have had a family of four children — John B., M. Ed- 
ward, Lawrence L., and Samuel A. Mr. Carroll is engaged in boat building, and also 
runs a saw-mill in connection with his business. His father, James S., was born in 1820, 
and married Elizabeth McClatchey, who died in 1875, leaving a family of ten children, 
four of whom are now living. 

Carroll, W. W., West Freedom p. o.. Perry, was born in Clarion county. Pa., in 1848, 
and was married in 1874, to Juliet Logue. They have had one child — Samuel A. Mr. 
Carroll is engaged in boat building, and also has a large saw-mill. 

Clark, Oliver Henry, North Pine Grove p. o., Farmington, was born in Highland 
township. Pa., on February 22, 1847. He was the fourth of eleven children born to 
James and Maria Clark. Until 1864 Oliver lived at home, where with his father he 
learned the blacksmith trade. He then enlisted in Company A, Fifty-seventh Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. On his return home, 
Mr. Clark married Catherine Bittendbender, of Highland township. Pa. They had nine 
children. Oliver Clark is an industrious, energetic mechanic, a master of his trade, who, 
by patience, has acquired a comfortable fortune. In politics he takes an active interest. 
He is a Republican, and has frequently held town offices. 

Clover, S. W., Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in Strattanville, Clarion county, on 
May 24, 1847, and is the proprietor of the Clover House. His parents w^ere Judge Isaac 
and Sarah (Whren) Clover. Mr. Clover was born in this county and his wife in Centre 
county. S. W. was married on November 17, 1877, to Mattie Orr. They had two 



History of Clarion County. 



children — Isaac and Orr. He was married the second time on October 17, 1882, to 
Rosey Porter. They have also had two children — Mattie and S. W., jr. 

Cobler, David, Elk City p. o., Beaver, was born where he now resides on April 13, 
1844, is a farmer and owns fifty acres, with coal banks. His parents were Frederick 
•and Sarah (Chambers) Cobler, who came here from Germany at an early day, so early 
that his father bought the farm now owned by his sons for one dollar per acre. David 
was married on December 24, 1868, to Hannah Shakley, a daughter of Henry P. and 
Margaret R. (Smith) Shakley, formerly of Butler county. They have had a family of 
three children — Presley A., Mary J., and Maud M. 

Cochran, James, Lamartine p. o., Salem, was born in Butler county on March 20, 
1816, and came to Clarion county in 1826. He has been assessor, school director, 
auditor, township clerk, and has held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-four 
years. He is now engaged in farming, and owns and occupies a farm of one hundred 
and forty-five acres. He was a son of John and Margaret (Rimes) Cochran. He was 
married on June 25, 1846, to Elizabeth McCall, a daughter of William and Margaret 
(Cotton) McCall, natives of this county. James has had two children — Lemuel E. and 
Mary E., now the wife of Charles D. Masters, of Salem. 

Collner, Calvin, St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in St. Petersburg on April 
3, 1856, and is a member of the firm of H. Collner Brothers, general merchants and oil 
producers. He is now councilman of the borough. His parents are Lewis and Sarah 
(Fry) Collner, who settled here in 1836. Calvin Collner was married on June 10, 1880, 
to Anna Thompson, of Sheakleyville. They have had two children — Verne T. and 
Sarah L. 

Collner, Harrison, St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in St. Petersburg on 
February 27, 1849, and is a member of the firm of H. Collner Bros., general merchants 
and oil producers. His parents were Lewis and Sarah (Fry) Collner, who settled 
here in 1836. Harrison Collner was married on May 28, 1874, to Lizzie Caldwell, 
■of Greensburgh, Westmoreland county. They have had a family of five children — 
Bertha, Mary H., Sarah R., William H., and Lewis C. 

Collner, Levi, St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in Richland township on 
July 24, 1842, is a farmer, and now owns seventy-five acres. His parents were Lewis 
and Sarah (Fry) Collner, who settled here about 1836. His wife was Sarah Ashbach, a 
daughter of John and Diretta (Whittling) Ashbach, old settlers in Clarion county, to 
whom he was married on March 22, 1868. They have had three children — Howard C, 
Elmer H., and John L. 

Cook, Philip, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born in Beaver township, then a 
part of Venango county, on January 15, 1822. His father, John Cook, was twice mar- 
ried, and Philip was one of ten children of his marriage with Susan Helpman. The 
children of the second marriage were seven in number. About 1831 or 1832 the family 
moved to the mouth of Tom's Run on the Clarion River, where Cooksburg is now sit- 
uated, and where they became engaged in the lumber business. At the age of twenty- 
eight years Philip started out in life for himself and became engaged in lumbering and 
boat-building on the Clarion River. He enlisted in 1861 in Co. E, loth Pennsylvania 
Reserves, but was rejected on account of physical disability. He rejoined the regiment 
at Fort Pierpoint and served three months without compensation. He was married on 
June I, 1878, to Louisa B. Barrett, a teacher in the public schools of Bucyrus, O. They 
had three children — Susan E., Arthur P., and Louisa B. Arthur died in 1884, aged 
two years. In politics Mr. Cook was an old line Whig, but became a Republican upon 
the formation of that party. Religiously he is a Universalist, being almost the only one 
in the townshi]:). 

Cooper, William R. (deceased). West Freedom p. o.. Perry, was born in Philadel- 
phia in 182 1 ; was left an orphan in infancy, and settled in Clarion county in 1840. He 
was married in 1850 to Rebecca Martin, who died in 1858, aged twenty-six years. He 
was married the second time, in 1861, to Margaret Jane Steele, of Clarion county. 
They have had a family of four children, two of whom are now living — William Ells- 



Brief Personals. xi 



worth and John Frankhn. Mr. Cooper was a successful farmer, and died in 1873, leav- 
ing a farm of seventy acres. 

Corbett, James M., New Bethlehem, was born in Clarion county, Pa., in 1840, and 
was married in 1869 to Sarah J. Space. They have had a family of three children — 
Herbert G., Clara M., and Joseph P. James M. enlisted in Company L, Eleventh 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, in August, 1862, and remained in the army until the close of 
the war. 

Corbett, PhiHp, New Bethlehem, a retired gentleman, was born in Clarion township 
in 1819, and was a son of John and Mary (Mitchel) Corbett, of Mifflin county. John 
was born in 1778 and his wife Mary was born in 1782. They settled here in 1802, and 
had a family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living — Ross M., James H., 
Philip, Amos W.,' Isaac, Polly, Electa, and Nancy J. Philip married Ruth Galbraith, 
of Centre county, in 1838. She died on August 31, 1878, leaving a family of six chil- 
dren—John H., Mary C, Clara J., George W., Oscar W., and Foster G. He married 
his second wife, Annie Thompson, in 1878. He has been a justice of the peace for one 
term. He is a lumber dealer, oil producer, and general insurance agent. 

Corbett, Ross M., Leatherwood p. o.. New Bethlehem, one of the leading and in- 
fluential men of his county, was born in Clarion township in 1810, and was married in 
1834 to Fanny Culbertson Orr, who was born in Clarion county in 181 5. They had a 
family of seven children, four of whom are now Hving — Rev. Hunter, Samuel C., Win- 
field S., and David L. Hunter is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, and 
has been a missionary for over twenty years in China. John Newton, the second son, 
enlisted in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed while in service, in 
1864. Samuel enlisted in the same regiment in 1863, and served to the close of the 
war in Company L, under Captain Loomus's command. Ross M. Corbett was a son 
of John C. and Mary (Mitchell) Corbett, of Mifflin county, who were married in 1800, 
and setHed in Clarion county in 1801, where they died, They had a family of twelve 
children, of whom Ross, Isaac, James, Hamilton, Philip, Mrs. Mary Fulton, Mrs. Electa 
Packer, and Nancy Jane are now living. Fanny was a daughter of Samuel C. and 
Margaret (Sloan) Orr, who were natives of Westmoreland county, and settled in Clarion 
county at an early day. 

Corbett, Samuel B., New Bethlehem, a general dry goods dealer, was born in Clarion 
county in 1840, and was a son of Samuel T. and Ruth (Kirkpatrick) Corbett, who came 
here in 1818. Samuel died in 1869, leaving a widow and ten children, nine boys and 
one girl — Dewitt, Lee, Jared, Samuel B. and James N. (twins). Nelson, Albert, Frank, 
William, and Sarah. Samuel B. and James N. (twins) enlisted in 1863 in Company L, 
Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. Seven Corbetts, 
two brothers and five cousins, served in that same company ; one died at Andersonville 
prison and one was killed. Samuel B. was married in 1866 to Susan Pace. They had 
one daughter — Bertie, who died in 1878, at the age often years. Sarah was a daugh- 
ter of George and Sarah (Cribbs) Space. 

Corbett, William S., New Bethlehem, was born in Clarion county in 1849, ^"^l was 
married in 1874 to Priscilla McClellan, of Clarion county. They have had one son — 
Franklin C. Priscilla was a daughter of William McClellan. WiUiam S. Corbett was 
a son of Samuel T. and Ruth (Kirkpatrick) Corbett, who settled in Clarion county in 
1818. Samuel died in 1869, leaving a widow and ten children — Dewitt C, Lee, Jared 
E., Samuel B. and James N. (twins). Nelson, Albert G., Frank S., William S., and 
Sarah. 

Cowan, George E., New Bethlehem, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., it 1843, 
and was married in 1865 to Miss E. J. Keller. They have had a family of seven chil- 
dren—James E. (deceased), Charles O., Mary B., John H., WilHam, Norah, and Ella 
May. George E. Cowan was a son of David and Mary (King) Cowan. David was 
born in 1810 and died in 1850, and his wife Mary was born in 1815. They had a 
family of four children — Mary C, Rachel J., George E., and Mary Ellen. George E. 
Cowan enlisted in Company H, Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, in 1861, and re-enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Ninety-first, serving for four and one-quarter years. He was 



xii History of Clarion County. 

taken prisoner, and boarded for seven months at the Libby and Salisbury prisons, 
George E. Cowan organized his present business firm in March, 1883, and is now en- 
gaged in the hardware and foundry business. He settled in New Bethlehem, Pa., in 
1865. 

Craig, jr., W., Callensburg p. o., Licking, was born in Clarion county in 1836, and 
followed farming for twenty years. He was married in 1859 to Eliza Young, of Redbank 
township. They had a family of seven children — Melissa J., Alvin E., Elvira A., Hor- 
ace A., Minnie M., Anna L., and Ida M. In 1863 Mr. Craig became proprietor of 
the Callensburg flour and grist-mill, but still continues his farming interests, owning a 
fine farm of ninety-six acres. His parents were Washington and Nancy (Thompson) 
Craig. Washington was born in 1807 and died in 1881. His wife Nancy was born in 
1808, and is now living. 

Craig, W. F., Sligo p. o.. Licking, was born in Armstrong county in 1825, and mar- 
ried Maggie A. Fulmer. They have had three children — H. Jennie, John F., and Myra. 
He became engaged in the milling business with his father in 1851, and with his brother, 
W. A. Craig, in 1866, and they now run a flour, grist and saw-mill under the firm name 
of W. F. & W. A. Craig. W. F. Craig also owns a fine farm of 140 acres. Their 
father, James, was born in 1803 and died in 1877. He was twice married. His first 
wife was Jane Furguson. They had a family of ten children. She died in 1857. He 
married for his second wife Mary McCain. There are six children now living. 

Craig, W. H., Rimersburgh p. o., who is a general merchant, was born in Armstrong 
county. Pa., in 1845, and settled in Clarion county. Pa., in 1875, when he became en- 
gaged in the mercantile business, dealing in dry goods, groceries, and all leading goods 
found in a country store. He was married in 1868 to Nancy J. Foster, a daughter of 
William A. Foster, of Armstrong county. Pa. They have had a family of three chil- 
dren — Lizzie M., Mary M., and Nannie P. W. H. Craig was a son of John and Eliza 
(Huston) Craig. Eliza was born in Franklin county. Pa., and her husband John was 
born in Armstrong county. They had a family of nine children, five of whom are now 
living — Nancy R., Mary, James M., W. H., and Ada L. The grandparents, Samuel 
and Mary (Milligan) Craig, died in Armstrong county. Pa. 

Crawford, Ralph W., Redbank Furnace p. o., East Brady, ticket, freight and tele- 
graph agent for the A. V. R. R., and also agent for Adams Express Company, was born 
at McKeesport, Allegheny county, in 1853. He was a son of Joel B. and Elizabeth 
(Bugh) Crawford. He commenced his railroad life in i86g, in the employ of the A. V. 
R. R., and fitted himself for a telegrapher, and in 1881 was appointed agent for the 
company. He was married in 1878 to Emma Chaney, of Armstrong county. They 
have had four children — Lizzie, Mabel, Ralph, and Charles P. 

Cresswell, Dr. Robert, West Millville p. o., Millville, a physician and surgeon of 
Millville, was born in Indiana county in 1842, and fitted himself for his profession and 
settled in Armstrong county in 1866, and in 1867 settled in Millville in the practice of 
his profession, where he now enjoys the confidence of his many friends. He was mar- 
ried in 1870 to Phyanna Cribbs. They have had two children — Clara and Ralph. 
Robert is a brother of Dr. John Cresswell, of New Bethlehem. 

Crisman, Carson S., North Pine Grove p. o., Farmington, was born at Blairsville, 
Indiana county, on September 29, 1826. He was of the third children (twin to Cor- 
nelius) in a family of six children of Benjamin and Sarah Crisman. Of this family of 
parents and children Carson is the only one now living. They first came to Clarion 
county in 1840. Carson learned the carpenter trade and worked at it for several years. 
In and about Clarion borough stand many of the evidences of his labor. For a time 
he was engaged in the mercantile business at Newmansville, but since 1875 he has been 
the leading merchant at North Pine Grove. Mr. Crisman never married, and has been 
content to travel life's devious path singly and alone. In politics he takes no active 
part, but generally supports the Republican nominees. Of German parentage, the 
family have been associated with the Evangehcal Lutheran Church. 

Crum, O. J., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in the town of Beaver on April 5, 1840. 



Brief Personals. xiii 



He is a carriage and wagon manufacturer at Monroeville. He enlisted in Company A, 
Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in March, 1865, and was discharged in June, 
1865. His parents v/ere John and Mary (Snyder) Crum. Mr. Crum was born in 
Westmoreland county, and came to Beaver about 1839. O. J. Crum was married on 
January 25, 1866, to Elizabeth Connor, a daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Boyer) 
Connor, of Richland. They have had a family of six children, five of whom are now 
living — Francis H., Celia C, Delia I., Milda E., and Vertie L. 

Dahle, Reuben J., Elk City p. o.. Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Elk township 
on February 17, 1828. He was a son of Jacob and Sarah (Crousehoar) Dahle. His 
paternal grandfather, Philip Dahle, settled in Elk in 1820. His children were George, 
John, Peter, Jacob, David, Daniel, and Philip. The children of Jacob were Maria, 
Lavina, Urias S., Reuben J., Sarah, Lucinda, George W., Clara A., and Franklin. 
Reuben J. Dahle was married in 18 — to Margaret Thompson. They have had a 
family of six children — Nancy, Thomas, Andrew, Mahal, Clara A., and Ida. Margaret 
was a daughter of Thomas E. Thompson, of Beaver. 

Davis, William, Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, a son of Isaiah and Sarah (McVeigle) 
Davis, was born in Bedford county. Pa., in 1812, and settled in Clarion county in 1840. 
He was married in 1836 to Mary Copenhaven, of Centre county, who was born on 
January 31, 1814. They had a family of nine children — John C. (deceased), Thomas 
J., Rachel, William H., Winfield S., Sarah E., George D., Millard F. (deceased), and 
one who died in infancy. Mr. Davis is a blacksmith by trade, a business which he 
has followed for forty years. He also owns a farm of fifty acres. 

Davis, Mrs. E. L., Callensburg p. o., Licking, a daughter of David Kister was born 
in Columbia county in 1822, and settled in Clarion county in 1835. She was married 
in 1840 to James Davis, who was born in Westmoreland county. Pa. They had a 
family of seven children, six of whom are now living — William G. (deceased), John W., 
Mary J., David R., Thomas H., Adam H., James F. William G. enlisted in Company 
A and served to the close of the war. 

Davis, Thomas, Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, was a son of William and Mary (Coopen- 
shaven) Davis, and was born in Huntington county in 1845, and settled in Clarion 
county at an early age, and now owns a farm of ninety-nine acres. He enhsted in 1862 
in Company H 103d Pennsylvania Volunteers ; was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C, 
and held at Andersonville, Florence, and Charleston. 

Dehner, J. L. Alum Rock p. o., Richland, was born in Allegheny City on August 
20, 1843, is a farmer and oil producer, and owns 100 acres of land. He enlisted in 
Company G 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers in July, 1862, and served during the war, 
and participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, and the battle of the Wil- 
derness. His parents were John M. and Christine (Bomgardner) Dehner, who were 
natives of Germany. J. L. was married on September 17, 1872, to Mary A. Beatty, a 
daughter of William and Polly (Guthrie) Beatty, natives of Clarion county. J. L. and 
Mary have had a family of three children — Arthur Laverne, Albert B., and Maud C. 

Deitrich, John M., Fern p. o., Ashland, an oil producer, was born in Ashland town- 
ship on December 13, 1856, and was a son of William and Catherine (Beausang) Deit- 
rich, both natives of Prussia. They settled in Ashland in 1854, and cleared and 
improved a farm, a part of which is now owned by their son, John M. Their children 
now living are Elizabeth, Minnie, John M., Mary E., William, and Charlie. John M. 
was married in 1885 to Lura A., daughter of John Lindsay, of Elk township. John 
M. is prominently identified with the oil business and owns an interest in thirty-two 
producing wells, and enjoys the distinction of putting down the first well in the Fern 
district. 

Dietterich, L. W., Wentling Corners p. o., Beaver, was born in Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, on May 19, 1848, and came to Clarion county in 1868, and to Went- 
ling's Corners in 1880, where he has a general store and is now postmaster. His 
parents were Rev. John F. and Elizabeth (Rheinhard) Dietterich, of Salem. L. W. was 
married on December 31, 1872, to E. A. Shaner, a daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah 
(Mong) Shaner, of Salem. L. W. and E. A. have had one child — Howard K. 



xiv History of Clarion County. 

Delo, William B., Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in Beaver township on Novem- 
ber i6, 1851, and was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wilds) Delo, of Beaver township. 
Mr. Delo was appointed postmaster on May 5, 1885. He was married on September 
23, 1873, to Alice J. Kanan, of Strattanville, Clarion county. They have had a family 
of six children — James M., Edward L., Maude M., George A., and Blanche. 

Delp, George, Piolett p. o., New Bethlehem, undertaker, and farmer, was born in 
the township of Porter, Pa., in 1839, and was married in i860 to Elizabeth A. Pence, 
who was born in Porter, Pa., in 1837. She was a daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Do- 
verspike) Pence. They were among the early families of New Bethlehem, Pa., and 
died in Porter, Pa., she in 1878, and her husband, Jacob, died in 1881. Jacob and 
Lydia had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are now living. Their son 
George enlisted in the 103d; was taken prisoner and died while confined in Anderson- 
ville prison on August 19, 1864. George Delp was a son of Nicholas and Sarah 
(Foringer) Delp. Nicholas was born in Porter, Pa., in 1812, and died in 1874, and 
his wife, Sarah, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., in 1819. They were married in 
1838, and had a family of nine children, four of whom are now living — George, Lewis, 
Margaret M., and Sarah Jane. Nicholas was a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Delp, who 
were early settlers in Porter, Pa. Sarah was a daughter of DeWald and Mary For- 
enger. 

Denniston, Francis M., Knox p. o., Beaver, dealer in torpedoes and nitro-glycerine, 
and now burgess of the borough, was born in Leesburg, Mercer county, Pa., on Feb- 
ruary 26, 1845, and came to Clarion county in 1876. His parents are Edward and 
Mary J. (Coulter) Denniston, of Mercer county. Francis M. Denniston was married 
on July 13, 1880, to Annie M. Schmader, a daughter of Simon and Annie (Gates) 
Schmader, of Clarion county. They have one child — Carrie J. 

Detar, David, Fryburg p. o., Washington, a son of Joseph Detar, a pioneer of 
Beaver, was born in Westmoreland county on December 3, 1833. David came to Fry- 
burg in i860, and being learned in the trade of a machinist and wheelwright, bought the 
foundry property in that place. Here are manufactured threshers, plows, stoves, and 
general castings usual to a well-regulated foundry and machine shop. David Detar 
married Sarah Jane Hollis, who bore him six children. Li every sense Mr. Detar is a 
self made man ; having but little capital at the start, he has by industry and persever- 
ance built up a comfortable property, and believes in making life pleasant for his whole 
family, as well as himself He is a prominent member of the Lutheran Church. 

Dinger, Michael, Shannondale p. o., Millville, one of the representative and suc- 
cessful farmers of Clarion county, was born in Schuylkill county in 1825, and was a son 
of facob and Catherine Dinger, who were married and settled in Red Bank township 
in 1833. They had a family of thirteen children, five of whom are now living — Peter, 
John, Michael, Barbara, and Lydia. Jacob was born in 1781, and died in 1835, and 
his wife, Lydia, was born in 1792, and died in 1874. Jacob held several of the town 
offices, and purchased on settlement eleven hundred acres. Michael was married in 
1854 to Sarah Craft, of Beaver township, who was born in 1834. Their children are as 
follows: Philip, Henry, Katie, Annie, John Franklin, Emma Frances, George Irvin, 
Celesta Louisa, Minnie Ida, and Michael Calvin. Sarah was a daughter of Jacob and 
Fanny (Inhoof ) Craft. They were born in Switzerland, and came to Lancaster county 
in 1805, and settled in Red Bank township in 181 5, where they died, leaving a family 
of seven children. Michael Dinger has been collector and school director. He is a 
large farmer, and is also largely engaged in stock raising. 

Dougherty, Andrew, Frogtown p. o., Millville, was born in Ireland in 1814, and was 
a son of James and Catharine Dougherty, who had a family of three children — Jane, 
Margaret, and Andrew. Andrew came to America in 1830, and setded in Chester 
county as a stone-worker on 'the Girard College building. In 1834 he purchased his 
present homestead farm of 218 acres, and in 1835 brought his parents out from Ireland. 
His father died in Jefferson county in 1863, at the age of eighty-four years. Andrew 
was married in 1850 to Eliza Pheley, who was born in Ireland in 1824. They had a 
family of eight children, seven of whom are now living — William James, Catharine, 



Brief 'Personals. xv 



John, Mary, Eliza, Anna, and Andrew, jr., who died at the age of eleven and one-half 
years. Catharine married Edward Dougherty. They have had two children — Mary 
G., and Thomas Andrew. 

Dougherty, Thomas, Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, a merchant, was born in 1820, and 
was a son of Neal and Nancy (McLaughlin) Dougherty. He came to America with 
his father, Neal, who first settled in St. Johns, N. B., in 1823, and in 1834 they settled 
in Clarion county, Pa. Thomas was married in 1841 to Rosanna Thompson, a daugh- 
ter of Samuel Thomson, who was one of the pioneers of Clarion county. They had 
a family of seven children — Samuel T., Josephine, George D., James P., Jennie, Will- 
iam T., Clarissa (deceased). Thomas Dougherty spent his early days engaged in farm- 
ing, and commenced his mercantile life by clerking, at first for five years, after which he 
went into business for himself 

Dunkle, R. B., Callensburg p. o.. Licking, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Morgan) 
Dunkle, was born in Clarion county in 1853, and commenced business for himself in 
1872, opening a wagon-making and repairing shop, and now has a large and increasing 
business. He was married in 1872 to Jemima Barr, a daughter of Henry and Susan 
Barr. Jemima died in 1886, leaving two daughters — Lizzie May and Jessie Maud. 
His father, Thomas, was born in Centre county in 1821; enlisted in May, 1861, in Co. 
A, 103d Pennsylvania Regiment, and was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks; after 
serving three years and three months he returned to Callensburg, where he resided, fol- 
lowing his occupation, that of cabinet-maker, until April, 1882, when he returned to his 
native county. His oldest son, W. L. Dunkle, now occupies the old furniture store at 
Callensburg. The other sons, J. C. and E. W., reside at Pittsburgh. 

Edwards, William H., Foxburg p. o., Richland, was born in Canada on February 6, 
1845, and came to the United States in 1862, and to Clarion county in 1870. He is 
the head of the firm of W. H. Edwards & Co., oil-well tool manufacturers. He was 
married on January 13, 1868, to Adelia Cox, of Titusville, Pa. They have had seven 
children — Mary C, WiUiam H., Agnes E., Nellie, Frank, Rose and Ella. 

Eicke, C. W. H., West Monterey p. o., general manager and now part owner of the 
the Mineral Ridge Coal Company, was born in Germany, and came to America in 1857, 
residing in New York until 187 1. He then settled in Clarion county as manager of the 
mines, and was the first to introduce coal mined from this section in the northern mark- 
ets. After a test with coal from different mines for steam producing qualities, received 
a large contract from N. Y. C. R. R., which continued for ten years; capacity 80,000 
tons per year. The company, nowconisting of T. T. Skidmore, Colonel Smith's heirs 
and Mr. Eicke, own the mineral right to five hundred acres, forty houses and a farm of 106 
acres. Mr. Eicke has a fine herd of Jersey cattle, among which is one of the most val- 
uable cows in the country. 

Elder, Samuel, Rimersburg, was born in Clarion county on December 28, 18 13, and 
was married in 1844 to Jane Mortimer, who was born in Madison township on Octo- 
ber 5, 181 7. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are now living — Sarah 
Elizabeth, Mary E., Maggie, Nannie E., Samuel B., and John. Samuel B., was married 
in 1881 to Maggie L. Thompson; John married Mary B. Summerville in 1886; 
Sarah E. now resides with her mother. The father, Samuel, died on September 
22, 1884. He was a son of John and Betsey (Corson) Elder, who had a family of eight 
children, two of whom are now living — Nancy and Polly Jane Mortimer. David was 
born in Clarion county, and was a son of John and Polly (Mortimer) Elder, who were 
among the pioneers of the county. They had a family of twelve children, seven of 
whom are now living. 

Faller, Jacob, Fryburg p. o., Washington. In the year 1842 Jacob Faller came tO' 
Washington township. Pa., and erected a cabin in the southeast part of the township. 
The family comprised nine children, four of whom were born in Philadelphia, and five 
were natives of this town. These children were Susan, Jacob, Rebecca, John, Conrad,. 
Sarah, Michael, Frank, and Mary Ann. Jacob, the second child, is one of the most 
respected and substantial residents of the township of Washington. For twenty-five 
years he has held the ofiice of justice of the peace, and has also frequently held other 



xvi History of Clarion County. 

town offices. He married Mary A. Gribel. They have had a family of nine children. 
Mr. Faller learned the trade of carriage-making, but recently has turned his attention 
to farming, and is now one of the most thrifty farmers of the town. In politics he is a 
•consistent Democrat. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Fassenmeyer, Baltzer, Fryburg p. o., Washington, and his family emigrated from 
Baden, Germany, to this country in 1828. In the family were seven children, four of 
whom were born abroad — Felix, Catherine, Igatha, and Casper, who were natives of 
Baden, and Magdalena, Jacob, and Joseph were born in Washington, Clarion county. 
Pa. Baltzer Fassenmeyer died on May 3, 1868. He was a soldier in the old country, 
having served under Napoleon, was captured and confined on the island of Galarera, 
but escaped and returned to his home. Joseph, the youngest child, was born August 
19, 1837. He was married in 1859 to Francisca Spiegle. They had one child, who 
was born in 1862. Francisca died in 1863. He married for his second wife Philomena 
Dotz. They have had a family of eleven children. In 1875 Mr. Fassenmeyer started 
the Jamestown Hotel, having received quite an estate from his father, upon which he 
has enlarged, and is now counted among the progressive residents of Jamestown. In 
politics he is a Democrat, and has frequently held town offices. 

Fellers, WiUiam, Newmansville p. o., Washington, son of Andrew and Mary Fellers, 
was born in Centre county, Pa., on April 8, 181 7. When Willian-i was fourteen years 
of age the family went to Stark county, O., where they resided for about seven years. 
William then returned to Pennsylvania, where, in 1840, he was married to Barbara Ann 
Singhose. In August, 1853, they took up their residence in Washington township. Pa., 
on lands bought from Rev. John Leech. William Fellers is one of the progressive men 
of the town. In every enterprise for the welfare of his people he is foremost. Although 
a strong RepubHcan, he has frequently held town office in his township with a strong 
Democratic majority. He had a family of twelve children, nine of whom are now liv- 
ing. Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Ferguson, J. E., New Bethlehem, was born in Armstrong county in 1861, and set- 
tled in Clarion county in 1886. He became engaged in the general livery and exchange 
stable business upon settlement here. He was married in 1S83 to Sarah Jane Seanor, 
of Armstrong county. They have had one son — Noah E. 

Fisher, Charles, Valley p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Hanover, Germany, 
•on March 7, 1836, and was a son of Philip and Caroline (Pirl) Fisher. He settled in 
Beaver township in 1864, and located in Elk in 1869. He was married that same year 
to Charlotte, a daughter of Frederick Wedekind, of Elk township. They had a family 
of nme children — Charles, Henry, Amos, Christena, Frank, William, Louisa, Regina, 
.and May. 

Flaherty, Matt S., New Bethlehem, was born in West Virginia in 1857, and was a 
son of John and Bridget (O'Neil) Flaherty, who were born in Ireland and married in 
Baltimore. They had a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living — John, 
Maggie, Matt S., Delia, Pat, Mary, Kate, Jane, and Ella. They settled in Clarion 
county in 1872. Matt S. became a clerk at an early age, and had but few advantages 
in obtaining an education, but he fitted himself and graduated from the commercial 
college, and in 1882 became manager for Jones &: Bronker, and in 1883 he became the 
manager of the Northwestern Coal and Mining Company. He has also held other im- 
portant offices of trust. 

Foster, John Redick, New Bethlehem, a banker of the borough, was born in Arm- 
strong county, Pa., in 1844, and settled in Clarion county in 1872. He was one of the 
founders of the New Bethlehem Savings Bank, and became cashier and a director. He 
is president of the gas company, and has also held several of the borough offices. He 
was graduated from the Elder Ridge Academy, and also from the Iron City Mercantile 
College, and was an early merchant in Armstrong county, Pa., and retired in 1872. He 
was married in 1870 to Mellie B. Belville, of Illinois. They have had two daughters — 
Minnie Maud and Syd Carl. John Redick Foster was a son of Thomas H. and Eliza 
Jane (Redick) Foster, who died, leaving a family of five children — John R., Clarissa, 
Mary L., Lizzie E., and Lulu E. 



Brief Personals. xvii 



Fox, John W., Pollock p. o., Perry, was born in Clarion county in 1849. His par- 
ents were George W. and Addie (Coursin) Fox. John W. was married in 1870 to 
Sarah E. Best, of Clarion county. They have had a family of nine children — Charles 
H., Edwin I., John W., William F., David S., Roy L. E., Celia E., Herbert G., and 
Robert C. Mr. Fox has followed the milling business all his life, and business which 
his father followed before him, and is considered one of the best in his section. He 
now holds the office of school director. He was a candidate for the Legislature in 
1886. 

Frazier, William H., New Bethlehem, was born in Monroe township, Pa., in 1839. 
He was a son of Henry and Margaret (Delp) Frazier. Margaret was born in Clarion 
county. Pa., in 1818, and died in 1874 ; her husband was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pa., in 1812, and died in 1882. They were married in 1832. Henry settled in this 
county with his mother and brother John. Henry and Margaret had a family of eleven 
children, eight of whom are now living. Three sons enlisted and served in the late 
war — George W. enlisted in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment, served out his term 
of enlistment, enlisted again, and served to the close of the war ; William H., in Seventy- 
eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, enlisted on August 29, 1862, was wounded, losing two 
fingers of the right hand, for which he now receives a pension. He was discharged on 
October 26, 1863. Thomas M. enhsted in Company F, Sixty-third Pennsylvania Reg- 
iment, in 186 1, served out his term of enlistment, re-enlisted, and died at Yorktown, 
Va. The rest of the children now living are James W., John S., Calvin R., Harlon R., 
Mary A., and Ella Silva. William H. Frazier was married in i860 to Rachel Shankle, 
who died in 1870, leaving a family of three children — Oscar L., Elfida E., and William 
M. A. Mr. Frazier then married his second wife, Catharine Shankle, in 187 1. She 
■died in 1885, leaving two children — Charles E. and Sarah E. He then married his 
third wife, Eliza A. Nolf, in 1886. 

Fritz, Hezekiah R., Leeper p. o., Farmington, was born in Berks county. Pa., on 
August ig, 182 1. He was the third of eight children born to John and Catharine 
Fritz, an old and respected family of Berks county. Hezekiah came to Richland in 
1840, where, in the same year, he married Caroline Klingler, by whom he had fourteen 
children, eleven of whom are now living. Mr. Fritz was always known as an industrious, 
honest citizen. He was often honored by his fellow townsmen with town offices, and 
held the position of justice acceptably for a term of five years. By trade he was a mill- 
wright, but most of his latter years were spent in farming and lumbering. He died on 
January 25, 1883. He was an earnest member of the German Reformed Church of 
Beaver township, but for many years past the family have resided in Farmington, Pa. 

Fuller, William, West Freedom p. o.. Perry, of the St. Clair Hotel, West Freedom, 
was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1814, and was a son of Jabiel and Betsey (Pan- 
sier) Fuller. At an early age he fitted himself for a physician ; retiring from the profes- 
sion he gave his attention to farming. He was married in 1835 to Lauretta Colton. 
They have had four children, two are now living — Charles and William H. H. She 
died on June 11, 1855, at the age of forty-two years. In December, 1855, he married 
Miss Amanda R. Covert, of Lawrence counjy. They have also had four children, two 
are now living — Thomas Sankey, Eldridge Frank, Edwin F. (deceased), and Lily May. 
In 1881 he purchased the St. Clair Hotel, which he has lately remodeled, and is now 
known as one of the best kept hotels in the county. 

Fulton, James Jackson, Rimersburg, an active man of this county, was reared under 
the strict discipline of the old Associate Church. He was born in Armstrong county on 
August 25, 1829, and was married on April 19, 1855, to Miss Eliza Huey, who died on 
June 8, 1861. They had three children, two of whom are now living — Jennie L. and 
George L. James Jackson was drafted into the late war, but rejected on account of a 
crippled foot. He married for his second wife Martha J. Henry. They also had three 
children, two of whom are now living — Pearl E. and Minden Orr. Martha died on 
July 12, 1867, and he married his third wife, Nannie P. Johnston, a daughter of James 
and Mary Patton, and the widow of Lieutenant W. H. Johnston, who was killed at the 
battle of the Wilderness. J. J. Fulton was a son of James and Jane (Templeton) Fulton. 



xviii History of Clarion County. 

James was born on August 15, 1780, in County Derry, Ireland, and his wife on Sep- 
tember 15, 1787. His mother's name was Agnes. She, with her four sons, emigrated 
to America in 1794, and landed in Philadelphia after a voyage of thirteen weeks and 
three days. From here they went to Westmoreland county, where Robert, one of the 
sons, died. They remained here until the spring of 1801, when they, with other families 
living in the same vicinity, moved into Armstrong county, now Clarion county, and 
settled not far from where the town of Clarion now stands, and which was then an 
unbroken wilderness. This family consisted of the mother and her three sons, James, 
Henry, and Cochran. On the 19th of March, 1805, James Fulton and Jane Temple- 
ton Reid were united in marriage. They had a family of twelve children — Cochran, 
Joseph R., Henry, Robert R., William, David, James Jackson, Mary, Nancy, Jane H., 
Elizabeth W., and Salina M. Of these, Mary, William T., and Nancy are now de- 
ceased. Mr. Fulton was one of the founders of Piney Church, and was chosen ruling 
elder. He was drafted during the War of 1812, but was discharged on account of ces- 
sation of hostilities. Little does the present generation know of the hardships, suffering, 
and the vast amount of labor through which the brave men and women, the early pio- 
neers, had to pass. About the year 1804 business called Mr. Fulton to the eastern part 
of the State. At this period of our country's history houses were few. This trip was 
made in winter and on foot. Reaching his place of destination he transacted his busi- 
ness and then started on his return trip. Leaving Bloom's Tavern, on the Susquehanna 
River, early in the morning, he had thirty-three miles to travel by the old State Road 
in order to reach Port Barnett, there being no inhabited house between these two points. 
Soon after starting it began to snow and continued to do so all day, which made travel 
very fatiguing. He reached Sandy Lick Creek about three o'clock, and yet had ten 
miles of his journey before him, which was by far the most perilous and fatiguing. 
During the latter part of the day a man on horseback had passed over the road, and, 
with the exception of this track, he had the road to break. The shadows of evening 
began to appear, and the sun was fast sinking in the west ; darkness was gathering about 
him, and he yet alone in the wilderness. Seeing a dead tree by the roadside, and going 
to it he thought to gather some dry material and make a fire. After making all of his 
preparations he undertook to strike fire with his steel and fiint, but from long exposure 
his hands refused to fulfill their office; and disappointed in this he felt that he must 
push on. The last ray of day had faded from the western horizon ; night, with all its 
darkness and horrors, was upon him, and he could hear all around him the howls of the 
hungry wolves, who were ready to devour him should he for one moment hesitate and 
give up. After night set in, in order to keep in the road he had to get down and feel 
for the horse tracks, which were now almost filled with snow. Cold, numb, and wearied 
from the half-bent position in which he had to travel made his progress slow, but " on- 
ward " was his watchword. At last, nearly exhausted and almost ready to yield him- 
self to the hungry wolves, he raised his head, and to his joy saw a dim light in the dis- 
tance. Gradually the distance between him and the light became shorter, and he at 
last reached the house, but he was so exhausted that he could not walk up the steps. 
He finally succeeded in throwing himself against the door, when Mr. Barnett opened it, 
and seeing who it was helped him in and supplied all his wants. This was about three 
o'clock in the morning. The remaining part of his trip was made in safety. His wife 
died on January 20, 1833. On the 14th of May, 1836, he married Elizabeth English. 
They had two children — John M. and Sarah E. Elizabeth, his wife, died on April 11, 
1862. During the early " fifties " Mr. Fulton and his son J. J. were conductors of what 
was called the Underground Railroad. The escaping fugitives came to his house in 
numbers from two to nine. One Saturday evening nine came, and he fed and sheltered 
them in his barn over the Sabbath, and Monday morning, before daylight, conveyed 
them to the next station. This same act was done frequently, both by father and son. 
George, Reuben, West Monterey p. o.. Perry, was a son of Martin L. and Anna 
(Davis) George, and was born in Mercer county. Pa., in 1837. He was married in 
i860 to Mary Jane Miller, of Clarion county. Pa. They have had a family of six chil- 
dren — Christian Ellsworth, Reuben George, William Martin, Adah M., Orlando Dud- 
ley, and Edna Beatrice (deceased). Mr. George, with his brothers Christian and Mar- 



Brief Personals. xix 



tin W., enlisted in Company E, Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served 
during the entire war under Generals Sherman and Rosecrans. On his return from the 
war he settled in Clarion county, Pa, as proprietor of the Monterey House, and general 
s ore. His father and mother died in 1854, he in the forty-second year of his age and 
she in her forty-fourth. * 

A.r ^f ^"' f^'' ^!^^^"der, PhiUipston p. o., East Brady, was born in Scotland on 
March 5, 1809, and was a son of Captain James and Isabella (Halvey) Giffen, of Irvine 
Aylshire, Scotland. He emigrated to New York city in 1830, where he married Mar- 
garet Brown in 1833. She was also born in Scotland. They have had a family of ten 
ril M \r'r / ^T ''""'^ living-Alexander H., John J., Betsey M., and Marga- 

ret M. Mr Giffen served an apprenticeship to the dry goods trade, and became a hotel 
keeper in Greenwich street, New York. He moved to New Orleans owing to poor 
health. He then went to St. Louis, then came to Pittsburgh, where he became engaagd 
m business, and m 1848 came to Clarion county as a teacher and merchant He has 
served as a justice of the peace for twenty years. He has also been postmaster, being 
the founder of that oftice here. '^"="'5. 

Gilbert, Mathias, Blair's Corners p. o, Beaver, was born at Blair's Corners, Pa on* 
October 6, 1847; is a farmer, and now owns and occupies a farm of thirty-eisht acres 
His parents were Abraham and Amelia (Fritz) Gilbert, who came to Clarion counTv' 

f^;^ Tt '' TT P^''!i °^ .'^'^ ^f *"• ^^'^''^' ^'^^''' ^^s married on October 6 
1878, to Lizzie L. Best, a daughter of John and Frances (Alt) Best, of Licking town^ 
ship, fhey have three children— Ida M., Edith E., and Idella B. 

Gilfert, Nicholas, Lickingsville p. o., Washington, was born in February i8'>^ near 
Hesse Castle, Prussia, and with the family of his father, Charles Gilfert, cLrie" to the 
vicinity o Lucinda Furnace in the year 1835. Nicholas spent the early vears of his 
hfe in cutting wood for the Furnace, and at work on the tami. His father' died about 
1854. In 1849 Nicholas married Elizabeth Sandrock. They had a fan ly of n ne chil 
dren. She died in March, 1863. Having a large family of small children to care for re- 
married in the fall of the same year to Regina Rader, who also bore him five chUdren 

>S«\'"." k''"°"'' r'"'^ "'^"', ^'- ^'^^''' '^"^ ^^"^t "P ^ comfortable fortune W 
1878 he has been in the mercantile business at Lickingsville, Pa Seven different Hm^c 
has he suffered loss by robbery-goods, cash and b'onds 'to the a^unt o^nea ly"en 
thousand dollars have been taken from him. He is one of the trustees and a promment 
member of the United Brethren Church. prominent 

VV..fri^v^'''^''^t^'^' Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, the second child of William and 
Ehza Gilfillin was born m Farmmgton, Pa., on March 4, 1849. William the father 
was a native of Scotland, and his wife of Nova Scotia. When -' Youn^ Archie " ah; 
IS called, was but nine years of age he commenced work in the lumber woods and con 
tinued in is various details up to about ten years ago, when he went into the oil country' 
Recendy however, he has returned to lumbering. In his business enterprise Mr £[' 
filhn has been remarkably successful. When twenty-seven years old he nfarried Martha" 
daughter of Porter Haskell. They have had four children: Although not L ac v' 
man in politics he ,s a firm Republican. Among his fellow townsme^n he tands gTn 
erally respected by all as an active and thorough business man. ^ 

Tn ?lT' t ^^■' ^^''^^'^^"" P- °-' Salem, was born in Richland township on November 
19, 1848. He is a farmer, and owns one hundred acres. His parents were N F InH 
Prances (Knight) Gilger, of Mariasville, Venango county. He' was mar ed on De 
cember 24, 1874, to Ada Knbbs, a daughter of John and Mary (Peters) Kribbs \ W 
and Ada have had a family of three children-George B., Mary F., and Clara B 

Gillinham, John, Fern p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born 'in Allegheny countv 
on February 14, 1839. He was a son of William and Rebecca (Caldwell) Sllml anf 
John located in Ashland m 1876, and was married on SeptemberS^, i86c\o Ma E 
Hess. They have had four children-M. Lucretia, Agnes L., George W knd S L 

H:sT, of SlanT °" ^""^ ^°' ''''' ^"' -'' ' '^"^^^^^ °^ ^-- -^ Mary -^(trryi 



XX History of Clarion County. 

Gloss, Philip H., Elk City p. o., Elk, was born in Armstrong county on August 12, 
1829, and was a son of Martin and Sarah (Hoftman) Gloss. He settled in- Clarion 
county in 1848, and has resided in Elk township for the past twenty years. He was 
married in 1850 to Miriam Bell, a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Chambers) Bell, 
of Paint township. They had the following children: Sarah E., Amos, William, James, 
Margaret, Martha, Jackson, Minnie, and John. His second wife was Elizabeth, a 
daughter of John and Barbara (Young) McLane, of Paint township. They have had 
two children — Jennie and Harley. 

Goal, Fred, Fryburg p. o., Washington. John Goal was born in Germany, and 
spent his early life and was married there to Barbara Stroble. Soon after the year 
1850 the family came to Washington township, where Mr. Goal bought a part of the 
old Stroble farm, near the center of the township. The children of this marriage were 
Frederick, Albert, John, Caroline, William, Adolphus, David, Frederick, Mary, and 
Katie. Of these only six are now living, John Goal died on May 5, 1873, and his 
wife Barbara died on August i, 1883. Frederick still owns and occupies the old home 
farm of thirty-three acres. He was married in 1882 to Ella Elder. They have had 
two children. Although yet a young man Mr. Goal is one of the best farmers of the 
township, and his farm is among the best. The family are members of the Lutheran 
Society, 

Gourley, James, Leatherwood p. c, New Bethlehem, was born in Westmoreland county 
in 181 7, and was a son of Henry and Ann (Marshall) Gourley, who settled in Clarion 
■county in 1834. They died in Monroe township — Henry in 1872, and his wife Ann, who 
was born in 1806, died in 1868. They had a family of seven children. James Gourley 
was married in 1840 to Nancy A. Brisben, of Monroe township. She was born in 182 1. 
They had a family of seven children, five of whom are now living — George B., Eliza- 
beth, Andrew, James, jr., David, John, and Alva. John enlisted in Company H, One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, in 1862, and died at Fredericksburg, 
while in service, in 1863. Alva was drowned at the age of twenty years. James set- 
tled in Porter township in 1867. He has held several of the town offices, and was 
numerator in taking the census of 1880. He is now a retired farmer. 

Graham, George, East Brady, was born in Perry township on June 11, 1832, and 
was married on May 29, 1856, to Margaret H. Fritz, of Pottstown, Montgomery county, 
Pa. They have had seven children, five of whom are now known to be living — Ella 
M., Newton E., George, jr., Cecelia, and Frank. Mr. Graham became an early con- 
tractor and builder, and in 1874 formed the present firm of Graham & Cook, purchas- 
ing their factory building, and now do a large business in steam planing, sawing, and 
manufacturing all grades of sash, doors, blinds, shingles, and oil rig materials. Mr. Gra- 
ham was a son of William, jr., and Margaret (Mechling) Graham, of Butler county. Pa, 
They had a family of five children, three of whom are now living — George, Aaron, and 
Amanda, now the wife of J, P. Forcht. Margaret died in 1864, at the age ot fifty-four 
years, and her husband, William, sr., died in 1872, at the age of seventy-four years. He 
was a son of William and Sally (Rogers) Graham. Sally was born in Ireland and her 
husband in Scodand. They were married in CarUsle, Cumberland county, and had a 
family of five children, only one of whom is now living — Samuel. William settled at 
the mouth of Bear Creek, Armstrong county, in 1795, coming from Washington county, 
and a few years later settled near the mouth of the Clarion River, then in Armstrong 
county, which was included in forming Clarion county in 1839. George was drafted 
in 1862 for nine months, and served in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth 
Pennsylvania Regiment, under Colonel L, W, Smith, of Pittsburgh. 

Hahn, John B., Church p. o., Beaver, was born in Germany on September 10, 1831, 
and came to the United States in 1832 with his parents, John B. and Christena (Long) 
Hahn. He is a farmer and owns 300 acres, and is also engaged in the boat building 
business and a member of the firm of Bates & Hahn, of Piney. He was married on 
October 20, 1858, to Barbara Hahn, a native of Germany. They have four children 
now living — Katie C, George A., Mary J., and Maggie. 

Hamilton, Wesley K., East Brady, ticket, freight, telegraph, and depot agent of the 



Brief Personals. xxi 



A. V. R.R. at East Brady, and express agent, was born in Allegheny county in 1842, 
and was son of W. B. and Mary (Stephens) Hamilton. He was reared on the farm and 
enlisted on April 11, 1861, in Company G 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served to 
the close of the war in 1865. He was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant. Hebe- 
came engaged in railroading in 1867 and in 1877 he was appointed agent at Brady's. 
Wesley K. was married in 187 1 to Lizzie Owns, of Allegheny. They have had two 
sons — William A., born 1872, and Edgar T., born in 1873. Mrs. Lizzie Hamilton is 
an experienced telegrapher. The mother, Mary S. H.,died in 1871 leaving a family of 
eight children. 

Hanrahan, John J., Fern ]). o., Ashland, proprietor of the Monitor House, of Fern 
City, was born in Sligo on July 3, 1857, and was a son of John and Bridget (White) 
Hanrahan, who were natives of Ireland, who settled in Sligo, this county, in 1849, and 
located in Elk township in 1861, and came to Ashland in 1885. They had a family of 
eight children — Patrick, James, Edward, John J., Mary, Ella, Kittie, and x\lice. 

Hartman, Lewis, Callensburg p. o., Rimersburg, was born in Toby township on 
March 11, 1841, and was a son of William and Susan (Fulmer) Hartman, who were 
born and married in Berks county, and settled in Toby township in 1841, coming there 
from Columbia county. William died in March, 1840, at the age of forty-two years. 
They had a family of ten children, seven of whom are now living, six sons and one 
daughter. Two sons enlisted and served in the late war. Lewis enlisted and served in 
Company H 155th Regiment in 1862 and served to the close of the war under Colonel 
Allen. He was wounded and now carries the ball in his body. He now receives a 
pension. William enlisted in the same company and regiment and served to the close 
of the war. The company consisted of eighty-eight men, and at the close of the war 
only thirty-eight returned, fifty being sacrificed. The surviving sons are Harrison, 
Josiah, William, Lewis, Jackson, Aaron, and one brother Elisha died in 1882 leaving a 
widow and four children. Lewis married Ellen Humphrey in 187 1. They have had 
five children — David H., Charles F., Rolland C, and May E. and Mabel J. (twins). 
Lewis Hartman was formerly a carpenter and a millwright, and settled on his farm in 
this township in 1870. 

Heckman, Noah, Toby p. o., Rimersburg, owner and proprietor of the Toby steam 
and water mill, which was erected in 1847 on the oldest site in the county. The early 
log mill was built by John Miller about 1800. Mr. Heckman purchased the mill prop- 
erty in 1884, having three run of stone. He has greatly improved the property and has 
added steam power. It is located on Cherry Run and is now doing merchant and cus- 
tom work. Noah was born in Jefferson county in 1859, and was a son of Jacob and 
Catharine (Plyner) Heckman. Noah . was married in 1883 to Carrie McColough, of 
Clarion county. They have two sons — Grover Cleveland and George W. 

Heeter, G. W. Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was born in Clarion county m 1845. and 
married Rachel A. Bell. They had a family of four children — Harvey B., Phoebe L., 
W^illiam Bryant, and Linda L. Mr. Heeter is largely interested in the manufacture of 
lumber and boat-building on the Clarion River, and also owns several fine farms, own- 
ing in all about four hundred and fifty acres. He has held all of the town offices, and 
has also been county appraiser. His father, Samuel, was born in Reading, Pa., in 
1817, and married Mahala Neely, who died in i860 at the age of thirty-eight years. 
He was a thoroughly reliable citizen and commanded the respect of all who knew him. 
He died in 1879. 

Heeter, Henry C, Callensburg p. o., Licking, was born in Clinton county in 1850, 
and was married in 1869 to Mary Stover, a daughter of Samuel Stover, of Callensburg. 
They have had a family of seven children — Orminta E., Richard D., Sarah E., Norval 
C, Thomas W., Bordley, and Belva. Mr. Heeter is proprietor of a large boat-building 
house and saw-mill, and also devotes some of his time and attention to farming. He 
now owns a farm of 167 acres. 

Heeter, WiUiam S., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Monroeville on March 22, 
1855, and is now engaged in oil producing. His parents were George and Susannah 
(Neely) Heeter, who were natives of Clarion county. He was married on December 8, 



xxii History of Clarion County. 

1881, to Ida E. Correll, a daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Shreve) Correll, of Craw- 
ford county. They have had two children — Eva Maud and Mabel Charlotte. 

Hefifron, David, North Pine Grove, p. o., Farmington, was born in Farmington 
township. Pa., on January 17, 1839. He was the second of a family of nine children 
born to Ferry and Magdalena Heffron. David lived at home until of full age when he 
started out for himself as a deck hand on an Ohio River steamboat. In 1864 he mar- 
ried Sarah A. Wolf, of Meigs county, Ohio, who bore him twelve children, ten of whom 
are now living. Mr. Heffron is an energetic, thorough business man. His business 
capacity is fully realized and appreciated by the people of the county and he is now one 
of the commissioners. While in some business transactions he has been unfortunate, 
yet, as a whole, his life has been successful. In politics he is a firm Democrat. The 
family are members of the Catholic Church. 

Henlen, John W., Fryburg p. o., Washington, was born in Lancaster county on 
January 14, 1818, and in the next year his father's family came to Washington and was 
one of its earliest pioneer families. In the family were seven children — Joseph, Nancy, 
Katie, Christian, John, Henry, and Margaret. Of this pioneer family only James and 
Margaret (now Mrs. A. W. Owens) are now living. John W. Henlen was married to 
Elizabeth Kopp. They had a family of eight children, six of whom are now living. 
Mr. Henlen was always an honest, industrious and successful farmer, and by hard work 
accumulated a fortune. His farm was among the best in the town. He built on it a 
substantial brick house and first-class out-buildings, which is now occupied by his widow 
and son, Seward E., who manage the farm. Mr. Henlen died on July 8, 1884. He 
was prominent in town affairs, and was one of the leading members of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church. 

Henry, esq., George T., Piolett p. o.. New Bethlehem, was born in Porter, Pa., on 
July 14, 1824, and was a son of 'Squire William and Margaret (Boyles) Henry, of West- 
moreland county. Pa. William was born in 1795 and died in March, 1856, and his 
wife Margaret was born in 1794 and died in 1859. They had a family of three children, 
of whom George T. Henry is the only one now living. William was a son of John and 
Esther (McConnell) Henry, of Westmoreland county, who settled in Clarion county in 
1 800. 'Squire William Henry was justice of the peace for twenty-six years, and has 
been county commissioner. George T. Henry was married in 1854 to Margaret Beaty. 
They have had a family of six children — B. Jane, W. P., Nettie, Fanny, Emma, and 
Sheldon J. 'Squire George T. Henry now owns the old homestead of two hundred and 
eighteen acres. He has been justice of the peace for five terms, county commissioner, 
and is now a farmer and stock dealer and grower. 

Henry. John D., Piolett p. o., New Bethlehem, postmaster, farmer, and agent for 
the Leatherwood Co-operative Store, was born in Leatherwood, Clarion county. Pa., in 
1830. He was a son of James and Margaret (Brown) Henry, who were born in Clarion 
county. Pa., in 1805, and married in 1829. They had a family of nine children, six of 
whom are now living — John D., Mary A., Thomas J., Isabella J., Margaret A., and 
Evaline M. James died in 1872, and his wife Margaret died in 1873. Margaret was 
a daughter of Thomas and Mary Brown, and James was a son of John and Esther 
(McConnell) Henry, who settled in Clarion county in 1800, coming there from West- 
moreland county, Pa., coming into the wilderness. John D. Henry was married in 1855 
to Margaret L. Johnson, who was born in Porter township. Clarion county. Pa., in 
1830. They have had a family of two children — Ermina E. and Alvira E. 

Henry, William A., Piolett p. o., New Bethlehem, was born in the town of Porter, Pa., 
in 1823, and was a son of Robert and Betsey (Kirkpatrick) Henry, who were natives of 
W^estmoreland county, Pa. They had a family of fourteen children, eight of whom are 
now living — Margaret, born in 1809; James K., born in 1815 ; William A., born in 1823; 
Robert W., born in 1828; Charles N., born in 1830; David S.,born in 1832; Tate M., 
born in 1840; and Henry H., born in 1842. Four brothers enlisted and served in the 
late war — David S., Tate M., Henry H., and Isaiah. Isaiah served in the One Hundred 
and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was wounded, taken prisoner and confined in Libby 
Prison, was discharged and died on his way home in 1863. Tate M. is a pensioner, 



Brief Personals. xxiii 



having been wounded. William A, Henry was married in 1849 to Susan Ardery, of 
Porter township, Pa. They have had a family of two children — Margaret E., and 
Jemimah C, who married P. C. Wells, and now has two children — Carl and Edna. 
The father, Robert, was born in 1787 and died in 1856. His wife Betsey died in 1835, 
and Robert married for his second wife Nancy McElhenny. They had a family of 
three children — Tate M., Henry H., and Isaiah. 

Hepburn, Dr. John H., Rimersburg p. o., a physician and surgeon of Rimersburg 
borough, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1845, and was a son of John and Margaret 
Hepburn, who settled in Gloucester City, N. J., in 1849, coming there from Scotland. 
John, sr., died in 1882, aged sixty-five years, leaving a widow and five children, three 
of whom are now living — Dr. John H., Isabella B., Oliver, and Mrs. Mary E. Ross. 
One of the daughters, Mrs. Catherine M. Van Meter, died, leaving a family of five 
children. Dr. John fitted himself for and graduated from the Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege, at Philadelphia, in 1880, and settled in Clarion county in the practice of his chosen 
profession. 

Hepler, Jesse, Frogtown p. o., Millville, was born in Limestone county on May 22, 
1831, and was a son of Adam and Catharine (Brinker) Hepler. Catharine was born 
in 1806, and her husband Adam was born in Butler county in 1804. He settled with 
his parents, John and Elizabeth Hepler, in Rimersburg in 1805. They had a family of 
nine children. Adam and Catharine had a family of eleven children, five of whom are 
now living — Lavina, Jesse, William, Samuel, and Thomas M. Adam was a blacksmith 
by trade, but became a farmer in later life. He died in 1870, and his wife in 1872. 
Jesse was married in 1854 to Elizabeth Mohney, a daughter of Jacob and Christina 
(Caster) Mohney. Jesse has had a family of seven children, four of whom are now liv- 
ing — Raymond, Dr. Albert, Philip E., and Christina C, who was married on January 
20, 1886, to Gabriel Stahlman. 

Hess, Benjamin F., Fern p. o., Ashland, is a carpenter, and was born in Ashland on 
May 19, 1855, and was a son of Isaac L. and Mary (Perry) Hess. He was brought 
up in Ashland, and was married in 1881 to Minnie Richards, of Ashland. They have 
had two children — Austin L. and Violet I. 

Hess, Marvin P., Fern p. o., Ashland, a driller, was born in Ashland township on 
September 11, 1844, and vvas a son of Isaac L. and Mary (Perry) Hess. He was 
reared in Ashland, and served as a substitute in the late war in Company F, Ninety- 
eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged after one year's service. 
He was married in 1874 to Sarah, a daughter of W. L. and Sarah (Stover) Hickman, of 
Centreville, Pa. They have had a family of five children — Melvin T., Orin, Maud L., 
Elva, and an infant son. 

Hess, William L., Fern p. o., a farmer and oil producer, was born in Ashland on 
June 14, 1862, and was a son of Isaac L. and Marietta (Perry) Hess. His paternal 
grandfather was George Hess, who settled in Ashland in 1813. His children were 
Isaac L., George, Elizabeth, Anna, and Martha. The children of Isaac L. were George, 
Mary, Marion P., Rebecca, Isaac P., Jennie, WiUiam L., Benjamin F., Elizabeth, and 
Thomas L. Wilham Hess now occupies the old homestead of his father. He was 
married in 1874 to Melinda (Dahle) Strotman, of Elk township. They have had a 
family of five children — William H., Mary L., Norman G., Harry, and Isaac. 

Hill, J. W., East Brady, a banker of East Brady, was born in Armstrong county in 
1855 and settled in East Brady as cashier of the East Brady Bank in December, 1878. 
He also became agent for several leading insurance companies. He was a son of John 
W. and Jane (Bratton Parks) Hill. J. W. was married in 1881 to Hattie L. Reeves, of 
Armstrong county. They have one son — Reeves Hi. 

Hilliard, John, West Millville p. o., Millville, one of the first farmers in Clarion 
county, was born in Butler county in 18 14, and was a son of George and Sarah (War- 
ner) Hilliard. Sarah was born in Butler county and George was born in Northampton 
county in 1782 and died in 1859. His wife died in 1852, leaving a family of fifteen 
children, seven of whom are now living — John, Jacob, Elisha, Daniel, Polly, Jonathan, 



xxiv History of Clarion County. 

and Ellen. George came to Butler county in 1796, and was in the War of 181 2. He 
was married in Butler county, and in 1826 settled in Redbank township, where they 
died. John Hilliard was married in 1838 to Lydia Williams, of Northampton county. 
They have had nine children — Reuben, Anna M., Sylvester, Jane, George, Samuel J., 
Monroe, Mary E., and Amanda. Mr. Hilliard was a justice of the peace for five years, 
supervisor for three terms, constable and collector, and a leading and successful man of 
his town. 

Himes, Joseph, New Bethlehem, was born in New Bethlehem in 1812, and is 
the oldest person now living in the borough who was born there. He was a son of 
Christian and Margaret (Nulf) Himes, who were born in East Pennsylvania, were mar- 
ried and settled in what is now called New Bethlehem in 1808. Christian died in 181 5 
leaving a family of three children — John, Joseph, and Susannah. The widow, Mar- 
garet, was married in 1820 to Henry Milliron, and settled in Jefferson county, where 
she died in 1824. Joseph Himes came to Red Bank and was married there in 1835 to 
Abbey Ann Space, a daughter of Zepheniah and Catherine (Armstrong) Space. They 
had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living — Zepheniah, John, 
Catherine, William, Leroy, Shells, Thomas, and Mary. Finley died at the age of twenty- 
one years. Margaret married and died at the age of twenty-six years, leaving two 
children — Gertie Geneva and Joseph Charles; Susannah, Philista Ann, and Mina Jane 
died when small. 

Hindman, Johnston, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, an enterprising and successful farmer, 
and owning a farm of 1 15 acres, was born in Clarion county in 1844. He was married in 
187 1 to Sarah Timblin, of Clarion county. They have had five children — Samuel A., 
Nancy S., Alberta E., Mary A. B., and Sarah L. J. Mr. Hindman held the office of 
school director for seven years. His father, John L. Hindman, was born in 1804, and 
is now living in Clarion. He married Nancy Latterner. 

Hippie,- Dr. Winfield S., New Bethlehem, dentist surgeon of the borough, was born 
in Buder county. Pa., in 1850. He was a son of John and Jemima (Mitchell) Hippie, 
of Butler county. Pa, The Doctor was fitted for his profession, and setded in Clarion 
county. Pa., in 1876, in the practice of his profession, where he now enjoys a large 
practice. He was married in 1872 to Mary E. St. Clair, of Butler county. Pa., she was 
a daughter of William Wilson St. Clair. They had a family of five children — Lillie B., 
Elmer S., Eva J., John C, and Charlie. 

Hockman, Henry, Knox p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born in Union county 
on October 24, 1823. He was a son of Henry and Mary (Frazier) Hockman, who 
settled in Ashland in 1838, and cleared and improved most of the farm which is now 
owned by their son Henry. Their children were Ephraim, Catherine, Henry, Lovina, 
Margaret. Henry now occupies the old homestead. He was married in 1852 to 
Sabrina Pyles, of Centre county, a daughter of Jacob Pyles. They have had a family 
of seven children — John E., Sarah M., Samuel W., William H., Mahlon O., James F., 
and Mary. 

Hollingshead, William H., Elk City p. o., Elk, an oil producer of Elk City, Pa., was 
was born in Harford county, Md., on March 10, 1842, and was a son of John and 
Elizabeth A. (Amos) Hollingshead. He setded in Clarion county, Pa., in 1864, and 
was married in 1863 to Mrs. Sarah Henderson, of Elk, Pa., whose former husband was 
a soldier in Company E of the Tenth Regiment. They had a family of six children — 
Anna, Edward H., Harrison, Cecelia, Francis, and Claude. Sarah was a daughter of 
Joseph and Susan (Smale) Kiser. 

Hoover, Caldwell, Tylersburg, p. o., Farmington, the youngest, except one, of the 
children of David L. and Mary Hoover, was born in Armstrong county. Pa., July 15, 
1829, and came to Farmington in 1836. At the age twenty-nine, Caldwell left home 
and went in the lumber woods on Tionesta Creek. At twenty-three he united in mar- 
riage with Eliza Hanna, who bore him eight children. Since marriage he has devoted 
his time mainly to farming, at which he has been fairly successful. By industry and 
energy he has built himself up until he possesses a comfortable home and farm. In 
politics Mr. Hoover as taken no active part, but favors the Republican party. Pre- 



Brief Personals. xxv 



vious to the late war he was a Democrat. The family are members of the M. E. 
Society. 

Hoover, George, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, was born in Buffalo township, Arm- 
strong county, Pa., on August 3, 1826. He was the oldest of eight children born to 
David L. and Mary (Myers) Hoover, one of the oldest and most respected families of 
that place. Although reared on a farm George early developed an aptness for mechan- 
ical pursuits and learned and worked at the carpenter's trade. About thirty-five years 
ago he came to Farmington, Pa., where he has since resided, devoting his attention 
mainly to farming. At the age of thirty-two years Mr. Hoover was married to Chris- 
tina Barlett. They have had a family of nine children. He was a Whig in early days 
and became a Republican upon the formation of the Republican party. In church 
affairs he is associated with the M. E. Society. 

Hosterman, John F., Shippensville p. o., Elk, an oil producer, was born in Beaver 
township on March 17, 1823, and was a son of Davis and Susannah (Reese) Hoster- 
man, who settled in Beaver township in 1829. The father was a tanner by trade, and 
was engaged in business in the pioneer days in Edenburg and Shippensville, locating in 
Shippensville in 1835. He had five children — Henry, Jacob, John F., Mary J., and 
David R. John F. is a carpenter and millwright by trade. He was married in 1872 
to Mary M., a daughter of Helwig and Frances (Rickenbrode) Mahle, of Elk. They 
have had two children — Ulysses H. and Mary L. 

Howe, George, Scotch Hill p.o., Farmington, the second of eight children born to 
Abraham and Barbarah Howe, was born in Huntington county on July 11, 1823, and 
came to Clarion county in 1837, and settled at or near Polk Furnace, after which he 
removed to James Laughlin's saw-mill, near the mouth of the Piney, in 1838, and in 
the year following he removed to Knight's Mills, where he remained for five years. He 
married Janette Simpson and settled on a a farm in this township. They have had 
fifteen children, ten of whom are living. He has been a successful farmer. George 
Howe is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, an industrious farmer, and a good neighbor. 
In political affairs he takes no active part, but favors the Republican party. In church 
affairs he is prominent, and is a supporter and elder in the Presbyterian Church. 

Howe, Nelson B., Knox p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, justice of the peace, and oil 
producer, of Knox, Pa. He was born in Ashland township. Pa., on July 23, 1849, and 
was a son of George C. and Barbara E. (Armstrong )Howe. His paternal grandfather, 
Simeon Howe, and his maternal grandfather, Robert Armstrong, were both pioneer set- 
tlers in Clarion county. Pa. George Howe settled in Ashland, Pa., in 1832, and cleared 
and improved the farm which is now owned and occupied by his son Nelson B. His 
children were Wesley C, Sarah J., John F., Harriet, Mattie and Nelson. Nelson B. was 
married in 1872 to Clarissa Zellers. They have had a family of five children — Jennie, 
Adella, Electa B., Mattie J., and Harry Ellery. Clarissa was a daughter of Henry and 
Susan (Cornish) Zellers, of Elk township. Pa. 

Hoy, jr., Adam, New Bethlehem, engaged in the general furniture and undertaking 
business, was born in Centre county in 1838, and was a son of Adam and Elizabeth 
(Weckerley) Hoy, who settled in Limestone township in 1841, and came to New Beth- 
lehem in 1847. In 1854 he commenced his trade, that of the manufacture of furniture, 
and in 1863 became sole owner of the business. He was married in i860 to Mary C. 
Corbett, who was born in 1842. They had a family of six children — Eva A., John W., 
Charles O., Katie J., Ruth C, and Mamie. Eva has taught school for several terms in 
the borough graded school. 

Hunter, J. L., Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Monroe township. Clarion county, 
on December 4, 1862 ; is a farmer and oil producer, and owns 302 acres. His parents 
were William H. and Priah (WilHams) Hunter. William H. was a native of Mercer 
county and came to Clarion county when a boy. J. L. Hunter was married on April 
5, 1885, to Carrie Kribbs, a daughter of Philip and Philista (Fulton) Kribbs, of Monroe 
township. They have one child — Iva M. 

Irvwin, James H., West Millville p. o., Millville, a carriage and wagon manufacturer 
and repairer, and undertaker of the borough, was born in Armstrong county in 1855, 



xxvi History of Clarion County. 

and settled in Clarion county in 1877, and became engaged in his present business in 
1882. He was married in 1879 to Anna N. Anderson, of Jefferson county. They have 
had two children. James M. is a son of Benjamin and Margaret (McCormick) Irvwin, 
of Armstrong county. The have six children — five sons and one daughter. 

Jefiferds, William L., Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in Erie, Pa., on August 11, 
i860, and came to Clarion county in 1884; is engaged in the torpedo and drilling tool 
business on Main street. His parents were John and Grace (Lander) Jefiferds, now liv- 
ing at Bradford. He was married on June 5, 1886, to Ella G. Mendenhall, a daughter 
of John G. and Eliza P. (Sloan) Mendenhall. John G. was a native of Centre county 
and came to Clarion county in 1830, where he died on August 18, 1876. 

Johnson, Charles, Foxburg p. o., Richland, was born in Ingatorp, Sweden, on Au- 
gust 13, 1853, and came to the United States in 1869 and to Foxburg in 1876. He is 
engaged in the merchant tailor and gents' furnishing goods business, and is also an oil 
producer. He has a branch store at Clarion. 

Johnson, Peter, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Berks county. Pa., on October 
16, 18 1 2, and came to Clarion county. Pa., in 1832. He is a farmer and oil producer. 
His parents were David and Elizabeth (Mench) Johnson. Peter Johnson was married 
on January 16, 1838, to Christina Hale, a daughter of Jacob and Eve (Knight) Hale, 
of Clarion county. They have had eleven children — Adam, Daniel, of Ohio ; Eliza- 
beth, wife of A. L. Wood, of Steuben county, N. Y.; Maria, wife of John Moyer ; Judy, 
wife of Mann Alt; George W., of Ohio ; Mary, wife of Samuel Switzer ; Emma, wife of 
Moses Wilcox, of New York : Louisa, wife of Isaac Fry, of Ohio; Sadie, wife of Henry 
Knight; and P. F. 

Johnston, David, Valley p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Centre county on 
December 5, 1834. He was a son of William and Elizabeth (Ryder) Johnston, who 
settled in Elk township in 1844. They had eight children — Michael, William, David, 
Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary A., John and Martin. David was married in 1857 to Mary 
A., daughter of Jefifries and Elizabeth (Lee) Thompson, of Elk township. They have 
had three children — Frankie, Dessie, and Robert. David was drafted in the late war, 
and served in Company G, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, and was honorably dis- 
charged at the close of the war. 

Jones, William, Marias ville p. o., Richland, was born in Berks county. Pa., on Oc- 
tober 30, 1825, and came to Clarion county, Pa., in 1832. He is a farmer, and now 
owns and occupies a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres. His parents were George 
and Catherine Jones, of Berks county, Pa. William Jones was married on December 
25, 1845, to Matilda Master, of Beaver, Clarion county, Pa. They have had a family 
of eight children born to them — Sarah E., now the wife of N. C. McGinness ; Mary A., 
wife of Andrew Cokley ; Denah E., wife of Conrad Simmons, of Oil City; Catherine, 
wife of William Vensel ; Charles H., Lydia C, wife of A. Master; Emma M., wife of 
Alfred Shoup, of Venango, Pa.; Ellen S., wife of Hugh Tomb. His second wife was E. 
M. Gilger, to whom he was married on April 15, 1885. 

Kahl, Thomas M., Shippensville p. o., Elk, was born in Elk township on March 8, 
1843, and was a son of Jacob and Susan (Markell) Kahl, who settled in Elk township in 
1826, and cleared and improved the farm now occupied by their son, Thomas M. Their 
children were George, John, Mary A., Jane, Wilbur, Jacob, Nathaniel, Sarah, and 
Thomas M. The latter succeeded to the homestead, and was married in 1868 to Hat- 
tie, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kapp) Henlen, of Washington township. They 
have had two children — Neoskeleta P. and Sarah E. Mr. Kahl has followed the occu- 
pation of veterinary surgeon since reaching the age of twelve years. 

One of the three pioneer families of Washington township was that of George Kapp, 
for whom the hamlet of Fryburg was formerly known as Kapp Settlement. The family 
came here in 181 7, from Lancaster county. In the family were three boys and six girls, 
viz. — Henry, John, Martin, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Magdalena, and Barbara. 
Henry Kapp married for his first wife Katharine Rickenbrode. They had a family of 
ten children. His second wife was Fanny Mahle. George F. Kapp, the third of these 
children, married Melissa Jane Seigwarth. They have had a family of nine children. 



Brief Personals. xxvii 



George F. enlisted in June, 1861, in Company E, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserve Volun- 
teer Infantry, served three years, re-enlisted, and again served until the close of the war. 
He lived for seventeen years in Elk township. His father moved to Centreville about 
three years ago, and is now engaged in business there. 

Karns, John R., Catfish p. o.. East Brady, was born in Hillville, Armstrong county, 
Pa., m 1862. He was a son of Robert J. and Margaret (Whitehill) Karns, who were 
married in r86i. They had a family of two sons— John R. and William H. Robert 
was born in 1883, and Margaret, who was a daughter of Austin and Mary A. (Orr) 
Whitehill, was born in 1843. Robert has been a teacher for thirty years in Armstrong 
county. Pa., graded schools, was a justice of the peace for several years, and is one of 
the leading men of his county and town. John R. Karns was fitted for and taught 
school and instrumental music for five years, and then became an expert telegrapher, 
and was appointed agent for the Allegheny Valley Railroad, and is now ticket, freight, 
and telegraph agent at Sarah Furnace Station. 

Kaster, Philip, Rimersburg p. o., and his family, came from Lower Mount Bethel, 
Northampton county, in the year 18 18, and settled in Red Bank, Clarion county, now 
the town of New Bethlehem. It was then a wilderness with the exception of a small 
field cleared where the cemetery is now located. The only buildings were a log cabin 
and a stable owned by the Widow Himes. The nearest trading post was Kittanning, 
Armstrong county. The same year he purchased the farm and mill site in Monroe town- 
ship, and erected the first grist-mill in this part of the county, and which was known as 
Raster's Mill, on Licking's Creek. Philip was a soldier in the War of 18 12, and his 
father, Philip, sr., was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles 
of Bunker Hill and Brandywine. Philip's family consisted of six sons and six daughters 
— John E., Jacob B., Samuel H., Philip, Joseph, Adam T., Susannah Benn, Polly 
Mohney, Christina Mohney, Eliza Hartzell, Catharine Ressner, and Sally. Jacob died 
at New Bethlehem about the year 1880. Philip, Joseph, Sally, and Susannah are now 
deceased. Philip died in September, 1865, in his eighty-ninth year. He was both 
miller and shoemaker by trade. John E. Kaster was married to Susannah Lobough, a 
daughter of John Lobough, of Monroe township, and now resides on the old homestead, 
near Curllsville. J. E. was born in Northampton county in 18 13. They had a family 
of eleven children— James M., S. Harkey, John, Philip M., Amos M. Daughtes, Jane 
E. Blair, Mary C. Corbett, Nancy C. Kerr, Hannah M. Lawson, Ellen D. Steltzer, and 
Agatha Newell. Agatha, John, and James M. are deceased. lames M. died in the 
late rebellion. He enlisted in 1862 in Company H., One Hundred and Fifty-fifth 
Pennsylvania Regiment, and contracted his disease at the batde of Fredericksburg, Va., 
and died on January 14, 1863. Susannah died on September 9, 1857. J. E. was mar- 
ried the second time to Eliza (Benn) Huey, a daughter of Henry Benn, of Cudlsville, 
Pa. They had a family of four daughters— Tenny C. Laughlin, Sally B. Lobough, 
Susie R., and Lide O. John E. has been a prominent business man of his district, and 
was justice of the peace for a number of years. He became engaged in the foundry 
business at Keystone Foundry, know as the firm of Kaster & Lee. ^He also carried on 
an extensive farming business. Owing to a dispute in the firm of Kaster & Lee, Mr. 
Kaster purchased the Rimersburg foundry property from James Feely in 1864, and made 
his son, S. Harkey, superintendent of the business. They formed the firm of J. E. 
Kaster & Son, and in r88i the firm of S. H. Kaster & Brother became their successors. 
They have, in connection with their foundry business, a full line of shelf hardware and 
agricultural implements. S. H. Kaster was married on November 2, 1869, to Mary A. 
Feely, a daughter of James and Angeline Feely. They have had five children— Bella 
A., Nora A., Zilla A., Edwin M. C, and Samuel M. The first son, Edwin M. C, was 
born on July 4, 1876, the day and year of our one hundredth anniversary. Phihp M. 
was married to Mattie O. Berlin. They have had one daughter— Estella C. Amos M. 
married Emily Rigls. They have one daughter— Eftie M. The three sons, S. H., 
Philip M., and Amos M., are moulders by profession. Adam T. has been of a roving 
disposition. He went to Pittsburgh when quite young, and from there to California the 
time of the first gold excitement. He came' back "to Pittsb -rgh and married a Miss 
Beeler and returned again to California. They had one son anc one daughter — Andrew 



xxviii History of Clarion County. 

and Mary. His wife died, and he returned to Pittsburgh with the children. Mary died. 
Andrew is now a broker on Fourth avenue. Adam is now hving in West Virginia, where 
he has stencil and seal works. He is remarried to Miss Mamie Brady, of Lancaster, Pa. 

Keating, H., St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in Murrinsville, Butler county,- 
on November 30, 1835, and is a farmer and oil producer, and a member of the firm of 
Fritz & Keating, custom grist-millers at St. Petersburg. His parents were Judge John 
and Catharine (McCullough) Keating, who came here about 1850. His wife was Sarah 
Morgan, of Emlenton, to whom he was married in 1853. They have had a family of 
seven children — Henry A., Blanche, Bessie H., Willis, Bertha, Annie, and Leo. 

Keck, Conrad, Shannondale p. o.. Red Bank, a retired farmer and son of Philip and 
Catharine Keck, was born in Westmoreland county in 1807. Conrad died in 1808^ 
leaving a widow and seven children. Catharine, with her family, came to Red Bank 
township (then Armstrong county) in 1820, where she died in 1860. In Mr. Keek's 
early manhood he was engaged in laboring at whatever he could command good wages, 
and in 1835 he was married to Magdalena Mohney, a daughter of Jonn Mohney of Red 
Bank township. She was born in 18 16, and died on May 7, 1885. They had a family 
of nine children, five of whom are now living — Catharine, Benjamin, Rachel, Jacob and 
Maria. After Mr. Keek's marriage he directed his attention to farming, in which he 
was very successful. He was school director twelve years, elected assessor three years, 
and constable one term. 

Keck, Gideon P., Truittsburg, p. o.. Red Bank, was a son of Philip and Sarah 
(Stokes) Keck, who were married at Pittsburgh. Philip died, leaving a widow and 
twelve children, ten of whom are now living. Two sons enlisted — Peter in the Seventy- 
eighth Pennsylvania Regulars, and George in the One Hundred and Fifth. Gideon was 
married in 1869 to Kate A. Himes, who died in August, 187 1, leaving two children — 
Henry P. and Jessie Adella. He then married his second wife, Susannah Rhoads, in 
1872. They have had three children — James Ulysses, Erastus Theodore, and Elsie 
Floy. Susannah was a daughter of Abraham and Jane (Shoffner) Rhoads. Gideon P. 
has been supervisor two terms, is a general farmer, and settled on his present homestead 
of one hundred and sixteen acres in 1873. 

Keefer, G. W., West Freedom p. o., Perry, was a son of Jacob P. and Harriet 
(Gordon) Keefer, who settled in Clarion county. Pa., in 1865. He was a carpenter and 
builder by trade, and died in 1882. George W. Keefer was married in 1876 to Eliza- 
beth Crispin, of Clarion county. Pa. They have had a family of four children — Clara 
AV., Ines L., Joseph R., and Alva S. Mr. Keefer is a carpenter by trade, but now gives 
his attention to farming. 

Keener, John C, New Bethlehem, a general merchant, butcher, and provision dealer 
of the borough, was born in Pittsburgh in 1847. He was married in 1870 to Anna 
Gallagher, who was born at Brady's Bend in 1854. They have had six children — Annie, 
born in 1871; Josephine, born in 1873; Charles, born in 1875; Harry H., born in 
1876; Eddie N., born in 1881 ; and George P., born in 1882. John C. settled in 
Parker in 1868, and became engaged in the butcher business, and in 1873 setded in 
New Bethlehem, and became engaged in his present business, and in 1879 added a gen- 
eral stock of dry goods, etc. He was a son of Sebastian Keener, who had a family of 
four children — Catherine, Philip, Nicholas, and John C. 

Kelly, William, New Bethlehem, was born in Porter township, Clarion township, 
Pa., in 1832. He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Strouse) Kelly. Elizabeth was 
born in Luzerne county, Pa., and her husband, Thomas, was a native of Ireland. He 
died in 1838, leaving a family of six children, five of whom are now living — John, Mary, 
Catharine, William, and Hannah. Sarah died leaving a family of three children. Will- 
iam Kelly was married in 1856, to Sylvania Space of Bethlehem borough. They have 
had a family of four children — Theresa J., Othana, George M., and John M. Sylvania 
was a daughter of George and Catharine Space. 

Kempf, Michael, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born at Hesse-Darmstadt, on 
the Rhine, on February 4, 1837. At the age of seventeen years he came to New 
York, and from there • j Mercer county, Pa. After three years he went to Fryburg^ 



Brief Personals. xxix 



and became engaged in buying and selling stock. He married in Mercer county, but 
his wife died while he was living in Fryburg. They had no children. He enlisted in 
1861 in Co. F, 63d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and after his first term of enlist- 
ment expired, re-enlisted and served to the close of the war, a term of four years and 
five months. In 1865 Mr. Kempf married Eva Smith, of Farmington. They have 
had five children. Michael Kempf is an industrious, energetic man, who by economy 
and patience has acquired a comfortable fortune. In political affairs he acts with the 
Republican party. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Kennemuth, John R., Fern p. o., Ashland, a farmer and oil producer, was born in 
Prussia May i, 1843, ^^^ was a son of Jacob and Dorothea (Schinderwolf ) Ken- 
nemuth, who settled in i\shland in 1856, on the farm which is now owned and occupied 
by John R. Their children were Catherine, Eliza, Conrad, Jacob, and John R. John 
R. was married in 1869 to Mary Fox, a daughter of John Fox, of Brady's Bend. They 
have had a family of six children — Edward, Willie, Frank, John, Ella, and Frederick. 

Kifer, O. A., Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington. The children of Abraham and Han- 
nah Jane Kifer, an old and respected family of Licking township, were five in number 
viz.: Andrew S., Susan V., Oliver A., Samuel L., and Mary M. About 1851 the mother 
died, after which Abraham married Elizabeth Dunckle. They had a family of ten 
children. Oliver A. Kifer came to Farmington on May 16, 1876. He married Rebec- 
ca Ann Harriger. They have had a family of four children. Since he was twelve 
years of age Mr. Kifer has suffered from a disabled limb, and in addition to this, by ac- 
cident he had a foot cut off while in the lumber woods. He went into the mercantile 
business in 1875 at Scotch Hill, having but forty dollars as starting capital. He has 
made friends ; his trade has built up until now he is in comfortable circumstances. He 
was appointed postmaster in 1883. 

Kinch, Daniel, Fryburg p. o., Washington, was born December 8, 1827, in Perry 
county, Pa., and came with the family of Jacob Kinch, his father, to Washington town- 
ship, Pa., in the year 1829. Daniel was the sixth child of a family of twelve children. 
Among the pioneer families of the town the name of Kinch takes a prominent position. 
By trade Daniel is a weaver, but by occupation a farmer. In the year 1855 he mar- 
ried Magdaline Kapp. They had a family of seven children born to them. His wife 
died in October, 1874. In September, 1875, ^^ married Mary Ann Hepler. Mr. 
Kinch bought of his father the old Kinch farm on which he now resides. In politics 
Mr. Kinch has always taken an active part, and is a republican. He is one of the eld- 
ers and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frybur^'. 

King, Peter, Emlenton p. o., Richland, was born in Columbia county. Pa., on Feb- 
ruary 2, 1822, and came to Clarion county in 1833, and built the gristmill known as 
King's mill, in 1849. He now owns fifty-five acres, on which eleven wells have been drill- 
ed; all are now producers. Peter was a son of Samuel and Barbara (Gilger) King. Peter 
was married on November 12, 1846, to Margaret E. Myers, a daughter of Georo-e S. 

and Ellen (Burns) Myers, of Venango county. They had a family of seven children 

George W., Junis H., Mary E., Peter F., Susie A., Maggie E., and Addie L. 

Kiser, Daniel, Elk City p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Elk township. Clar- 
ion county, Pa., on March 3, 1824. He was a son of Joseph and Susan (Small) Kiser. 
His paternal grandfather, Peter Kiser, and his maternal grandfather, Jacob Small, were 
both pioneers of Clarion county. Pa. Daniel Kiser was married in 1850 to Susan 
Thompson, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (McDowell) Thampson, of Beaver town- 
ship, Pa. Daniel and Susan have had a family of nine children — Maggie, Helen, Sarah 
Manilla, Harriet, William, Francis M., Ada, Laura. Mr. Kiser embarked in the mercan- 
tile business in Elk City, Pa., in 1877, in which he is still interested, but his principal 
business is farming and oil producing. 

Kiser, Emanuel, Elk City p. o., Elk, an oil producer, was born in Elk township. Pa., 
on March i, 1850, and was a son of Joseph and Susan Small Kiser. His paternal 
grandfather, Peter Kiser, settled in the town of Elk in 18 17, and his maternal grand- 
father, Jacob Small, was a pioneer of Beaver township. Joseph Riser's children were 
Mary M., Daniel, John H., Samuel, Catharine, Lavina, Joseph, Sarah, Harrison, and 



XXX History of Clarion County. 



Emanuel. Emanuel was reared and now resides on the old homestead, which was first 
settled by his grandfather, Peter Kiser. He was married in 1873 to Louisa P. Mcll- 
hattan, a daughter of Alexander and Jane (Black) Mcllhattan. Emanuel and Louisa 
have had two children — J. Perry and Mabel E. 

Kline, William J., Church p. o., Beaver, was born in Beaver township, Pa., on De- 
cember 15, 1846. He is a farmer and now owns and occupies a farm of seventy-seven 
acres, and is also engaged in the oil business. He has been school director for several 
terms. His parents were Jacob and Susannah (Weter) Kline. W. J. Kline was mar- 
ried on February 28, 1870, to Christina Best, a daughter of John and Margaret (Smail) 
Best, who came from Westmoreland county in 1804. . They have three children — Ida 
L., Warren E., and Elmer S. 

Kline, Reuben, Kossuth p. o., Ashland, a merchant and farmer of Kossuth, Pa., was 
born in Lehigh county, Pa., on December 7, 1828, and was a son of John and Anna 
(Fanstemacher) Kline, who settled in Clarion county. Pa., in 1837, and in Ashland, Pa., 
in 1847, and cleared and improved the farm which is now owned and occupied by the 
late Henry Kline. They had a family of eleven children — Henry, Reuben, Jacob, 
Maria, Catherine, Eliza, Susan, James, Ehzabeth, Sarah and William. Reuben Kline 
settled in Ashland, Pa., in 1847, ^^^ was married twice. His first wife was Ann E., a 
daughter of John and Mary (McCleef) Measley, of Ashland, Pa. They had a family of 
seven children — John M., George W., Harriet L., Maggie A., Andrew C, Reuben F., 
and Susan L. His second wife was Harriet, a daughter of John and Mary (Kribbs) 
Weaver, of Ashland, Pa. They have had a family of children. Mr. Kline has served 
as constable of Ashland, Pa., for seven years, was justice of the peace for five years, and 
has been engaged in the mercantile business for ten years. 

Klinger, Peter, Turkey City p. o., Richland, was born in Clarion county on August 

23, 1842. He now owns a farm of sixty-five acres, and is engaged in the oil producing 
business. He enlisted on February 24, 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Third 
Pa. Vols., and re-enlisted on February 26, 1864, as a veteran; was taken prisoner on 
April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C, and was in Andersonville, Florence and Salisbury 
prisons. He was paroled on March 2, 1865, at Wilmington, N. C, and discharged on 
June 20, 1865. His parents were Joseph and Catherine (Krider) Klingler. Peter was 
married on January 25, 1866, to Rebecca J. Bostaph, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah 
(Frederick) Bostaph, of this township. They have had five children — Sallie R., Lizzie 
M., Catharine M., Martha E., and Carlos S. 

Knappenberger, David, Monroe p. o., Salem, was born where he now resides on 
November 21, 1847. He is a farmer and owns a farm of eighty acres. His parents 
were Daniel and Lydia (Berlin) Knappenberger, who came from Westmoreland county. 
David was married on August 29, 1872, to Phoebe France, a daughter of Samuel and 
Catherine (Smith) France, of Armstrong county. They have had two children — Jesse 
W. (born December 8, 1873), and T. Maud (born March 26, 1876), 

Knappenberger, Jacob, Monroe p. o., Salem, was born in Clarion county on July 

24, 1844, and was a son of Daniel and Lydia (Berlin) Knappenberger, who came from 
Westmoreland county to Clarion in 1831. Daniel was born on November 27, 1799, 
and his wife, Lydia, was born September 15, 1803, in Franklin township, Westmoreland 
county. Jacob was married on March 2, 187 1, to Emma L. Gilger. They have had 
a family of eight children — William E., Charles E., Minnie L., D. L., Susy P., Eulah B., 
Mabel C. and Sarah S. Emma S. was a daughter of Adam and Lovina (Neely) Gilger. 
Adam was a son of Jones Gilger, and his wife Lovina was a daughter of John Neely. 

Knight, B. R., Turkey City p. o., Richland, was born where he now resides, on Jan- 
uary 12, 1831. He is a farmer and now owns a farm of 230 acres; has been constable, 
supervisor and school director. His parents were Daniel and Hannah (Richert) Knight, 
natives of this county. D. R. Knight was married on December 8, 1853, to Ann Crum, 
a daughter of John and Mary (Snyder) Crum. of Salem township. They have had a 
family of twelve children — William J., O. C, Alice L. (wife of Henry Slicker), Araminta 
(wife of A. L. Boyer), Elmer E., John W., Mary F., Charles E., Howard E., Lewis E., 
Bertha L, and Jessie N. 



Brief Personals. xxxi 



Knight, Henry, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born on the old homestead where he now 
resides on August 23, 1837. He is a farmer and owns 494 acres of land. His parents 
were John and Sarah (Barnhart) Knight, of Westmoreland county, and who were among 
the early settlers in Clarion county. Henry was married on March 18, 1858, to Clara 
Switzer, a daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Swab) Switzer, of Beaver township. They 
had two children — Amanda, wife of John Whittling, of Beaver township, and Lena P., 
wife of Oley E. Olison, of Beaver. He was married the second time to Sadie E. John- 
ston, on September 13, 1883. She was a daughter of Peter and Christena (Hale) John- 
ston, of Richland township. 

Knight, William F., Knox p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, distiller and oil producer; was 
born in Beaver township. Pa., on September 6, 1831. He was a son of Peter and Mary 
(Fisher) Knight, who were pioneers of Beaver, where they cleared and improved a farm 
from the wilderness around them. Their children were John, Wilham F., Asa, Clara, 
George, Mary, Simon, and Rebecca. William F. Knight has been a resident of Ash- 
land, Pa., since 1866, and been an oil producer and distiller of rye whisky since 1861. 
He was married on May i, 1862, to Lavina Gilbert, a daughter of Abram Gilbert, of 
Beaver. They have had a family of nine children — John C, Elmer E., Mary E., Fran- 
ces A., Samuel, James, Harvey, Florence, and William W. 

Krauss, W. F., Callensburg p. o., Licking, was a son of Michael Krauss, who was 
born in Nehren, County Tiibingen, Wiirtemburg, Germany, in 1853, and came to this 
country and settled in Clarion county. Pa., in 1868. His wife was Sarah A. Kister. 
They had a family of four children — John M., Mary A., Cora A., and Harry C. W. F. 
Krauss was a shoemaker by trade, which business he now follows. He has been school 
director and secretary of the board. His brother, Jacob, was drowned in Clarion 
Creek, Pa., in August, 1884. 

Kron, John R., New Bethlehem, manufacturer and dealer in harness, saddlery, and 
all kinds of horse furnishing goods, settled in New Bethlehem in 1874. He was born 
in Armstrong county in 1845, and was married in 1869 to Hattie Johnston, of Beaver 
county. They have had four children — Frank J., Alberta T., L. M., and George. 
John R. was a son of George and Nancy (Mathews) Kron. He enlisted in Company 
G, 103d, and served for three and three quarter years. He was taken prisoner and 
held at Andersonville. He served as justice of the peace for two terms, and has also 
been councilman of the borough. 

Kurtz, John A., Shannondale p. o., Redbank, a general merchant, and postmaster 
of Shannondale, Pa., was born in Edenburg, Clarion county, Pa., in 1856, and was a 
son of J. M. and Sarah (Hare) Kurtz, who were born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1837. 
Sarah died on July 24, 1886, at Salem. They had a family of eight children, six of 
whom are now living — Stewart A., Clara, John A., Theresa, Leroy, and Cirue. J. M. 
Kurtz in early life was a tailor, but soon became a merchant at Edenburg, Pa. John 
A. Kurtz was engaged in the mercantile business in Beaver township, Pa., from 1875 to 
1883, the firm being Kurtz & King. Previously to this he was employed by C. H. 
Paulson, hatter and furrier, of Pittsburgh, Pa., as a traveling salesman from 1872 to 
1874. In 1883 Mr. Kurtz sold his interest and located at Shannondale, Pa., and was 
appointed postmaster in 1883. He was married in 1876 to Amanda C. Whittling, of 
Salem, Pa. They have had one child — Floy Estella. Amanda was a daughter of 
Frederick and Catharine (Ritts) Whittling, who settled in Salem, Pa., about 1832. 

Latshaw, John, West Freedom p. o., Perry, was born in Westmoreland county in 
1802. His parents settled in Clarion county in 1804. John was married to Elizabeth 
Yingling, of Clarion county, who died in 1881. They had a family of fourteen children, 
ten of whom are now living. Mr. Latshaw was a prosperous farmer, and died leaving a 
farm of 200 acres. 

Laughlin, Captain Reynold, Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was born in Indiana 
county. Center township, on May 29, 1807, and has been twice married. His first wife 
was Mary C. Robinson, to whom he was married on March 7, 1836. She died on No- 
vember 26, i860. They had a family of six children, one of whom is now living — 
Nancy E. He was married the second time in 1 861, to Mrs. Elmira Dunkle. They 



xxxii History of Clarion County. 

have had one daughter — Adah R. Captain LaughUn at an early age commenced the 
study of law, to which profession he has successfully given his attention. He has 
always been an enthusiastic military man ; was brigadier-general of the State militia for 
two years; at the breaking out of the Rebellion raised Company A, 103d Regiment, 
gallantly leading them until he resigned on account of failing health. His parents were 
John and Nancy (Wilkins) Laughlin. John was born in India county in 1777, and his 
wife was born in 1782. His grandfather, Randall Laughlin, was taken prisoner by the 
Indians, and his wife, Elizabeth, escaped with Reynold's father in her arms on horse- 
back, swam the Canamaugh River that night and rode ten miles to Wallaces's Fort, 
when they entered that fort and remained there until the danger was over and the In- 
dians had left the country. 

Lawhead, William, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was a son of William and Maria (Mar- 
shall) Lawhead, and was born in Franklin county in 1833, and settled in Clarion county 
in 1849. He was married in 1856 to Esther Spangler, who died on September 15, 
1885. They have had a family of nine children — Clarence M. (deceased), Sarah J. 
(deceased), Mary C, Ida J., Laura B., James S., Cora A., Samuel W., Jonathan B. 
Mr. Lawhead is engaged in lumbering and farming, and owns sixty acres. His father 
was born in 1804 and died in 1886, and his mother who was born in 1807 died in 1874. 

Lawson, James B., Lawsonham p. o., was born at Kittanning, Armstrong county, 
Pa., on February 4, 1808. He was a son of David and Isabella (Dickey) Lawson. 
David was born m Ireland in 1777, and came to this country with his parents and set- 
tled in Westmoreland county. Pa., in 1794. He was married and settled in Kittanning 
in 1804, and ui 1812 came to Clarion county, where he died in the township of Madi- 
son in 1839. His wife, Isabella, died in 1854, leaving a family often children, eight of 
whom are now living. David Lawson was agent for the Holland Land Company as 
surveyor. He was a finely educated man, and was a member of the Legislature for two 
terms, his first term being in 1824. James B. Lawson was married on October 28, 
1830, to Lavina Orr, who was the first female white child born in Limestone township, 
Pa., where she was born in 1805. They had a family of nine children, eight of whom 
are now living — Orr, David, Samuel C, Bella, Maggie, Sarah, Agnes, and Thomas C. 
Hon. James B. Lawson was appointed associate judge one term, and was a member of 
the Legislature 1871, '72, and '73, was county commissioner for one term, and is now a 
retired farmer. 

Levers, John N., Fairmount City p. o., Redbank, was born in Redbank, Clarion 
county. Pa., in 1838, and was a son of George and Mary (Foust) Levers. He was 
born in Northampton county, and his wife was born in Montgomery county. They set- 
tled in Clarion county, Pa., in 1836, and had a family of eleven children, six of whom 
are now living — G. W., Elizabeth, Catharine, Sabine, John N., Jacob. George was in 
early life a carpenter and builder, and undertaker, and after became a successful farmer, 
and owner of 300 acres. He was born in 1802 and died in 1883. His wife was born 
1802 and died in 1873. One son, Ruben, was drafted in 1863 and was discharged, 
after which he became engaged in lumbering and was killed by the falling of a tree in 
1863. He was born in 1840. George was a son of Richard Levers, who was born in 
London, and became a prominent lawyer, and settled in Northampton county. Pa., 
where he died. 

Lewis, David R., East Brady p. o., a retired gentleman of the borough, was born in 
Wales in 1816 ; became a member of the Calvinistic Methodist Church in 1841, and 
was married in 1844 to Martha George, who was born in 1819. They settled in Penn- 
sylvania in 1849 with two children, and resided in Armstrong county, where he first 
worked in the rolling-mill, and later became a farmer, and retired from active business 
life in 1879, and settled in East Brady, Pa. His wife died in February, 1883, leaving a 
family of seven children — Richard, John, Eliza, Mary, Hannah, Sarah, and David, 
jr. Mr. Lewis was born in Caermarthen, Wales, and from a child learned to depend 
upon his own exertions. 

Lewis, Gilbert S., Foxburg p. o., Richland, was born in Northumberland county. 
Pa., on October 8, 1857, and came to Foxburg, Pa., in 1884. He is engaged in the oil 



Brief Personals. 



business and is train master of the P. & W. R.R. His parents were Edward and Jen- 
nie T. (Wenck) Lewis, of Oil City, Pa. Gilbert S. was married on March 21, 1880, to 
Delia A. Irvin, of Oil City, Pa. They have four children — Edward I., Florence A., 
Herbert C, and Garland M. 

Lewis, John A., Valley p. o.. Elk, is a farmer and mason, and was born in Licking 
township on May 6, 1842, and was a son of John and Catharine (Dalrymple) Lewis, 
who were early settlers in Licking. Their children were Sarah, Daniel, James, John A., 
Peter, Hiram, Catherine, and Luther H. John A. Lewis located in Elk township in 
1870. He was married in 1863 to Mary Hefifner, a daughter of John and Margaret 
(Fern) Hetfner, of Elk. John and Mary have had a family of ten children — Ernettia J., 
James E., John H., Silas A., George W., Edy M., Elmer L., Charles E., David W., and 
Alison L. 

Logue, C. M., Allegheny p. o., Toby, was born in Toby township on July 19, 1863, 
and was a son of Thomas and Mary A. (Crozier) Logue, both natives of this county. 
C M. Logue entered the West Freedom Academy at the age of thirteen years, and 
after attending school for three terms began the profession of teaching. At the age of 
seventeen years he received the congressional appointment by Hon. James Mosgrove 
as a cadet to West Point, but declined. During the following year he was again ap- 
pointed, but would not accept. He was graduated from the National Normal Univer- 
sity of Ohio in 1883, and at present is general insurance agent at Allegheny City, Pa. 

Logue, John, West Freedom p. o., Perry, was born in Clarion county on March 31, 
1830, and married Jane Ban. They have had a family of ten children — Amelia (de- 
ceased), Juliet G., Mary C, Hannah J., Victoria, George McC, Luella, John, William 
Wallace, Grace (deceased), and Archie. For the last twelve years Mr. Logue has been 
engaged in the oil business, and is now pumping two wells. He owns 300 acres ot 
land in Clarion county. 

Loll, Joseph, Fryburg p. o., Washington, one of the eight children of Anthony Loll, 
Avas born August 29, 1840, in Alsace, France. In the year 1856 the family came to 
this town. Joseph worked out at different places until he was twenty-one years old, in 
1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Sixty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry. He served three and one-half years, when he was discharged for disability 
•contracted during the service. In 1866 Mr. Loll married Helen Eisenman, by whom 
he has had ten children. Mr. Loll is now proprietor of the Eisenman House of Fry- 
burg, Pa., which is the leading house of the town. He is a genial and popular land- 
lord, always kind and affable towards his guests, which insures him the patronage of the 
traveling public. 

Long, James M., Blair's Corners p. o., Beaver, was born in Alexandria, Westmore- 
land county, on October 30, 1856, and came to Clarion county in 1872, and is now 
proprietor of the Blair House at Blair's Corners. His parents were J. L. and Margaret 
(Boyle) Long, of St. Petersburg. He was married on May 26, 1881, to Lillie Vensel, 
a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Frederick) Vensel, of St. Petersburg. They have had 
one child — Benny A. 

Longwell, Dr. Luther C, East Brady, was born in Mifflin county, Pa., in 1844. He 
was a son of James and Joanna Longwell. The doctor acquired his dental profession 
from Dr. Thompson, of Lewistown, Pa., and attendance at the Pennsylvania Dental 
College in Philadelphia, and settled in East Brady, Pa., in 1868, where he still presides 
over his professional business. He was appointed postmaster in 1877, and served eight 
years. He was married in 1872 to Emma J. Elliott, of Clarion county. Pa. They have 
had a family of five children — Lizzie M., Anna M., Almira A., Gertrude A., and 
Ralph E. 

Lorah, John, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Berks county on January 17, 1823, 
and came to Clarion county with his parents, Peter and Sarah (Ritter) Lorah, who were 
natives of Berks county, in 1835. He is a farmer, and owns seventy-one acres. Has 
held the office of justice of the peace for about twenty-eight years. He was married 



xxxiv History of Clarion County. 

on December 31, 1846, to Sophia Knappenberger, a daughter of Daniel and Lydia 
Knappenberger, who came to this county in 1831. 

Lorah, WiUiam, Monroe p. o., Beaver, and his son are general merchants of Mon- 
roeville. William was born in Berks county on January 27, 1825, and came to Clarion 
county with his parents, Peter and Sarah (Ritts) Lorah, in 1835. He was married in 
March, 1857, to Hannah Knight, a daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Reichert) Knight, 
old settlers in Richland township. They have had a family of five children — John C, 
now engaged in business with his father; Sarah S., wife of Samuel Moyer; Emma C, 
Lester 1., and Florence J. 

Lutz, John P., Knox p. o., Beaver, was born where he now resides, on February 4, 
1858; is a farmer and oil producer, and owns ninety-one acres. His parents were John 
A. and Elizabeth (Dish) Lutz, natives of Germany. Mr. Lutz came to America in 
1842, and his wife in 1847. ^^ ^^^^ °" March 3, 1886. John P. was married on 
June 24, 1879, to Rosette Lorish, a daughter of Nicholas and Maggie (Dagleman) 
Lorish. They have had a family of three children — Elizabeth C. M., Adam N., and 
Charles F. 

Lutz, John P., Blair's Corners p. o., Beaver, was born in Germany on April 29, 
1825, and came to the United States and to Clarion county in 1842. He was in Com- 
pany G, Pennsylvania Volunteers, enlisting in 1865, and was discharged at the close of 
the war. He opened a store in Pittsburgh, where he was engaged in business for nearly 
five years. He is now a farmer, and owns seventy-four acres, and is also in the mer- 
cantile business at Blair's. He has been a merchant for twenty-two years, and has been 
postmaster for four years. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Murchel) Lutz. He 
was married on October 18, 1849, to Catherine Kaufman, a native of Germany. She 
died on July 27, 1885. 

McAfoos, Jacob R., West Millville p. o., Millville, general merchant and lumber 
manufacturer of West Millville borough, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., September 
9, 1829, and settled in West Millville, Clarion county. Pa., in 1869. He was married 
in 1856 to Sarah E. Rupp. They have one daughter living — Hortense, who married 
J. C. Miller, and now has a family of three children — Dessie Edna, James Clyde Mc- 
Curty, and Thomas Earl. Jacob R. McAfoos enlisted in Company G, Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania Regiment, and served three and a quarter years under Colonel William 
Serwell. He went out as second lieutenant September 12, 1861, and was promoted to 
first lieutenant June 21, 1863, and participated in twenty-two battles and skirmishes in 
the department of the Cumberland ; was shghtly wounded in the battle of Stone River 
December 30, 1862. Jacob R. McAfoos was a son of Daniel and Catharine McAfoos, 
of Armstrong county. Pa. Daniel died in 1870 leaving a widow and a family of seven 
children. One son, Absalom, enlisted in Company M, Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, in 1862 ; was taken prisoner and starved to death in Andersonville prison. 
Mr. McAfoos became engaged in the mercantile business on settlement here, and in 
1 88 1 Mr. Miller became a partner in the firm. They now do a large business in mer- 
chandise, sawing, planing, sash, doors, and building contracts. 

McCafferty, Charles, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was 'born in Parker township, Butler 
county, on February 22, 1816, and came to this county in 1838. He is a cabinet 
maker and undertaker. His parents were Charles and Sarah (Williams) McCafferty. 
He was married on December 25, 1840, to Charlotte Wilhams, a daughter of Amos and , 
Betsey (Mitchell) Williams, and was born on January 20, 1822. They moved to Curlls- 
ville in 1844, and he became engaged in the manufacture of furniture. He moved to 
Sligo in 1873, and came to Monroeville in 1880, where he is now engaged in the same 
business. 

McCafferty, C. A., Alum Rock p. o., Richland, was born in Fair View, Butler county, 
on June 30, 1849. He is a farmer and stock raiser and oil producer, and owns 400 
acres. He came to Clarion county in 1877. His parents were John and Mary Ann 
(Murrin) McCafferty, of Butler county. He was married September 23, 1879, to Ehza- 
beth Keating, a daughter of Judge John and Catherine (McCullough) Keating, of the 
town of Monroe. C. A. and Elizabeth have had one child — Louisa M. 



Brief Personals. 



McCafferty, Charles P., East Brady, present owner and proprietor of the St. Cloud 
Hotel at East Brady, was born in Butler county in 1848, and was married in 1874 to 
Margaret Hindman, of Butler county. They have had one daughter — Jessie Pearl. 
Charles P. settled in Clarion county in 1874 and purchased his present extensive hotel 
property, which is erected over the ruins of the oldest hotel of the borough, in 1873. He 
erected the McCafferty Opera House, one hundred by thirty-two feet, in 1877, and 
also founded the fire department, and is generally active in all public enterprises. He 
is now engaged in merchandising and oil producing. He is passionately fond of his 
pets, which are his hounds, fish and birds. 

McDonald, Michael, Vowinckle p. o., Farmington, the sixth child born to David 
and Bridget McDonald; was born in Farmington on May 10, 1839. The parents were 
both natives of Dublin, Ireland, from whence they emigrated to this country in the pio- 
neer days. Up to 1865 Michael had formed no plans for the coming years. He went 
to Elk county, followed the river and lumbered until he was twenty-six years old. He 
was married at that age to Ann Hagerty. They have had a family of thirteen children. 
Mr. McDonald has succeeded in business as a lumberman, He owns and operates a 
first class steam saw-mill, and is also a thrifty farmer. He takes quite an interest in 
political affairs, and frequently holds town office. In politics he is a Democrat. The 
family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. 

McDonald, Peter, Vowinckle, p. o., Farmington, the youngest of the children of 
David and Bridget McDonald, was born in Farmington on March i, 1847. He was 
brought up on the farm and at the age of twenty-one years was married to Mary x\nn 
McAvoy. Mary Ann died leaving a family of five children, four of whom are now liv- 
ing, James having died. Those now living are William David, Peter, Ellen and Matie. 
Peter married for his second wife Elma Nye, and they have had three children — Sadie, 
George and Andrew. He still resides on the old farm, having bought the interest from 
the other heirs to a part of his father's old homestead. In 1864 and 1865 he worked at 
Pithole, Venango county, but generally he is at home managing his farm. He is a 
careful, shrewd business man and makes but few business investments without an ade- 
quate return, and as a general result he has been successful. He is a Democrat in pol- 
itics but takes no active part in political affairs. He was brought up in the Catholic 
faith and is still the same. 

McDowell, Samuel, Valley p. o., Elk, is a farmer and was born on September 29, 
1849, and was a son of James and Sarah (Mcllhatton) McDowell, who settled in Elk 
township. Pa., in 1833. His paternal grandfather, James McDowell, who sailed the 
seas for sixteen years, was a pioneer of Elk, Pa. The children of James McDowell 
were Thomas, Mary A., Sarah, John, Melissa, Susan, Melinda, Samuel, James and Al- 
fred. Samuel McDowell now occupies the old homestead. He was married in 1883 
to Kate Black, a daughter of John R. and Susan (Sanders) Black, of Elk, Pa. They 
have had two children — A. Benton and Carrie May. 

McElhoes, Irad, Truittsburgh p. o.. Red Bank, was born in Mifflin county. Pa., in 
1836, settled in Madison town in 1844, and now resides in Red Bank township, Clarion 
county, Pa. He was a son of William and Ann B. (Sheehan) McElhoes, of Mifflin 
county. Pa., who settled in Clarion county, Pa., in 1844. They had a family of six chil- 
dren — Irad, Jesse, Martha E., Cynthia, Sarah and George. William was born in 18 12, 
and Ann B., born in 1816. Irad was married in 1859 to Martha Warnick, who was 
born in Ireland in 18 — , and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Warnick. They 
have had a family of five children — Mary E., William J., Annie J., Robert G. and Sarah 
B. Irad enlisted in Company I, Sixty-second Regiment P. V. Infantry, in 1861, and 
served until March 13, 1865, was wounded and now receives a pension. He was pro- 
moted to first sergeant July 3, 1863 ; re-enlisted as veteran volunteer. 

McGee, Irvin, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Phillipsburg, Clarion county, on 
January 16, 1850. He is a machinist and manufacturer of engines, tools and boilers at 
Monroeville. His parents were J. W. and Catherine (Phillips) McGee, of Phillipsburg. 
He was married on November 3, 1869, to Alice C. Martin, a daughter of Joseph and 



xxxvi History of Clarion County. 

Catherine (Zeichert) Martin, of Phillipsburg. They have had a family of six children — 
Lewis, Lee, Edward, Irvin, Harry and one unnamed. 

McGinnis, Harvey, Mariasville p. o., Salem, was born where he now resides, and where 
his grandfather, James McGinnis, settled about 1804, and where an apple orchard of 
large healthy trees still exists, which were planted in 1806. Harvey is engaged in farm- 
ing and owns 160 acres. His parents were John F. and Sarah (McClachey) McGinnis. 
Harvey was married on June 18, 1872, to Mary A. Knappenberger, a daughter of Dan- 
iel and Lydia (Berlin) Knappenberger, of Salem. They have had two children — Harvey 
Irvin "(who died in infancy), and Daniel T. 

McGinnis, Matthew, Lamertine p. o., Salem, was born in Salem on March 27, 1836, 
He is a farmer, and owns twenty-five acres of land, and has been assessor for two terms, 
and school director since 1862. His grandfather, James McGinnis, came to Salem 
township from Northumberland county in 1804. Matthew was a son of John F., and 
Sarah (McClutchey) McGinnis. He was married on December 13, i860, to Martha J. 
Clover, a daughter of Gamaliel and Martha (Piatt) Clover, early settlers in Clarion county. 
Martha died on November i, 1870, leaving four children — Viola J., Clarence C, Nettie 
M., and Irvin M. 

McGregor, Squire Robert R., East Brady, the residing justice of East Brady, Pa., 
was born in Armstrong county. Pa., on October 31, 1837. He was a son of Alexander 
B. and Rachel McGregor, who had a family of five children, but two of whom are now 
living — John L. and Robert R. One brother, James T., enlisted and died while in the 
service of his country. Robert R. McGregor settled in Brady's Bend and East Brady, 
Pa., in 1862, as a contractor and stock-taker of the Brady's Bend rolling-mill. In 1873 
he retired from the same. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1875, 'S°' ^^^^ 1885. 
He has been clerk of the council, secretary of the school board for nine years. He was 
married in 1859 to Melissa Elliott, who was born in Clarion county, Pa., in April, 1839, 
They had a family of three children — Estella, Lula, and Harry L. 

McKillup, Archibald W., New Maysville p. o., Millville, was born in Redbank town- 
ship in 1834, and married Catharine Mohney, who was born in 1839. They were married 
in 1855, and had a family of six children, three of whom are now living — John C, Addi- 
son H.,and Mary Alice. Addison H. was married in 1885 to Elizabeth Dinger. Cath- 
arine was a daughter of Jacob and Christina (Caster) Mohney. Christina was born in 
1810, and was a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Caster, who settled in this county in 
1818. Jacob was born in 1808, and died in 1852. He was married in 1829. Archi- 
bald W. was a son of William and Harriet (Carr) McKillup. 

McKillup, William, New Maysville p. o., Millville, was born in Redbank township in 
18 10, and was a son of Archibald and Mary (McKey) McKillup. She was born in West- 
moreland county in 1780, and he was born in Lancaster county in 1770. They settled 
in Redbank township in 1803. They had a family of nine children, four of whom are 
now living — William, Polly, Margaret and Archibald. The mother died in 1838 and the 
father in 1862. William was married in 1833 to Harriet Carr, who was born in Lyco- 
ming county in 181 1. They had a family of nine children, seven of whom are now liv- 
ing — Archibald, James C, Hamilton William, H. Jane, Sarah M., Elizabeth M., and 
Martin E. William in early life was a miller, but is now a retired farmer. He was col- 
lector of the county for four terms, constable in 1852-53-54. His wife, Harriet, was a 
daughter of John and Sarah (Carr), who were born in England and settled here in 1826. 

McMaster, Thomas C, Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in the province of Quebec, 
Canada, on March 22, 1847, and came to the United States in 1855, and to Clarion 
county. Pa., in 1877. He is a dealer in jewelry and fancy goods on the corner of Main 
and State streets. His parents were William and Margaret (Bell) McMaster, natives of 
Strannear, Scotland. Thomas C. McMaster was married on November 18, 1877, to 
Margaret Shepard, a daughter of William and Deha (Swartz) Shepard, of Rockland town- 
ship, Venango county. Pa. They have had three children — Thomas C, Jesse B., and 
Lester W. 

McNany, Jacob, West Freedom p. o.. Perry, was a son of John and Margaret (Sny- 



Brief Personals. xxxvii 



der) McNany, and was born in Clarion county in 1834. He was married on Decem- 
ber 12, 1861, to Mary A. Boyer. They have had a family of eleven children — John D., 
Cora J., Henry C, Norris, Margaret C, Mary O., George, Carrie M., Edward, Bertha 
E., and Maud (deceased). Mr. McNany is an enterprising farmer and now owns and 
occupies a farm of ninety-seven acres. 

McNaughton, Daniel, Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, one of the successful farmers of MiU 
Creek township, and owning 250 acres of land, was born in Clarion county in 1824, and 
was married in 1849 to Mary Wishey. They have had a family of ten children — John 
H., Hannah, Samuel A., James A. (who died in January, of 1863), David E., Colon, 
Charles M., and William R., and two who died in infancy. Mr. McNaughton has held 
the office of school director for ten years. His father, John NcNaughton, was born in 
Centre county in 1794, and married Elizabeth Brennan, who was born in 1800. John 
died in 1873, and his wife, Elizabeth, in 1856. 

McNutt, Captain John W., New Bethlehem, was born in Clarion county in 1826, and 
was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Arderry) McNutt, of York county. He setded with 
his parents, Colin and James McNutt, in Porter township, at an early day, coming from 
the north of Ireland to this country. Robert and Elizabeth had a family of six children, 
five of whom are now living — J. W., C. W., William M., Jane, Margaret Y. Robert was 
born in 1791, and died in 1874, and his wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1800, and died in 
1883. J. W. and William M. enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cav- 
alry, in 1862, and served for three years. John W. was promoted to captain in 1862, 
was wounded and now receives a pension. He is now a retired farmer; was married in 
1848 to Nancy Jane Henry, who died on May 31, 1885. They had a family of six chil- 
dren—Robert H., Elwood R., William C, John T., Mary E., and Hattie. 

McWiUiams, James, West Millville p. o., Millville, a general merchant, hotel owner 
and proprietor, a farmer owning 250 acres, station and ticket agent of the A. G. V. 
Railroad, was born in Westmoreland county in 1829, and was married on January 12, 
1854, to Catharine Helper, a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Helper. James and 
Catharine have had two daughters — Jennie and Clara. Jennie was married in 1881 to 
Mr. E. A. Hamilton. James McWilliams has been postmaster for twenty-five years, 
government inspector for three years, and has also held other minor offices. In early 
Hfe he learned the tinner's trade. In 1854 he became warehouse proprietor and shipper, 
and spent the year 1858 in the West. He purchased his present homestead and became 
engaged in the mercantile business in 1859, and in 1863 he served in the Fifty-seventh 
Regiment as a lientenant. James was a son of George and Charlotte (Rankin) McWill- 
iams, of Westmoreland, who settled in Curllsville, in 1839, where they died ; he in 1882, 
and his wife in 1883. He was born in 1801, and his wife in 1803. They had a family of 
seven children, five of whom are now living — Jane, James, Margaret, Martha, and Na- 
poleon B. George was a son of Andrew and Mary (Ormsby) McWilliams. 

Maitland, W. S., Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was a son of John C. (who was born in 
1800 and died in 1885), and Elizabeth (Kuig) Mairiand (who was born in 1806, and 
died in 1856). W. S. Maitland was born in Venango county, Pa., in 1839, and was mar- 
ried in 1862, to R. A. Douglass. In 1865 he enlisted in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cav- 
alry. He settled in Clarion county. Pa., in 1866. At an early age, leaving the harness- 
making trade which he has followed all his life, he went into business for himself in 
1883, at Callensburg, Pa., and is now keeping a general stock of harnesses, saddles, bri- 
dles, collars, whips, horse blankets, etc. 

Mantz, Mrs. Abigail, West Freedom p. o., Perry, was a daughter of Nathaniel Coul- 
ter. She was married in 1855 to Jacob Gates, who was born in Huntington county in 
1819. He was a blacksmith, and held several town offices, and died in 1877 leaving a 
family of eight children — Amanda L. (deceased), John B., Hulda A., Delila E., 
George W., Jacob A., Charles R., and Eva Belle. At the time pf Mr. Gates's death he 
owned a farm of sixty acres, which is now divided among his heirs. In 1879 Abigail 
married Christopher Mantz. They have had one child — May M. 

Marsh, Edwin V., New Bethlehem, was born in McKean county. Pa., in 1839. He 
was a son of Marsh and Mary C. (Bradshaw) Marsh. Stephen was killed in an acci- 



xxxviii History of Clarion County. 

dent in 1841, leaving a widow and two children — Edwin V. and Lydia A. Edwin V. 
settled in the borough in 1855, coming there from Philadelphia. He became a clerk 
for C. E. Andrews, and in 1868 he became a partner in the business, and in 1880 sold 
his interest. In 1883 he became engaged in the general dry goods, and boot and shoe 
trade. He was married in 1865 to Annie Barton, who died in 1867, leaving two chil- 
dren — Cora L. and Harry. He then married his second wife, Clara Corbett, in 1868. 
They have had a family of four children — May E., Eva M., Charles S., and Lillie C. 
Mr. Marsh has been notary public, deputy postmaster, and has been burgess. 

Martin, Jacob H., Valley p. o., Ashland, was born in Ashland on May i, 1844, and 
was a son of Barnard and Elizabeth (Harrold) Martin. His father was a native of 
France and settled on the farm which is now occupied by Jacob H. about 1802, and 
cleared and improved it, and died there at the age of eighty years. He is said to be 
the first settler in the limits of what is now Ashland township. His children were Deli- 
lah, Margaret, Mary J., John, Adeline, and Jacob H. Jacob H., who now occupies 
the old homestead, was married in 1876 to Lizzie Berlin, a daughter of George N. and 
Susan (Cook) Berlin, of Elk township. 

Martin, William M., New Bethlehem, owner and proprietor of the Martin Hotel and 
opera house of the borough, was born in Ireland in 1845, and came to Portland, Me., 
in 1861, went to Boston in 1862, and in 1863 settled in New York, where he remained 
until 1873, when he came to New Bethlehem, where he now resides. He was engaged 
in the manufacture of boots, shoes, trunks, etc., from which business he retired in 1880, 
and purchased his present hotel property, which he has remodeled and refurnished, and 
in 1881 built up the opera house. He was married in 1874 to Sarah Winstel, who was 
born in Redbank township. She died in 1882 leaving four children — Rosette A., 
Jane, William, jr., and MoUie. He married his second wife, Beasing Tracy, in 1882. 

Master, C. D., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Hereford township, Berks county, 
August 13, 183 [, and came to Clarion county with his parents, Daniel and Christena 
(Johnson) Master, in 1833 ; is a farmer, and owns 106 acres. He married Lydia Con- 
nor, a daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Boyer) Connor, of Richland township, on 
January 24, 1856. They have had nine children — Emma C, wife of George M. Ray; 
Sarah E., Francis I., Elmer D., Edward C, Arminta C, Mary A., Cora C, and 
Minerva L. 

Mateer, Harvey H., Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, a son of John and Nancy (Ross) 
Mateer, was born in Jefferson county. Pa., in 1846, and was married in 1872 to Louisa 
M. Fisher. They have had a family of six children — John W. R., Myrtie J., Edith A., 
Edward G., Robert E., and Nora May. Mr. Mateer is engaged in farming, and owns 
a farm of one hundred acres. His father was born in 1820 and died in 187 1. 

Maxwell, George W., Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was born in Clarion county, Septem- 
ber 15, 1843; enlisted in 1862 in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers ; was wounded and taken prisoner at Gettysburg, for which he re- 
ceives a pension. He served two years and four months. He was married in 1873 to 
Mary Barlett, of Clarion county. They have had five children — Pearl Willis, Alverda 
May, Jennie Maud, Cecelia Bell, and Alva Estella. He is now engaged in lumbering 
and farming, owning seventy-two acres. His father, James Maxwell, was born April 9, 
1806, and died in 1875. -^^ ^^^^ married to Margaret Potter, who was born December 
25, 1806, and died in 1846. Adam P., brother of George, enlisted in the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in hospital. 

Meals, Dr. N. M., Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was a son of Dr. S. D. and Hannah 
(Emery) Meals; was born in Butler county in 1848, and was graduated from Hudson 
University at Cleveland, O., in 1874. He was married in 1872 to Rebecca J. Graham. 
They have had a family of seven children, six of whom are now living — Elizabeth G., 
Hannah M. (deceased), Lulu K., Maggie E., Clara D., Mary A., and Samuel O. His 
father, S. D. Meals, located in Callensburg in 1859 and died in 1884, leaving a large 
and lucrative practice. 

Mercer, Daniel, New Bethlehem, was born in Indiana county, Pa., on March j6. 



Brief Personals. xxxix 



1816. He was a son of David and Eve (Cribbs) Mercer. Eve was born in Germany, 
and her husband David was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1777. They were married 
in Indiana county. Pa., and settled in Clarion county, where they died. They had a 
family of fourteen children, eight of whom are now living. Daniel Mercer began life as 
a school teacher, then became a clerk, and in 1849 became engaged in business as a 
general merchant. He made several business changes, and in 1884 became engaged in 
the furniture business, and is now doing business under the firm name of Cribbs & Mer- 
cer. He was married in 1844 to Lizetta Fegley. She died in 1873, leaving a family 
of eight children, four of whom are now living — David B., John M., Mary E., and 
Peter E. Mr. Mercer then married his second wife, Mrs. E. J. Girts, in 1882. They 
have had one daughter — Anna Earl. Mr. Mercer has been county commissioner in 
Clarion county for six years, was treasurer of Clarion county for two years, justice of the 
peace for ten years, and is one of the councilmen of the borough of New Bethlehem. 

Metz, Frederick, Emlenton p. o., Richland, was born in Prussia on July 25, 1835, 
and came to the United States and settled in Clarion county in 1856. His wiie, Sarah 
Krotzer, was born in Crawford county on October 8, 1839. They were married on 
January 8, 1857. They have had a family of fourteen children — Cinderella A., born 
November 7, 1857, married James W. Baynham, of Turkey City, on June 27, 1878; 
Lizzie S., born January 25, i860, married Albert Connor, of Kansas, on May 30, 1879; 
William H., born January 26, 1861, married Bertha Greer, of Pittsburgh, on June 24, 
1886; Sarah L., born September 3, 1862 ; Mary F., born August 11, 1864; Ulysses 
G., born February 28, 1866; Horatio S., born June 5, 1868; David R., born July 23, 
1870; Annie B., born June 16, 1872; Olive H., born May 12, 1874; Nettie W., born 
January 14, 1877; Cora M., born May 30, 1880; James F., born September 15, 1882; 
and Franklin C, born August 31, 1885. 

Metzger, Rev. J. L., Callensburg p. o., Licking, pastor of the Mt. Zion, St. John 
and Mt. Calvary Churches, of the Lutheran Church of Clarion county, was born in 
Myersville, Frederick county, Md., on June 20, 1858. He was graduated from Penn 
College and from the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. On October 5, 1884, at 
the meeting of the Maryland Synod, at Taneytown, Ind., he was licensed to preach the 
gospel. He was graduated from the theological seminary in June, 1885. He entered 
upon his duties as a pastor July 19, 1885, at Callensburg. He was married on Novem- 
ber I, 1885, to Alice M. Brown, of Myersville, Ind. His father, William Metzger, was 
born in Manchester, York county, on July 17, 1809. 

Miller, Charles E., Knox p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Ashland township 
on June 3, 1845. He was a son of Nathan and Catharine (Kribbs) Miller. His pater- 
nal grandfather, John Miller, was a Revolutionary soldier, and one of the pioneers of 
Ashland. His maternal grandfather, Christian Kribbs, settled in Beaver in 1817. 
Nathan Miller had a family of five children — Clara, John H., Charles E., Mary, and 
Nathan. Charles E. Miller located in Elk in 1872, and was married that same year to 
Clara Mahle, a daughter of Helmick and Fannie (Rickenbrod) Mahle, of Fryburg. 
They have a family of four children living — Maud, Kate, Margie, and Edna. 

Miller, Even, Kossuth p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born in Berks county on 
September 10, 1823. He was a son of John and Polly (Will) Miller, who settled in Ash- 
land in 1834, clearing and improving the farm now owned by Ernest Rhodes, where they 
resided up to the time of their deaths. There children were Nathan, Clara, John, and 
Even. Even settled on the farm which he now occupies, in 1849, all of which he has 
cleared and improved himself He was married in 1849 to Margaret Berlin, a daughter 
of George and Elizabeth (Neely) Berlin, of Ashland. They have four children now living 
— George B., William J., Frances, and Ellen. 

Miller, William C. (deceased). West Freedom p. o., Perry, was born in Clarion 

county in 1831, and married Mary David. They had a family of seven children Anna 

Mary (deceased), James D., Edmonia E., Arthur A., Nathan W., Samuel S., and Delia 
Elvina. William served in the late war, in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry. He was engaged in farming, and at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred in 1880, he owned a farm of forty-seven acres. 



xl History of Clarion County, 

Mimm, B. B., Kossuth p. o., Ashland, proprietor of the Mimm House, is a native 
of Clarion county. He was a son of John and Johanna (Taxis) Mimm. His father 
was a pioneer of Clarion county, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He was twice mar- 
ried. His first wife was Susannah Horn, to whom he was married on November 26, 
1816. They had four children — Harrison, Hiram, Elizabeth, and Martha L. He was 
married the second time on December 8, 1836, to Johanna Taxis. They have had the 
following children : Maria, Miranda, W. Scott, Harriet, Burbage B., Fay, Minnie, Car- 
rie, and Lettie. Mr. Mimm has kept a hotel for many years in Kossuth, Pa., and built 
the present hotel, which is being successfully carried on by his son, B. B. Mimm. 

Mitchell, George, East Brady, a merchant of the borough, and a member of the 
firm of McCafterty & Mitchell, dealers in all leading and desirable dry goods, groceries, 
etc., was born in Westmoreland county in i860, and was a son of Thomas and Mary 
Mitchell, who settled in Clarion county in 1868, and came to the borough in 1879. 
George Mitchell was manager of the merchandise department of the Pine Run Com- 
pany from 1879 to 1883, was manager for a coal mining company for two years, and 
formed his present business connections in 1886. 

Mitchell, Thomas, East Brady, was born in Lancastershire, England, in 1830, and 
was a son of Wilson and Martha Mitchell. Thomas emigrated to and settled in Schuyl- 
kill county in 1854, and was married in 1855 to Mary Ann High, of Schuylkill county. 
They had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are now living. Mr. Mitchell en- 
listed in Company C, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served to the close of the 
war. Mr. Mitchell, on settling here, became engaged in the coal mining interest. He 
settled in Clarion county in 1870 as superintendent of the Pittsburgh Mining Company, 
and in 1880 formed the firm of J. B. Stephens and Thomas Mitchell, and developed the 
Pine Run Coal Mine, giving employment to from 125 to 150 men. He was elected 
burgess of the borough for the third time in 1886. 

Mohney, Adam B., West Millville p. o., Redbank, postmaster of the borough, and 
harness manufacturer, was born in Armstrong county. Pa., in 1857, and settled in the 
borough in 1882, and was married the same year to Flora C. Walker. They have had 
one child — Delwin Dalford. Adam B. Mohney is a son of Benjamin and Sarah Ann 
(Miller) Mohney. Adam B. was a teacher for three years, and was appointed postmas- 
ter of the borough in 1885. 

Mohney, Adam T., West Millville p. o., Millville, was born in Redbank township 
in 1847, and was married in 187 1 to Lydia Zimmerman, who was born in Jefferson 
county in 1852. They have had four children — Foster M., Cora E., Minnie A., and 
Rebecca D. Adam T. is now school director and town auditor. He was a son of 
John and Sophia (Yost) Mohney. Sophia was born in Philadelphia in 182 1, and John 
was born in Redbank in 18 14. They were married in 1844, and had a family of ten 
children, eight of whom are now living — Adam T., Jonathan, Lewis, William, Crisy 
Ann, Clara and Emma (twins), and Rebecca. The paternal grandfather, Adam Moh- 
ney, and his wife, Susannah Shirey, were born in Pennsylvania. He was born in North- 
ampton county, and came to Redbank with his parents about 1810. His wife was born 
in Butler county. 

Mohney, Lewis S., West Millville p. o., Millville, was born in Redbank township in 
1824, and was married in 1848 to Rebecca Shick, who was born in Clarion county in 
1826. They had a family often children, seven of whom are now living — Jacob, Dr. 
Adam M., William, Fred, Christ S., Lizzie, and Charles. Lewis S. in early life was 
engaged in farming, but in 1861 he entered the mercantile business, from which he re- 
tired in 1868, and in 1869 erected his present hotel, where he now resides. He was a 
son of Adam, jr., and Susanna (Shirey) Mohney. Susanna was born in Butler county, 
and died in 1842, and Adam, jr., was born in Northampton county, and died in 1832. 
Adam was a son of Adam, sr., who settled in Redbank with a family of eleven children 
and purchased eleven hundred acres, giving to each of his eleven children one hundred 
acres. 

Mong, George W., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Paint township on October 
24, 1832, and died on April 17, 1883. His parents were Michael and Polly (Miller) 



Brief Personals. xli 



Mong, who came from Westmoreland county to Clarion county in 1822. He was mar- 
ried on April 5, i860, to Elizabeth J. Neely, a daughter of John and Mary (Berlin) 
Neely. George W. had two children — J. L., born November 22, 1862, is a farmer, and 
owns no acres; and Maggie J. 

Mong, Henry J., Kossuth p. o., Ashland, was born in 1827. Until the age of twenty- 
one he remained with his parents, helped to clear his father's farm in the summer, and 
in the winter season worked at the furnaces, of which there were thirty-two in 
blast at that time. At the age of twenty-two he commenced to deal in live stock of all 
kinds, and drove them east to Union, Dauphin, and Reading counties. He was mar- 
ried in 1855 to Mary J. Sanders, a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Fetthoff) Sanders, 
of Salem, Pa. They have had a family of nine children — Irvin F., Frances E., Clara 
C, Hattie, Alice, Calvin H., John, Jacob, and Harry. Henry J. was the first (huckster), 
produce peddler to the once famous Oil Creek excitement, following this occupation for 
ten years, also farming at the same time. He first settled at Monroeville, remaining 
there for a year or two, then moving to Richland township, Venango county, Pa., re- 
maining there for a few years. He moved to his present place of residence in 1865.. 
For the past eighteen years he has been engaged in the mercantile business and farm- 
ing, and is now one of the principal farmers of Ashland. 

Mong, Mahlon, Fern p. o., Ashland, is a farmer and merchant, and was born in 
Elk township on October 11, 1838. He was a son of Henry and Sarah (Burket) Mono-. 
His paternal grandfather was Henry Mong, a pioneer of Ashland. Three of his chil- 
dren were pioneers of this county, Henry, John, and Samuel. Of these, Henry settled 
in Elk township, cleared and improved a farm, and later removed to Beaver and died 
there. His children were David, Elizabeth, Peter, Margaret, Nancy, Myron, John, 
Samuel, Sarah, and Mahlon. Mahlon married Emma Stearns, a daughter of John and 
Mary (Wending) Stearns. They have had ten children — Sarah, Mehssa, Clara A., 
John, Ellen, Ida, Minnie, Etta, Maggie, and Willis. 

Morgan, John S., St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in South Wales on De- 
cember 12, 1 81 6, and came with his wife and one child to Pittsburgh, Pa., on July 3, 
1841, and from there went to Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, and then came to 
St. Petersburg, Clarion county, where he has since resided. He is now engaged in the 
production of oil. His wife was Ann Thomas, of South Wales, to whom he was mar- 
ried on November 18, 1839, ^^^ they now have a family of six children — Morgan, 
Mary Ann, wife of David E. Mull, of this county; John, Thomas, Tillie, and William' 
M., broker in petroleum at Oil City, Pa. 

Morgan, Morgan, Foxburg p. o., Richland, was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong 
county, Pa., on August 23, 1844, and came to Foxburg, Clarion county, Pa., in June, 
1859, He is superintendent of the Fox farms, and is also engaged in the production of 
oil. His parents were John S. and Ann Morgan, of St. Petersburg, Pa. Morgan Mor- 
gan was married on September 24, 1868, to Mary Farr, of Philadelphia. They have 
had a family of three children born to them — Anna E., Sarah M., and Albert M. 

Moore, O. G., Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in Wellesboro, Tioga county. Pa., 
on October 20, 1850, and came to Clarion county in 1872. He is a surgeon dentist. 
His parents were Henry N. and Phoebe T. (Dart) Moore, natives of Tioga county. Pa. 
He was married on December 31, 1877, to Emma E. Trainer, a daughter of John and 
Catherine (Burnham) Trainer, of Strattonville, Clarion county. They have had three 
children — Alice L., Freda T., and Mary J. 

Moore, William M., New Bethlehem, was born in Armstrong county. Pa., on Sep- 
tember 20, 1835. He was a son of Nathan and Margaret (Jimeson) Moore. 
Margaret was born in Clarion county, Pa., and her husband was born in Lon- 
donderry, Ireland, in 1805, and setded in Clarion county. Pa., in 1838. His wife died 
in 1844. They had a family of five children, four of whom are now living — William 
M., Eliza J., James, John N. William M., and James enhsted frona Rock Island, 
111., in October, 1862, in the 14th Illinois Cavalry, and were discharged on July 31, 
1865. John enlisted from Armstrong county. Pa. William M. Moore was married in 



xlii History of Clarion County. 

1867 to Lucetta Conger, of Clarion county, Pa.. They have had a family of six chil- 
dren — Laura C, Eliza V., Mary E., Horace A., Ralph S., and John B. Mr. Moore 
has been engaged in the house, sign, and ornamental painting business since 1853. 

Mull, O. J., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Richland township, Venango county, 
on July 12, 1855, and came to Clarion county in 1869. He is a farmer and oil pro- 
ducer, and now owns seventy acres of land. His parents were Abraham and Han- 
nah (Gilger) Mull, natives of Northumberland county. He was married on June 10, 
1880^ to Emma J. Heeter, a daughter of George and Susannah (Neely) Heeter, of 
Beaver township. They have had three children — George H., Henry H., and one 
unnamed. 

Murray, C. A., Freedom p. o., Perry, was born on October 4, 1841, and was a son 
of David and Elizabeth (Wilson) Murray. He married Jane Fox, of Clarion county. 
Pa. They had a family often children, nine of whom are now living — James H., Etta 
L., Ida A., Orrin A., Amelia B., Emory C, Clarissa J., George M., and Harvey G. 
Mr. Murray is an enterprising farmer. 

Murray, David (deceased), West Freedom p. o., Perry, was born in Clarion county 
in 18 10, and married Elizabeth Wilson. They had a family of ten children, five of 
whom are now living — Charles, Thomas, Louis A., Cornelius, and Mary. Mr. Murray 
was a much respected farmer, and died in March, 1886. 

Myers, Daniel E., Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, a son of Andrew and Susan (Shoup) 
Myers, was born in Clarion county in 1859, and was married in 1880 to Anna Grudy. 
They have had two children — William J. and Bessie L. Daniel E. is now engaged in 
farming, and owns 117 acres. His father was born in 1830 and married in 1858. He 
enUsted in Company G, Eighty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, and died in 1879. 

Myers, Joseph, Blair's Corners p. o., Beaver, was born at Myer's Mills, Pa., on 
October 23, 1819, and is proprietor of the Myers grist and saw-mills. His grandfather 
was Henry Myers, who came from Hartford county, Md., to Clarion county. Pa., in 
1807, and built this mill in 1817, and the one on Clarion River, below Alum Rock, in 
181 1. Joseph Myers was a son of Henry and Nancy (Burns) Myers. He was married 
on November i, 1843, to Susannah Dunkle, a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Dice) 
Dunkle, of Franklin county. Pa. They had a family of five children born to them — 
Margaret, wife of A. J. Dearolph ; Emily, wife of John D. Block ; Jacob H., George 
W., and James H. 

Myers, Stephen D. (deceased), West Monterey p. o., Perry, was a son of Abner and 
Barbara A. (Eaby) Myers, and was born in Clarion county in 1837. In early life he 
worked at the tanning business. He enlisted in 1861 in the Eighth Pennsylvania Re- 
serves, and was promoted to sergeant, served three years and was discharged. He was 
married in 1866 to Henrietta M. Mobley. They had a family of three chidren — John 
E. (deceased), Mollie B. (deceased), and William P. In 1868 Mr. Myers built the Cal- 
lensburg tannery, which he successfully conducted up to the time of his death, which 
occurred on November 13, 1879. Mr. Myers still continues the business. 

Neely, Major Cyrus, Blair's Corners p. o., Beaver, was born where he now resides, 
on April 24, 1827. He is engaged in farming, and owns a farm of 135 acres. He is 
also assessor of his town at the present time (1886). His parents were John and Mary 
Ann (Berlin) Neely, who were natives of Westmoreland county. He was married on. 
May 20, 1850, to Mary Ann Shaffer, a daughter of Charles and Salome (Shaner) Shaf- 
fer, of Lehigh county. They have had a family of six children — Calvin Bigler, Eliza J. 
(wife of J. M. Mung), William Douglas, Sarah S. (wife of D. U. Khne), Cora E., and 
John C. 

Neely, Isaac, Alum Rock p. o., Richland, was born on the farm he now occupies, 
on September 18, 1818, and now owns one hundred and forty acres. He is also en- 
gaged in oil producing. He has been county auditor and commissioner. His parents 
were Captain Henry and Barbara (Fry) Neely, who came to this county about 1808. 
Captain Neely was in the War of 181 2. Isaac Neely was married on January 10, 1844, 
to EUzabeth Miller, of Northampton county, Pa. They have had a family of eight chil- 



Brief Personals. xHir 



dren born to them — Henry H., now a farmer; Alfred M., a merchant; William B., oil 
producer; Lydia J., wife of Harvey Potts; James C, a merchant; Hulda W., wife of 
Daniel Galey, of Perry township; Louie H., and Arthur W., a clerk. 

Neely, Israel, Turkey City p. o., Beaver, a farmer, owning i8o acres, was born in 
Westmoreland county on March 13, 1821, and came with his parents, John and Mary 
Ann (Berlin) Neely, to this township about 1822. He was married on October 4, 1842,. 
to Rachel Linderman, a daughter of Richard and Christine (Buchu) Linderman, of 
Berks county. Israel and Rachel had a family of seven children — Alfred M. (deceased),. 
M. M. (married Fred Donaldson, both are now deceased), R. T. (deceased), Samantha 
J. (now Mrs. P. F. Will), E. J., George H., Rachel Frances (wife of Clemmons P. 
Knight). 

Neely, Major John, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born at Blair's Corners, where he 
now resides, on April 24, 1827 ; is a farmer, and now owns and occupies a farm of one 
hundred and thirty-five acres. He is now assessor of his town. His parents were John 
and Mary Ann (Berlin) Neely, natives of Westmoreland county. Pa. Cyrus Neely was 
married on May 20,1850,10 Mary Ann Shaffer, a daughter of Charles and Salome 
(Shaner) Shaffer, of Lehigh county, Pa. They have six children — Calvin Bigler, Eliza 
J. (wife of J. M. Mung), William Douglass, Sarah S. (wife of D. U. Kline), Cora E.^ 
and John C. 

Neely Brothers, Alum Rock p. o., Richland, are general merchants and oil producers. 
J. C. was born in this township on September 19, 1857, and was appointed postmaster 
in 1886. A. M. was born in the town of Richland on April 23, 1849. He has been a 
teacher, and was elected to the Assembly in 1882, and re elected in 1884. His parents 
were Isaac and Elizabeth (Miller) Neely, natives of this town. A. M. was married on 
December 23, 1875, to Clara Grable, a daughter of James and Rose (Seigworth) Grable, 
old settlers in Fryburg, Pa. They have had a family of four children — Bertha M., Liz- 
zie R., Effie N., and Annie I. 

Neeley, J. R., Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Luthersburg, Clearfield county, Pa., 
on January 15, 1856, and came to Clarion county, Pa., in 1881. He is a tinsmith, and 
is now councilman of the borough. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Hamilton) 
Neeley, of Luthersburg, Pa. Mr. Neeley was killed in the late war. J. R. Neeley was 
married on October 20, 1881, to Lizzie M. Childs, a daughter of Edmund and Annie 
(Myers) Childs, of Lykens, Dauphin county. Pa. They have one child — R. E. Neeley. 

Newhouse, Henry, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was a son of George and Mary M. 
(Hyst) Newhouse, and was born in Westmoreland county in 1846 and came to Clarion 
county in 1846, and was married in 1863 to Margaret McBride. He was, early in life, 
engaged in farming and lumbering, and now owns seventy-six acres of land. His father 
was born in W^estmoreland county in 1803, and died in 1883. His mother was born in 
1804, and died in 1870. His brothers Samuel and John served in the late War of the 
Rebellion. 

O'Donnel, Charles, New Bethlehem, owner and proprietor of the leading borough 
hotel, was born in Butler county in 1830, and was married in 1859 to Mary Jane Brady, 
of Butler county. They had nine childfen, five are now living — Rose, Evelyn, xA.rthur 
J., Katherine B., Hugh B. and Fred. Charles O'Donnel was a son of Arthur and Mar- 
gary J. (Duffy) O'Donnel, natives of Dauphin county, who at an early day moved to 
Butler county where they resided up to the time of their deaths. Mary J. was a daugh- 
ter of Hugh and Catherine (Downey) Brady. Mr. O'Donnel settled in Clarion county 
in 1848 as a carpenter and builder, and followed different branches and enterprises up to 
1869, when he erected his present hotel, where he still presides. 

O'Donnel, John D., New Bethlehem, was born in Clearfield township, Butler county, 
on October 21, 1828, and was married in 1862 to Mary A. Space, of Clarion county, 
who died in 1873, leaving a family of five children, all of whom are now living — G. S., 
E. A., Annie L., F. S., and Mary E. He then married his second wife, Catherine Ha- 
gans, of Pittsburgh, in 1879. He was county coroner one term, and has held all of the 
borough offices, and has always been an active worker in the interests of the Democratic 



xliv History of Clarion County. 

party. He settled in Clarion county in 1858. With several changes of occupation he 
became engaged in the mercantile business in 1873. He was a son of Arthur and Mar- 
gary J. (Duffy) O'Donnel, who were born in Dauphin county, who late in life moved to 
Clearfield, Butler county, where they died. John D. has been one of the most ener- 
getic business men of the place, and doing what he could for the improvement of the 
place, and taken an active part in all affairs concerning the town. 

Orr, Robert, Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on March 
20, 1833, and came to Canada with his parents, Charles and Eliza (Crickmiles) Orr, in 
1837, and to the United States in 1851, and to Clarion county in 1870. He is now the 
proprietor of the Edenburg House, on State street. He was married on October 6, 
i860, to Samantha Raymond, a daughter of William and Mary L. (Leman) Raymond, 
of Canada, and now of Petrolia. They have had one child — Emma J. 

Owens, Amos Williams, Venus, Venango county, p. o., Washington, was born at the 
place now known as Strattonville on August 19, 1812. He was the second of eleven 
children born to Andrew and Elizabeth Owens, one of the earliest pioneer families of 
the county. The early life of Amos was spent on the farm ; when old enough he learned 
the carpenter's trade at which he worked for many years. He was married in 1842 to 
Margaret Henlen. Mr. Owens is a self made man and is in comfortable circumstances. 
For eighteen years he was proprietor of the hotel at Lineville, and was postmaster there 
several years; was county commissioner- in 1848-49, and also in 1850. Prior to 1850 
Mr. Owens was a Democrat, but since the formation of the Republican party has fol- 
lowed its fortunes. He is trustee and licensed exhorter of the M. E. Church, and has 
now retired from active life. 

Palmer, J. M., Phillipston p. o.. East Brady, a general merchant, ticket, freight and 
depot agent of the A. V. R. R.. and also agent for Adams Express, at Phillipston, was 
born at Lapier, Mich., January 31, 1854, and was a son of Joel and Susan (Merritt) 
Palmer, who were born in Vermont. J. M. was married in 1884 to Emme E. Pritner, 
of Clarion county. They have had one child — Bessie. Emma was a daughter of 
Henry C. Pritner. Joel M. Palmer was born in 1804 and died in 1879, leaving a widow 
and three children — Diantha, J. M. and Susan J. J. M. settled in Clarion county in 
1883, and embarked in the mercantile business at Phillipston in 1884. 

Panton, James W., Foxbury p. o., Richland, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 
December 24, 1839, and came to the United States in 1862, and in 1870 he settled in 
Clarion county. Pa. He is a farmer and oil producer, and a member of the firm of 
Edwards & Co., oil well tool manufacturers. His parents were William and Jane (Tay- 
lor) Panton. James M. Panton was married in 1874, to Isabella Watson, a daughter 
of Alexander and Susan (Robb) Watson, of Aberdeen, Scotland. James M. has a fam- 
ily of five children — Edwin A., William J., Nellie, Clyde C, and Allen H. 

Patterson, J. I., Knox p. o., Edenburg, is a druggist on Main street, and council- 
man of the borough. He was born in Freeport, Armstrong county, on July 14, 1856, 
and came to Clarion county in January, 1878. His parents were J. A. and Elizabeth 
(Hill) Patterson, of Armstrong county. He was married on September 27, 1883, to 
Laura J. Forker, a daughter of John L. and Rebecca (Reed) Forker, of Edenburg. 

Payne, Thomas Jefferson, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, was born at Norwich, Che- 
nango county, N. Y., on May 16, 1839, ^"^ ^^^ the eleventh child born to Wilhamand 
Lydia Payne. Thomas lived at home until twenty years of age, after which he learned 
the wagon making trade. He married Lodena L., a daughter of Asa Lewis, of Triangle, 
Broome county, N. Y. They came to Warren county about 1865, where they lived 
for one year, after which they came to Clarion county. During his residence here 
Mr. Payne has been one of the prominent business men of the county. He is an ex- 
tensive lumberman, and has oil interests elsewhere. He has been a successful, self made 
business man and is now one of the firm of Payne & Green, leading merchants of Tylers- 
burg. In the year 18S5 Mr. Payne suffered a severe loss in the death of his beloved 
wife. In political life he is a strong Democrat. He is a devoted member of the M. E. 
Church, and at present is superintendent of the Sabbath school. 



Brief Personals. xlv 



Pierce, Isaac, West Freedom p. o., Perry, was born in Chester county in 1838, and 
settled in Clarion county in 1867. He was married in 18 — to Matilda Wise. They 
had a family of eight children — John W., Louie, Anna L., Joseph C, Neton K., Frank- 
lin J., Jesse A., and Marshall Burton. Isaac enlisted in 1861 m the Second Delaware 
Infantry and was discharged in 1864. His father, Joseph S., married Priscilla Hoops. 
They had a family of eleven children, ten of whom are now living. Joseph S. died in 
1886, and his wife in 1885. 

Phillips, Benjamin Wilson, Lickingsville p. o., W^ashington, was born in Porter town- 
ship. Clarion county, on August 18, 1855, and was one of the children of George V. 
and Katharine F. Phillips. His early life was spent on the farm and at school. For two 
years he worked in a store. He read medicine with Dr. Wick, at New Bethlehem, and 
afterwards attended lecture courses at the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, 
and also at the Cleveland Medical College, and was graduated in 1876. After grad- 
uating he settled for two years in Salem, Armstrong county, and in 1878 he came to 
Lickingsville to practice medicine and surgery. Here he became acquainted with and 
married Elizabeth K. Gilbert. They have had three children. One girl is dead, and 
two boys are now living. Dr. Phillips is a thoroughly energetic man, and has, by his 
own diligence, made himself the successful practitioner he now is. 

Phipps, Harmon, Valley p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born in Ashland town- 
ship on August 7, 1841. He was a son of Nathan and Christina (Ghost) Phipps. His 
paternal grandfather was Nathan Phipps, sr., who settled in Ashland about 1805 and 
cleared and improved the farm which is now occupied by Harmon. His children were 
John, Anna, Nathan, James, Marshall, Eli, Samuel, Elijah, Elizabeth, and Polly. His 
wife was Elizabeth Updegraff. Nathan, jr., was born and lived and died on the old 
homestead. His children were Elizabeth, John, Harmon, Keturah, Mary J., Craft, 
Susan, and Tervilla. Harmon now occupies the old homestead on which he was born 
and reared. He was married in 1876 to Harriet Berlin, a daughter of George N. and 
Susan (Cook) Berlin. 

Phipps, Valentine, Shippensville p. o., Elk, was born in Ashland township on Jan- 
uary 8, 1838, and was a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Cook) Phipps. His paternal 
grandfather, Nathan Phipps, was a pioneer of Ashland township. Valentine was brought 
up in the county, and served in the late War of the RebelHon, enlisting as second lieu- 
tenant in Company E, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, in April, 1861 ; was promoted to 
first lieutenant on November 12, 1861, and to captain on August i, 1862 ; to major by 
brevet in 1865, for gallant services in the Wilderness campaign, and was honorably dis- 
charged at the expiration of his service. He was married in 1867 to Ada Shaffer, a 
daughter of Jacob and Mary A. (Camp) Shaffer, of Shippensville. Valentine and Ada 
have three children — Emma E., Jacob W., and Mary E. 

Piatt, W. G., Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, superintendent of the Eldorado saw-mill and 
boat-building yards, also owner of sixteen acres of land in Clarion county, was a son of 
Alexander Piatt, who enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and died while in the army. His mother was Mary (Walters) Piatt. He 
was married in 1882 to Jennie Yarger. They have had two children — Ollie Maud and 
Nellie Carell. 

Pollock, George Knox, Pollock p. o., Perry, a son of Thomas and Eleanor (Knox) 
Pollock, was born on March 24, 1826, and married April 6, 1854, to Rachel J. Longwell. 
They had a family of four children — Theresa F., born April i, 1855, and married J. W. 
Kerr; William W., born August 25, 1856; Robert H., born June 20, 1858 ; and Josie 
S., born August 6, 1863. George Knox Pollock is now engaged in farming, and occu- 
pies a farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres. He has held the oftice of school 
director, and also that of supervisor. 

Pollock, James, Pollock p. o., Perry, was a son of Thomas and Margaret (Fruit) 
Pollock, and grandson of Charles Pollock, and was born in Clarion county. Pa., in 
1813. He was married on July ;^o, 1842, to Elizabeth Stewart. He is a ruling elder 
in the Presbyterian Church, and was commissioned justice of the peace by Governor 
Pollock on March 13, 1855, for a term of five years. He was the first postmaster at 



xlvi History of Clarion County. 

Pollock p. o., and served for a term of two years, 1869 and 1870. He now has eight 
oil wells on his farm of seventy-five acres, three of which are producing. His children 
were as follows: A son born in 1843, and lived but two days; Thomas, born September 
5, 1844; Nancy Jane, born March 2, 1847; James Montgomery, born September 15, 
1849; Mary Elizabeth, born November 2, 1851; Samuel Stewart, born June 19, 1855, 
died August 18, 1861 ; and Margaret Ann, born January 2, 1861. 

Pollock, Samuel G., Pollock p. o.. Perry, a son of Charles and Caroline (Richards) 
Pollock, was born in Clarion county on May 23, 1857, and was married in 1883 to 
Eliza McFarland, of Clarion county, who was a daughter of William and Mary A. Mc- 
Farland. They have had one child — C. Leslie. Mr. Pollock is now engaged in farm- 
ing and the oil business. 

Porter, Andrew Jackson, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born in Richland town- 
ship. Clarion county. Pa., on May 22, 1817. He was one of the family of ten children 
of Joseph M. and Janette Porter, pioneers of the county. In 1827 the family came to 
the neighborhood of Scotch Hill. Andrew J. Porter became engaged in lumbering 
with his father, and upon the death of the latter succeeded to the business, which he 
has ever since conducted. When about thirty years old he married Nancy Porter. 
They had but one child. His wife lived only four years. In 1877 he married Mrs. 
Emily A. Elgin, by whom he also had one child. Mr. Porter is a plain but substantial 
business man, whose success in life has been achieved by hard work. In politics he has 
taken no active part, but adheres to the Democratic principles. 

Potter, Adam, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, son of Adam and Barbara (Palmer) Potter, 
was born in Centre county, Pa., in 1817, and settled in Clarion county. Pa., in 1822; 
married Rebecca J. Thompson, a daughter of Samuel Thompson. He is engaged in 
lumbering and farming, living on his present farm of 134 acres since 1849. He has 
held the office of constable for eighteen years, and has held most all of township offices. 
He enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, was wounded 
at the battle of Gettysburg, taken prisoner at Fair Oaks, and served his full time. He 
now receives a pension. 

Rankin, James Lemon, Catfish p. o.. East Brady, was born in the town of Madison, 
Pa., in 1843, and was married in 1867 to Sarah E. London. They have had a family 
of five children — William E., Harry G., Charles M., John B., and Ralph A. James L. 
enlisted in 1862 in Company E, Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was dis- 
charged at the close of the war. His two brothers also enlisted and served to the close 
of the war, when they were dischaged. James was a son of William W. and Mary 
(Mortimer) Rankin. Mary died in 1875, and her husband WiUiam, who was born' in 
1819, died in 1883, leaving three sons and one daughter — Joseph L., James M., George 
W., and Elizabeth Jane. William W. Rankin was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Ran- 
kin, who came from Ireland, and were early settlers in Clarion county. Pa. But two of 
their children are now living — J. B. and Rachel. 

Rarer, A. J., Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was a son of Daniel and Margaret (Slack) 
Rarer, and was born in Mifflin county, Pa., July 17, 1824. He was married in 1846 
to Elizabeth Mclntyre, who was born in Centre county, Pa., in 1827. They have had 
a family of eleven children — Lawrence C. (died at the age of eight years), Mary Isabel 
(Payne), George E., Elizabeth W. (Betch), Sarah A. (KJingensmith), Nancy E. (Mays), 
Margaret (deceased), John C, Johanna, Henrietta M., and one who died in infancy. 
Mr. Rarer is a wagon-maker by trade, a business which he has followed all his life. He 
has held most all of the borough offices, and is now burgess, an office which he has held 
for three terms. His father, Daniel Rarer, was born in 1790 and died in 1862. He 
had a family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living. 

One of the oldest families who settled in Clarion county was that of Christian and 
Susannah (Shafer) Rhodes, who came here about the year 1786. They had a family of 
ten children. Susannah died and Christian married Elizabeth Nulf, and they had three 
children, the second child being Abraham, who was married in 1839 to Jane Shafifner. 
They had a family of nine children, six of whom are now living — Solomon C, Susannah,. 
James, Levi, Martha V., and Mary V. (twins). Abraham was born in Limestone in 



Brief Personals. xlvii 



1818, and died on August 25, 1884. He was born and died on the old homestead farm. 
Jeremiah enhsted in 1861, and was wounded and died at the battle of Gettysburg. Sol- 
omon C. enlisted in the Fourteenth, and served three years. Levi was a son of Abra- 
ham and Jane Rhodes, and was married on February 6, 1879, to Sarah McKillip, a 
daughter of Archie McKillip. They have had four children — Esther Jane, Otis Earl, 
Emmet C, and Lillian O. Levi now owns and occupies the old homestead farm of one 
hundred acres. 

Rickenbrode, John M., Fryburg p. o., Washington, was born in what is now Clarion, 
formerly Venango county, Pa., November 21, 1824. His estimable wife, Barbara Kapp, 
was born on May 30, 1828. They were married April 20, 1848. Their children were 
E. G., Ellen H., Alice M., Rosa E., and Ida A. John M. Rickenbrode was brought up 
and always lived on a farm, and his life as a farmer has been remarkably successful. He 
commenced life a poor boy, working on the farm during season, cutting wood during the 
winter, and at the cobbler's bench during evenings. By earnest, patient toil, he has 
amassed a fortune. He is a prominent member of the Lutheran Church. 

Rickenbrode, Samuel Davidson, Venus p. o., Washington, the youngest of the chil- 
dren of John and Sophie Rickenbrode, was born in Washington township, Pa., on May 
27, 1845. Until he was sixteen years old he stayed at home on the farm. He then 
spent four years in the oil region, after which he went into the lumber woods of Michi- 
gan. In 1865 he returned to his home. This same year he married Callie M. Amsler. 
They have had a family of three children, only two of whom are now living. Mr. 
Rickenbrode is a substantial farmer, owning one hundred and forty-five acres known as 
the Solomon Dale farm. The family are earnest members of the Evangelical Associa- 
tion. In politics Mr. Rickenbrode is a Republican. 

Rimer, David A., Rimersburg, a leading farmer of Rimersburg, Pa., was born in 
Northampton county. Pa., at Mount Bethel, in 1815. He was a son of Jacob and 
Elizabeth (Hilyard) Rimer, who came to Clarion county and settled in Toby in 181 5. 
They had a family of three sons and one daughter. Jacob was a tailor by trade, and 
died at the age of seventy-eight years. After setthng in Toby, they had five children, 
making a family of eight in all, four of whom are now living — Christopher, David A., 
Susan, and Mary Ann. David was married in 1840 to Susan Newell, a daughter of 
Robert Newell. She died the same year that she was married. He then married for 
his second wife Mary Patton in 1854. They have had a family of eight children — John 
T. C, Alva, Patton, Harry McWilliams, David E., Edward Sharard, Mary E., Maggie 
A. John T. C. was a graduate of Worcester College, and also was graduated from the 
Baltimore Medical College in 1880, and is practicing in Curllsville, Clarion county. 
David A. Rimer held the commission of major. He has filled many responsible posi- 
tions, and has been guardian for several' families, and is an active man in church enter- 
prise and county affairs. 

Royce, Charles N., Phillipston p. o.. East Brady, was appointed superintendent of 
the Penn Green Line Car Shop and Transportation Company in 1874. He was born in 
Orwell, Addison county, Vermont, in 1847, and was a son of Nathan and Percis M. 
Royce. Nathan died in Clymer, N. Y., in November, 1878, leaving a widow who was 
born in 1813 and seven children. Charles N. was married in 1876 to Mamie Arnold, 
of Kittanning, Armstrong county. They have one son, Charles Arnold, born in 1878. 
Mr. Royce has served the town as justice of the peace for ten years, was a supervisor 
and a member of the school board. 

Rutherford, George, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was born in Westmoreland county in 
1829, and came to Clarion county in 1832. He was married in 1863 to Margaret 
Rifenbusick. They have had three children — John G., William L., and James E. G. 
George has been assessor for a number of years, was elected justice of the peace in 1882, 
has also been a school director, and overseer of the poor. He is now engaged in farm- 
ing. His father was born in Scotland, and came to America in 1825 and married Mary 
McMillen. His brother, John G., enlisted in One hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. 



xlviii History of Clarion County. 

Ryan, Thomas, Alum Rock p. o., Licking, a son of Patrick, who was born in Ireland 
in 1818, and married in 1845 '^'^ Margaret Clancy, and emigrated to America in 1848. 
They had a family of ten children, four of whom are now living — Patrick (deceased), 
Michael (deceased), Bridget (deceased), John, Mary, i\nnie, Thomas, Catherine (de- 
ceased), Margaret (deceased), and one who died in infancy. Thomas Ryan is a young 
and enterprising farmer, and occupies a farm of twenty acres. 

Scheffer, Rev. John A., AUentown p. o., Salem, was born in Beaver City, Clarion 
county, on June 17, 1846, and is a minister of the Lutheran Church, a graduate from 
Muhlenburg College, AUentown, in 1872. He was also graduated from the Lutheran 
Theological Seminary of Philadelphia in 1875. In 1872 he took the degree of A. B., 
and in 1875 received the degree of M. A. For nine years he was a missionary in Nova 
Scotia, and is now missionary pastor in AUentown. His parents were William and Per- 
cilla (Kribbs) Scheffer, of Salem township. His wife was S. E. Seibert, to whom he was 
married on June 5, 1883. 

Scheffer, Samuel S., Lamartine p. o., Salem, was born in Salem tovvnship on Decem- 
ber 2, 1849. He is a farmer, and owns a farm of fifty-six acres. His parents were Will- 
iam and Percilla (Kribbs) Scheffer, of Salem, who came to Clarion county in 1822. 
Samuel S. was married on December 7, 1876, to Olive A. De Turk, who was born on 
December 6, 1856, a daughter of John and Lydia (Rossman) De Turk, who came from 
Berks county about 1836. They have had three children — Bernice A., born December 
13, 1878- Emma D., born September 9, 1880; Orpah H., July 23, 1883. 

Scheffer, William, Lamartme p. o., Salem, was born in the township of Hempfield 
on May 26, 1819. His grandfather, John Adam Scheffer, was a native of Germany, 
and was born in 17 51, and died in 1840. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
His parents were John and Barbara (Best) Scheffer, who came to Clarion county in 
1822. John died in 1863, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife, Barbara, died 
in 1874, at the age of eighty-three years. William was married on October 22, 1844, 
to Priscilla Kribbs, a daughter of Christian and Maria S. (Gudekunst) Kribbs. They 
have seven children now living — Rev. John A., of AUentown, George E., Samuel S., 
Christian K., William M., Rev. Nathaniel, of Saxonburg, Butler county, Araminta C, 
wife of John L. Altman, of Lyons, Rice county, Kan. 

Seigworth, Anthony L., Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born in Pine Grove 
township, Venango county. Pa., on January i, 1826. He was one of the children of 
John D. Seigworth, the pioneer who came there in 1817, Anthony was raised on a 
farm near Fryburg, where his early life was spent. At the age of twenty-two years he 
purchased an interest in the Licking Furnace, but misfortune overtook the business and 
the works were sold by a sheriff in 1850. Mr. Seigworth married Eliza Moore, who 
bore him ten children, seven of whom are living. After his unfortunate investment in 
the furnace Mr. Seigworth began farming, at which he has been fairly successful. Re- 
cently however he has engaged in the mercantile business at Scotch Hill, in company 
with other well-known gentlemen. Since the formation of the Republican party Mr. 
Seigworth has supported its nominees. 

Seigwarth, George Mahle, Lickingsville p. o., Farmington, was born in Stark 
county, O., on August 27, 1827. Although not christened with a middle name, he has 
adopted the name of Mahle in honor of his mother's family surname. George M. 
Seigwarth is a direct descendant of the pioneer family of Seigwarth's who first settled in 
Washington township. Pa. His first business venture was in connection with the old 
Licking Furnace, and each of the several persons interested were financially broken. 
But George M., who was then a young man, took the property and succeeded in saving 
a part, at least, of his investment. By careful management he has acquired a compe- 
tence, and made each of his children a handsome present in property. George M. 
Seigwarth married Rosina Bower. They have had ten children. 

Seigwarth, John, Fryburg p. o., Washington, was one of the older children of George 
Seigwarth, who came to Washington in 1817, and was one of the original pioneer fami- 
lies. John married Rosina, a daughter of Christian Henlen, also a member of the first 
three families. The children born to this marriage were John, Katharine, Mary, Rosina, 



Brief Personals. xli 



Elizabeth, Anthony L., Margaret, Jacob, David, Clara, and Nancy. Of these eleven 
children, Elizabeth, Anthony L., David, and Clara are the only ones now living. 
David married Mary E., a daughter of Justus Mahle. They had a family of seven chil- 
dren. David Seigwarth was raised on the farm, and his early training has made him 
one of the best farmers in the township. He is one of the leading members of the Lu- 
theran Church. 

Seigwarth, Solomon, Lickingsville p. o., Washington, was born on July 28, 1833, in 
this township, and was the son of John G. and Mary K. E. (Mahl) Seigwarth, a mem- 
ber of one of the first families of the town. The father engaged in farming and also 
worked at the iron furnace, where Solomon obtained his first knowledge in practical 
business life. Upon the early training he has thus got he has built and' enlarged until 
he is to-day one of the most successful and wealthy of Washington's native sons. He 
was married in June, 1861, to Ann E. Deaner. They have had a family of six children. 
About 1864 Mr. Seigwarth became engaged in the mercantile business at Lickingsville, 
a business which he still carries on, besides large farm interests, the result of close appli- 
cation to business. He is superintendent of the Evangelist Association Sunday-school 
and one of the trustees of the society. He has also contributed largely toward defray- 
ing the expenses of building and maintaining the church. His father, John G., died in 
1871. 

Shanar, J. L., Knox p. o., Edenburg, was born in Rockland, Venango county, Pa., 
on October 13, 1846, and came to Clarion county in 1871. He is a dealer in jewelry, 
pianos, and organs, on Main street. His parents are Mathias and Jane (Stewart) Sha- 
nar, of Clarion county. J. L. Shanar was married on October 30, 1872, to Hannah J. 
Storey, a daughter of Alexander and Juliette (Campbell) Storey, of Petrolia, Butler 
•county, Pa. They have one child — Charles R. Shanar. 

Shallenberger, F. L., Callensburg p. o., a son of John L. and Melinda (McCon- 
aughy) Shallenberger, was born in Westmoreland county. Pa., in 1855. In 1878 he set- 
tled with his father in Clarion county, and there became engaged as a clerk in a store. 
In 1881 he embarked in the mercantile business for himself and opened a general store 
at Callensburg under the firm name of W. A. Hindman & Co. He was married in 1882 
to Ida M. Over, of Clarion county. They have had one child — John O. Mr. Shal- 
lenberger has held the office of town treasurer, and is now councilman. His father, 
John L., was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1829, and his mother was born in 
1830. 

Sheafifer, S. Taylor, Redbank, the superintendent of the Northwestern Coal and 
Iron Company, and the Fairmount Coal and Iron Company, and iron companies 
located in Redbank township, was born in Cumberland county in 1846, and was a son 
•of George and Ann E. (Grissinger) Sheaffer. Ann E. was born in York county, and her 
husband in Cumberland county. He died in 1880 at the age of sixty-seven years, 
leaving a widow and one son — S. Taylor. They had a family of three children. The 
fathef, one son, and one daughter died within a space of thirty days from a fever. S. 
Taylor Sheafifer was married in 1874 to Alice M. Fleming, a daughter of Wilson Flem- 
ing, of Boiling Springs, Cumberland county They have had three children — Frank B., 
Jessie A., and Virginia May. S. Taylor was reared on the farm and fitted for business 
life. From 1863 to 1870 he was engaged in teaching, and in the service of the gov- 
ernment at Washington. In 1870 he became book-keeper, was then assistant manager, 
and in 1876 was made manager of the Antietam Iron Works near Sharpsbur'g, Md., 
and in 1881 was appointed chief book-keper of the Coleman estate, known as R. W. 
Coleman's Heirs & Co., at Cornwall, Lebanon county, and in 1882 transferred his 
interest to the superintendency of his present charge. 

Sherry, John W., Church p. o., Beaver, was born where he now resides on April 3, 
1826. He is a farmer and owns a farm of forty-two acres, and is also interested in the 
production of oil. He has been overseer of the poor of the town. His parents were 
William and Polly (Best) Sherry. The Best family settled here in 1804 and the Sherry 
family in 1806, both being early pioneer families in the county. John W. was married 



1 History of Clarion County. 



on June 15, 1848 to Hannah Huber, of Venango county. They have six children now 
living — William H., Samuel, John F., Catharine, Christine, Elizabeth (now the wife of 
James Courson). 

Sheatz, John, Shippensville p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Centre county 
on April 10, 1822, and was a son of EH and Eva (Kahl) Sheatz, who settled in Elk in 
1833, and cleared and improved the farm which is now occupied by John. Their chil- 
dren were John, Henry, EH, Eve, Jacob, WiHiam, Samuel, and David. John now 
occupies the old homestead. He worked at the blacksmith trade for thirty-three years. 
He was married in 1843 to Margaret, a daughter of Major John and Christena (Hos- 
terman) Camp, of Shippensville. They have had seven children — Sapora, Emma, 
Curtis, Irben, Eldorado D., Lizzie S., and Celestia. 

Shick, Valentine, West Millville p. o., Millville, was born in ;Northampton county, 
Pa., on February 13, 1807, and was a son of Christian and Margaret (Miller) Shick, of 
Northampton county, Pa., who were married in 1805. Margaret died in 1817. They 
had a family of four children, two of whom are now living — Valentine and Christian. 
Christian married for his second wife Elizabeth Winebog. They had a family of three 
children, two of whom are now living — Jacob and John. The parents settled in Red- 
bank, Pa., in 1820, where they died. Valentine Shick was married in 1828 to Martha 
Hufman, who was born in 1810. She died in October, 1883. They had a family of 
eleven children, nine of whom are now living, all are married and have families. Four 
of his sons enlisted and served in the war. 

Shindledecker, jr., Adam, West Millville p. o., Millville, was born in the town of 
Redbank on October 9, 1838, and was married on February 2, 1857, to Catharine Ra- 
der, who was born in Redbank on March 24, 1842. They have had eight children, 
seven of whom are now living — UtiHa (born in 1858), Sarah (born in i860), Adam Ira 
(born in 1862), Eliza (born in 1866), John (born in 1868), Emma (born in 1870), La- 
bana (born in 1873), and Cora (born in 1877). Catharine was a daughter of George 
Rader. Adam enlisted in Company C, Seventy-eighth P. V., on August 28, 1862, and 
was discharged in 1865, at the close of the war. He was wounded and now receives a 
pension. He was a son of Adam and UtiUa (Fike) Shindledecker, who were born and 
married in Germany, and came to America in 1828, and settled in Redbank. Adam 
was born in 1807 and his wife in 18 10. They had a family of nine sons and four daugh- 
ters. Three sons enlisted and served in the late war. They were Adam, Valentine and 
John. Catharine was a daughter of George Rader, who died in February, 1859, and 
his wife in 1851. They left a family of eight children, four of whom are now living — 
Catharine, Sarah, John and Isaac. Isaac enhsted in Company C, Seventy-eighth Regi- 
ment, and served four years, enhsting in August, 1861. 

Shirey, WilHam, Lamartine p. o., Salem, was born in Richland township. Pa., on 
Auf^ust 23, 1833. He is a farmer, and owns and occupies a farm of eighty acres. His 
parents were Samuel and Sarah (Johnson) Shirey, who came from Berks county to Cla- 
rion county in 1833. William Shirey was married on April 30, 1857, to Susannah Wet- 
zel, a daughter of Henry and Dolly (Wending) Wetzel, who settled here from Berks 
county. Pa., in 1838. They have had a family of eight children born to them — Samuel 
H., Aaron R., Emma A. (now the wife of Lewis Fillgrove), Sarah E., Clara S., Annie 
C, Luetta V., and Arminta M. 

Shively, George W., Fern p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born in Union county 
on November 15, 1819, and was a son of Christian and Sarah (Steese) Shively, who set- 
tled in Ashland in 1841. Their children, of whom five are now living, are George, Susan, 
Thomas, John, and Robert. His paternal grandfather, George Shively, was a pioneer 
of Union county, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. George was married to 
Sarah Mong, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Mong, of Ashland. George 
and Sarah have had six children — Milton, Loretta, Jacob, Benjamin W., Lincoln, and 
John. Mr. Shively is a prominent farmer, and a member of the German Baptist 
Church. 

Shoemaker, George G., Knox p. o., Edenburg borough, Beaver, was born at Mc- 
AllisterviUe, Juniata county, Pa., on March 25, 1856, and came to Clarion county, Pa.,. 



Brief Personals. 



in 1876. He is a practicing physician and surgeon, and a graduate of the University of 
Pennsylvania. His parents are James S. and Mary A. (Giering) Shoemaker, of Lehigh 
county, Pa. He was married on March 23, 1879, to Mary C. Longnaker, a daughter 
of Solomon and Margaret (Shakely) Longnaker, of Salem, Pa. They have two children 
— John A. an(^ Robert J. 

Shoup, Jonathan, West Freedom p. o.. Perry, was born in Armstrong county in 1805, 
and has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Hagan. They had a family of 
nine children, five of whom are now living. He married for his second wife Sarah 
Dunkle. They have had four children ; three are now living. Mr. Shoup in early years 
was interested in the lumber business, and cleared a large tract of land besides his present 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres. 

Silvis, William H., New Bethlehem, was born in Red Bank township on July 27, 
1838, and was a son of Conrad and Anna (Noll) Silvis. Anna was born in Armstrong 
county, and her husband Conrad was born in Westmoreland county in 1803, and died 
in December, 1876, leaving a widow and ten children — Amos, Joseph M., Isaac, Jere- 
miah, Simon T., Daniel, Lydia, Eve, and Mary Anne. Four sons enlisted — James, 
Joseph, William H., and Jeremiah. William enlisted in Company C, Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, in August, 1861, and served for three years; Jeremiah enlisted 
in the same company and served to the close of the war ; Amos was in the same com- 
pany and regiment, and Joseph was drafted in 1865. Conrad was a son of David Silvis, 
one of the first settlers from Westmoreland county. William H. Silvis commenced the 
business of manufacturing wagons in 7854, and opened his shop in 1865. He was mar- 
ried that same year (1865) to Mary C. Mohney, who was born on October 10, 1848, 
and was a daughter of 'Squire David and Elizabeth Mohney. William and Mary have 
had six children— Alice R., Merritt A., Manola J., Heber B., Clyde M., and Blanche 
Clare. 

Sloan, Porter M., Elk City p. o.. Elk, is a farmer and was born on the farm where 
he now resides on August 9, 1838. He was a son of John and Margaret (Addleman) 
Sloan, who settled in Elk in 18 19, chartered and improved the farm which is now owned 
and occupied by their son. Porter M. Their children were Andrew, Sarah A., Samuel, 
Ehja, Mahala, John H., Margaret J., and Porter M. Porter M. was married in~f869 
to Priscilla Wedekihd. They have had a family of four children — Elgan S., Charles, 
Archie, and Regina. Priscilla was a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Hahn) Wede- 
kind, of Elk township. Pa. 

Smiley, A. W., Foxburg p. o., Richland, was born near Union City, Erie county, on 
July 16, 1843. He was superintendent of the Mutual Pipe Line, which was the first 
pipe line built in Clarion county, and is now buyer for the Standard Oil Company, with 
headquarters at Knox. He represented Clarion county in the Legislature, having been 
elected member of assembly on November 2, 1886. His parents are John and Rachel 
(Wilson) Smiley, of Erie county. He was married on October 30, 1866, to Ella Mead, 
a daughter of the Rev. O. L. and Ellen (Judson) Mead, of the Methodist Church of the 
Erie conference. A. W. has one child — Roger M. 

Smith Brothers, Knox p. o., Edenburg, are machinists and oil-tool manufacturers, 
and are also engaged in the oil producing business. They have business places at 
Edenburg, Rouse ville, Venango county. A. J. is the manager at Edenburg. His parents 
were John and Mary (Gillespie) Smith, of Hamilton, Canada, and came from Canada 
to the United States and to Clarion county in 1870. A. J. was married on September 
6, 1876, to Lillie Forster, a daughter of Mathevv W., and Hannah R. (Butts) Forster, 
of Hamilton, Canada. He is now councilman of the borough. 

Smith, S. K. R., West Freedom p. o.. Perry, the leading and enterprising merchant 
of West Freedom, was born in Clarion county in 1851, and worked in the lumber and 
oil business from the age of twelve years until 1880, when he embarked in the mercantile 
business. He was appointed postmaster in 1884, a position which he now occupies. He 
was married in 1874 to Anna M. McClure, of Clarion county. They had a family of 
six children — M. J. Zora, W. H. McClure, Joseph Lowery, James Keller Lincoln, Bar- 
bara Violet, and Benjamin Delo. Mr. Smith's father, William M., was born in Butler 



Hi History of Clarion County. 

county, Pa., in 1818, and settled in Clarion county in 1846. He was twice married. 
His first wife was Miss Moore, and his second wife was Sarah Logue. They had a family 
of fourteen children, four of whom are now living. 

Smith, Benjamin F., Rimersburg p. o., East Brady, proprietor and owner of the cen- 
tral livery and exchange stable at Rimersburg ; was born at East Windsor, Conn., on 
October 12, 1829, and was a son of Albert and Sarah Smith. Benjamin F. was married 
in 1852 to Harriet Lain, a daughter of James and Jane Lain. Benjamin F. and Har- 
riet have had four children, two of whom are now living — Frank and Hattie. Mr. 
Smith settled in Pennsylvania in 1868, coming to East Brady in 1870, where he estab- 
blished his present livery business in 1875. 

Smith, Jacob Heck, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, was born on April 5, 1826. He 
was the sixth child of the family of Jacob and Mary Smith, who came to this county 
soon after the year 1820. Jacob, sr., died in 1869, and his wife, Mary, the year following. 
The family came to Farmington in 1840. At the age of twenty-five years Jacob H. 
married Catharine Ruth, a daughter of Silas and Jane Everhart. There were no chil- 
dren born to this marriage, but they have adopted three children from other families. 
Jacob Smith is a self made man. He commenced life a poor boy, but by energy and 
thrift has acquired a competence. As a lumberman and farmer he has been successful. 
For six years he has been engaged in the mercantile business at Tylersburg. In poli- 
tics Mr. Smith is a staunch Democrat. 

Snivel)^, John, Kosssuth p. o., Ashland, is a farmer, and was born in Germany on 
October 7, 1816. He was a son of Jacob and Catherine (Weber) Snively, who settled 
in Ashland in 1850, and cleared and improved a farm upon which they resided up 
to the time of their deaths. They had a family of six children — John, Mary, Jacob, 
Elizabeth, Catharine, and Frederick. John was married to Catherine J., a daughter of 
Peter and Elizabeth Weber, of Allegheny county. Pa. 

Snyder, D. A., Lamartine p. o., Salem, was born where he now resides on February 

9, 1850 ; is a farmer and owns 100 acres. His parents were Marmon and Mary E. 
(Knight) Snyder. Mr. Snyder came from Clinton county about i84i,and died in 1871. 
Mrs. Snyder was born in this county. Clara Laughner was a daughter of Barney and 
Catharine (McCalmont) Laughner. D. A. and Clara have had a family of five children 
— Edna M., Laura K., Inez M., Arthur B., and Perm E. 

Snyder, J. C, Church p. o., Beaver, was born in Weltenberg, Germany, on March 

10, 1837, and came to the United States and Clarion county in 1854. He enlisted on 
August II, 1862, in Co. B, 83d Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served during the war 
and was discharged on July 10, 1865. He is engaged in farming, and owns fifty-seven 
acres ; is also interested in the production of oil. His parents were John and Rachel 
(Stagmeyer) Snyder, of Germany, who came to this country in 1852. J. G. was mar- 
ried twice. His first wife was Mary M. Best, to whom he was married on October 18, 
1 86 1. They had a family of two children — Emma and Mary R., now the wife of 
Jacob Kunche. His second wife was Florence I. Ferris, to whom he was married on 
May 18, 1878. They have had a family of three children — Nettie N., Eva L., Norah 
and John E. Florence was a daughter of Israel and Jane Ferrris. 

Spencer, Dr. George W., Callensburg p. o., Licking, was a son of John and Susan 
(Fogell) Spencer, and was born in Hampshire county. Pa., in 1842 ; was brought up 
until reaching manhood in Harrrison county, W. Va. He commenced the study of 
medicine in 1859, and was graduated from the Eclectic College of Cincinnati in 1868, 
and from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1872, and from the medi- 
cal department of the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, in 1876, and after that set- 
tled in Clarion county in 1865, some hundred dollars in debt, but is now estimated to 
be worth some thirty thousand dollars, and owns three hundred acres in Piney town- 
ship, and fourteen lots in Callensburg. He was married in 1866 to Mary E. Wilson, a 
daughter of Robert M.Wilson. They have had one child — Leslie R., born in 1871. 

Steiner, Daniel, Scotch Hill p. o. The family of John G. and Mary (Frey) Steiner, 
natives of Germany, came to Farmington, about the year 1830. Their children were 



Brief Personals. liii 



Samuel, Henry, Daniel, Godfrey, John, Susan, Lida and Jacob, the last two of whom 
are now deceased. Daniel, the third child, was born in Farmington on October 19, 
1838, and until reaching the age of sixteen years resided at home on the farm. He then 
worked out for ten years. At the age of twenty-five years he married Jane Rice, by 
whom he had ten children. Daniel Steiner has been a successful business man, having 
started life with no capital whatever. For several years he was engaged in the mercan- 
tile business at Scotch Hill, but recently sold his interest. Although not active in poli- 
tics he is a consistent Republican. The family are members of the M. E. Church. 

Stephenson, James B., East Brady, was a son of Daniel H. and R. H. Stephenson, 
and was born on January 29, 1844, at Rancocas, Burlington county, N. J., and was ed- 
ucated at Bellefontaine, O., and Philadelphia, Pa. He settled in Clarion county in 
1870, and became engaged in the coal business as superintendent of the Pittsburgh Coal 
and Mining Company, and in 1874 went to Mahoning as superintendent for the Mahon- 
ing Coal Company, and remained in that capacity until 1879. During all this tune he 
was a diligent student of the coal business in all its departments. The knowledge 
thus gained culminated in his forming the present firm of Stephenson & Mitchell, and 
developing the celebrated Pine Run mine, which is considered one of the best coal 
mines in western Pennsylvania, giving employment to one hundred and fifty men and 
producing 100,000 tons of coal annually. He was married in 187 1 to Kate G. Cowell, 
of Doylestown. They have two children Hving, viz.: Willie C, and Harry L., aged 
respectively fourteen and seven years. He was elected burgess of East Brady in 1880. 
His mother died in 1883, leaving two children — Mary C, and James B. His twin 
brother, John, having enlisted from Ohio in the i32d Regiment, died from fever while 
in the service of the army. His mother also left two children by a former marriage. 

Sterner, John J., Monroeville p. o., Beaver, was born in Monroeville on September 
29, 1842. He enlisted in Co. F, 98th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was discharged in 
June, 1865. He was a son of Henry and Sarah (Moyer) Sterner, who were early set- 
tlers in Pennsylvania. John J. was married on December 26, 1869, to Susan Beck, a 
daughter of John and Amanda (Powell) Beck, of Beaver township. Pa. They have 
five children now living — Sarah A., Francis C, Charles E., Minnie L,, Florence S. 

Stitt, William, Toby p. o , Rimersburg, a general and leading farmer of Toby, Pa., 
was born in Toby in 1818. He was a son of James and Elizabeth (Anderson) Stitt. 
Elizabeth was born in Centre county. Pa., in 1791, and her husband, James, was born 
in Armstrong county. Pa., in 1787, and died in 1820, leaving a widow and five children, 
three of whom are now living — Ada, William, and James. Elizabeth, the mother, died 
in 1 87 1. Two of the children, John and Elizabeth, both died leaving families. James 
was drafted in the War of 181 2-14, and after his death his vvidow drew a pension. 
William Stitt was married in 1884 to EUzabeth Pollock, who was born in Perry, Pa., 
in 1823. They had a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. Eliza- 
beth was a daughter of John and Addie (Corson) Anderson, who settled in this county 
in 1803. Elizabeth (Pollock) Stitt was a daughter of Thomas and Helen (Knox) Pol- 
lock. They had a family of seventeen children, eight of whom are now living. 

Stopp, 'Squire WiUiam, Rimersburg p. o., was born in Northampton county in 1823, 
and was a son of Daniel and Catherine (Fhck) Stopp, who settled in Madison, where 
Catharine died in 1832. They had a family of six children, four of whom are now, liv- 
ing. Daniel was an early blacksmith, and served as a justice of the peace from 1847 
until the time of his death in 1879. He was born on April 22, 1797. He retained a 
register of almanacs and valuable notes from 1832 to the time of his death. William 
was married in 1846 to Mary Benninger, of Madison. They had a family of six chil- 
dren — David, James, Susan C., Norman, Margaret Jane, and George. William served 
as a justice from 1872 to 1877, and from 1877 to 1882, and was elected in 1882 for a 
term of five years. He was an early farmer and has been engaged in blacksmithing 
since 1848. 

Stover, C. G. W., Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was a son of Samuel and Sarah (Haw- 
ser) Stover, and was born in Venango county, on January 18, 1833, and came to Clar- 
ion county in 1844. He has been twice married. His first wife was Rebecca A. Cox,. 



liv History of Clarion County. 

who died on May ii, 1873. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are 
living — Warren C, Thomas E., Lottie M., George W., Nelson and Rebecca A. He was 
married the second time in February, 1875, to Mary E. Keister. They have had five 
children — Grace L., Waldo, Samuel G., Mary G., and Maud D., all of whom are now 
living. Mr. Stover enlisted in August, 1861, in Company A, One Hundred and Third 
Pennsylvania Regiment, re-enlisted in 1864, was taken prisoner on April 20, 1864, at 
Plymouth, N. C; was in Andersonville prison for almost nine months. He commenced 
the building of boats in 1869, and built the saw-mill which he now owns and runs in 1885 
or 1886, on the Clarion River. 

Strotman, Amos A., Valley p. o., Ashland, is a farmer and was born in Elk township. 
Pa, on March i, 1852, and was a son of William and Lavina (Dahle) Strotman. He 
was reared in Elk, and settled in Ashland in 1878, and cleared and improved the farm 
which he now occupies. He was married in 1878 to Lizzie, a daughter of John and 
Catharine (Horn) Hogue, of Venango county. They have had two children — Perry M., 
and Hattie E. 

Strotman, William, Valley p. o.. Elk, is a farmer, and \va.s born in Hanover, Germany, 
on December 22, 1823. He was a son of Conrad and Charlotte (Wherman) Strotman, 
who settled in Elk township in 1833, on what is now known as the Timmerman farm, 
where they died. They had two children, William and Louisa. William Strotman set- 
tled on the farm which he now occupies in 1846, and cleared and improved the same. 
He was married in 1845 t° Lovina Dahle. They have had ten children, seven of whom 
are now living — William, Henry, Amos, Jane, Mary A., Samuel and Edward. Lovina 
was a daughter of J acob and Sarah Dahle. 

Stroup, R. F., Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek; one of the young and thrifty farmers of Mill 
Creek, and owning a farm of 100 acres, was born in Clarion county in i860. He was 
married in 1884 to Annie L. Wing. They have had one child, Philip Shirly (deceased). 
His father, \V. L. Stroup, was born in 1826, and married Sarah Jane Teats, who was born 
in 1831. W. L. Stroup enlisted in 1861 in Company H, One Hundred and Third Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers, was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C, and died at Andersonville 
prison. 

Summerville, John F., M. D., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Porter township on 
January 17, 1857, and is now a practicing physician at Monroeville, and a graduate of 
die University of Michigan on June 30, 1881. His parents were J. A. and Laura (Sage) 
Summerville, formerly of Armstrong county. John F. was married on December 21, 
1880, to Hannah J. Moore, a daughter of John and Hannah (Reed) Moore, of Ann 
Arbor, Mich. They have had two children — Ford M. and Maud L. 

Summerville, J. A., Catfish p. o.. East Brady, was born near Kittanning, Armstrong 
county, in 1883, and was a son of John and Catharine (Ferguson) Summerville, and a 
grandson of James Summerville and Sarah Scott. The grandfather came from Ireland 
and settled in Fayette county where he married Sarah Scott. From there he moved 
west of the Allegheny River into Armstrong county in 1795, where he resided until the 
time of his death, which occurred in 1854. His wife died in 1827. Joseph A. was 
married in J856 to Laura Sage, of Armstrong county. She died in 1876, leaving a 
family of six children — John F., William J., Thompson B., Joel E., Mary A., Maggie 
C. He then married his second wife, Mary C. Scott, in 1877. They had five children 
— Viola, Annie L., Forrest B., Roy Scott, and Denny. Joseph A. settled in Clarion 
county in 1856, and commenced business life as a teacher. He fitted himself for a phy- 
sician and then chose farming as an occupation, and is now engaged in that enterprise 
and surveying, and is a very prominent man in his county. 

Switzer, Samuel, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Clarion county. Pa., where he now 
resides, on May 21, 1835. He is a farmer and now owns a farm of ninety acres. His 
parents were Jacob and Susannah (Swab) Switzer. Mr. Switzer came from Germany to 
the United States about 1801. Samuel Switzer was married in May, 1866, to Mary John- 
son, a daughter of Peter and Christina (Hale) Johnson. They have had eight children 
— Matilda, James E., Clara, Lissetta, Calvin, Florence E., Albert, and Elmer. 



Brief Personals. Ivii 



Pa., in 1877, where he has since resided, and established a large and lucrative practice. 
He was married in 1880 to Ella Carson, of Clarion county. Pa. They have had one 
child — Byron. His father, Robert Walker, was born in Ireland in 1809, and came to 
America (with his father John, who was a staunch follower of Robert Emmet, was 
threatened with arrest for expressing his opinions, to avoid which he came to America). 
Robert married Jane Porter, of Connecticut. 

Wallace, Dr. R. S., East Brady, was born in Armstrong county in 1832, and was a 
son of Dr. S. S. and Martha (Craig) Wallace. Dr. R. S. received an academic educa- 
tion and studied medicine with his father, and was graduated from the Jefferson Medi- 
cal College in Philadelphia in 1855, and settled in the practice of his profession with 
his father at Brady's Bend. At the death of his father, in 1870, he took charge of the 
business until 1872, when he removed to East Brady, where he settled in the practice 
of his profession, and became engaged in a general drug and prescription business under 
the firm name of Drs. R. S. and J. A. Wallace. Dr. R. S. became sole proprietor in 
1880. He was married in 1859 to Adda Newlon, of Clarion county. They have had 
two daughters — Cora and Amie. Dr. S. S. Wallace was born in 1801 and died in 1870, 
leaving a widow and six children. 

Walters, Susan, Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was born in Berks county on January 9, 
1829, and was married on February 27, 1845, to Samuel Walters (deceased), who was 
a son of Daniel Walters. Mrs. Walters has been a resident of Clarion county for forty- 
five years. 

Warnick, William A., New Maysville p. o., Redbank, an extensive farmer, and cattle 
grower and dealer, was born in Ireland in 1833, and was a son of John and Elizabeth 
Warnick. Elizabeth died in Ireland in 1845. Her maiden name was Alcorn. John, 
with his family of six children, emigrated to America in 1846 and settled in the town of 
Redbank, Pa. The children were Mary, William, Martha, George, John, and Ann. 
The father married for his second wife Elizabeth Moore. They had one child — Nancy 
Peoples. John, sr., who was born in 1801 in the County Donegal, Ireland, died in 
1878. George and John, jr., enlisted, John in Company I, Sixty-second Regiment, and 
George in the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. William 
A. was married in February, 1859, to Mary Ann Yeany. They have a family ot ten 
children, nine sons and one daughter — Elizabeth Ann, John W., Alfred C, Robert W.^ 
Andrew J., Edward M., McCurdy C, James A., Grant R., and Ola Blaine. John, jr.,. 
was a graduate from the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa., and also from the 
Commercial College at Titusville. Mary was a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Swartz) Yeany. 

Watson, David, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born in Franklin county. Pa., 
in the year 1780. Margaret Boyd, his wife, was born in Ireland and came to this 
country with her parents. They were married at Highland Furnace on June 15, 1824, 
and came to Scotch Hill that same year. Their children were Eliza, David B., Betsey,, 
and one child who died in infancy. David Watson died on December 17, 1863, and 
his wife Margaret died on November 25, 1830. David B. was born on August 16, 1827. 
In June, 1851, he married Helen Rutherford, who bore him nine children, six of whom 
are now living. Mr. Watson has been a lumberman, merchant, and farmer, and has. 
been successful in each. He has been a justice of the peace for several years, having 
been twice elected to that office. Prior to 1856 he was a Democrat, but after that 
changed to the Republican. Latterly, however, he has had a strong tendency toward 
the Greenback party. 

Weaver, Charles, Fryburg p. o., Washington, was born in Washington township on 
December 15, 1832. He is the fourth child of a family of seven children born to Sebas- 
tian and Mary (Greenwalt) Weaver, one of the early settlers of this place. His life was 
spent on the farm until 1865, when he became a farmer. At the age of twenty-five 
years he married Sarah A. Brandon, a daughter of Samuel Brandon, They have had 
ten children. Mr. Weaver was elected judge of the county in 1882, and has faithfully 
served his constituents in that office ever since. He is a self-made man, having no 



liv History of Clarion County. 

who died on May ii, 1873. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are 
living — Warren C, Thomas E., Lottie M., George W., Nelson and Rebecca A. He was 
married the second time in February, 1875, to Mary E. Keister. They have had five 
children — Grace L., Waldo, Samuel G., Mary G., and Maud D., all of whom are now 
hving. Mr. Stover enlisted in August, i86r, in Company A, One Hundred and Third 
Pennsylvania Regiment, re-enlisted in 1864, was taken prisoner on April 20, 1864, at 
Plymouth, N. C; was in Andersonville prison for almost nine months. He commenced 
the building of boats in 1869, and built the saw-mill which he now owns and runs in 1885 
or 1886, on the Clarion River. 

Strotman, Amos A., Valley p. o., Ashland, is a farmer and was born in Elk township, 
Pa, on March i, 1852, and was a son of William and Lavina (Dahle) Strotman. He 
was reared in Elk, and settled in Ashland in 1878, and cleared and improved the farm 
which he now occupies. He was married in 1878 to Lizzie, a daughter of John and 
Catharine (Horn) Hogue, of Venango county. They have had two children — Perry M., 
and Hattie E. 

Strotman, William, Valley p. o.. Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Hanover, Germany, 
on December 22, 1823. He was a son of Conrad and Charlotte (Wherman) Strotman, 
who settled in Elk township in 1833, on what is now known as the Timmerman farm, 
where they died. They had two children, William and Louisa. William Strotman set- 
tled on the farm which he now occupies in 1846, and cleared and improved the same. 
He was married in 1845 to Lovina Dahle. They have had ten children, seven of whom 
are now living — William, Henry, Amos, Jane, Mary A., Samuel and Edward. Lovina 
was a daughter of J acob and Sarah Dahle. 

Stroup, R. F., Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek ; one of the young and thrifty farmers of Mill 
Creek, and owning a farm of 100 acres, was born in Clarion county in i860. He was 
married in 1884 to Annie L. Wing. They have had one child, Philip Shirly (deceased). 
His father, \V. L. Stroup, was born in 1826, and married Sarah Jane Teats, who was born 
in 1831. W. L. Stroup enlisted in 1861 in Company H, One Hundred and Third Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers, was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C, and died at Andersonville 
prison. 

Summerville, John F., M. D., Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Porter township on 
January 17, 1857, and is now a practicing physician at Monroeville, and a graduate of 
die University of Michigan on June 30, 1881. His parents were J. A. and Laura (Sage) 
Summerville, formerly of Armstrong county. John F. was married on December 21, 
1880, to Hannah J. Moore, a daughter of John and Hannah (Reed) Moore, of Ann 
Arbor, Mich. They have had two children — Ford M. and Maud L. 

Summerville, J. A., Catfish p. o.. East Brady, was born near Kittanning, Armstrong 
county, in 1883, and was a son of John and Catharine (Ferguson) Summerville, and a 
grandson of James Summerville and Sarah Scott. The grandfather came from Ireland 
and settled in Fayette county where he married Sarah Scott. From there he moved 
west of the Allegheny River into Armstrong county in 1795, where he resided until the 
time of his death, which occurred in 1854. His wife died in 1827. Joseph A. was 
married in J856 to Laura Sage, of Armstrong county. She died in 1876, leaving a 
family of six children — John F., William J., Thompson B., Joel E., Mary A., Maggie 
C. He then married his second wife, Mary C. Scott, in 1877. They had five children 
— Viola, Annie L., Forrest B., Roy Scott, and Denny. Joseph A. settled in Clarion 
county in 1856, and commenced business life as a teacher. He fitted himself for a phy- 
sician and then chose farming as an occupation, and is now engaged in that enterprise 
and surveying, and is a very prominent man in his county. 

Switzer, Samuel, Knox p. o., Beaver, was born in Clarion county, Pa., where he now 
resides, on May 21, 1835. He is a farmer and now owns a farm of ninety acres. His 
parents were Jacob and Susannah (Swab) Switzer. Mr. Switzer came from Germany to 
the United States about 1801. Samuel Switzer was married in May, 1866, to Mary John- 
son, a daughter of Peter and Christina (Hale) Johnson. They have had eight children 
— Matilda, James E., Clara, Lissetta, Calvin, Florence E., Albert, and Elmer. 



Brief Personals. Ivii 



Pa., in 1877, where he has since resided, and estabhshed a large and lucrative practice. 
He was married in 1880 to Ella Carson, of Clarion county, Pa. They have had one 
child — Byron. His father, Robert Walker, was born in Ireland in 1809, and came to 
America (with his father John, who was a staunch follower of Robert Emmet, was 
threatened with arrest for expressing his opinions, to avoid which he came to America). 
Robert married Jane Porter, of Connecticut. 

Wallace, Dr. R. S., East Brady, was born in Armstrong county in 1832, and was a 
son of Dr. S. S. and Martha (Craig) Wallace. Dr. R. S. received an academic educa- 
tion and studied medicine with his father, and was graduated from the Jefiferson Medi- 
cal College in Philadelphia in 1855, and settled in the practice of his profession with 
his father at Brady's Bend. At the death of his father, in 1870, he took charge of the 
business until 1872, when he removed to East Brady, where he settled in the practice 
of his profession, and became engaged in a general drug and prescription business under 
the firm name of Drs. R. S. and J. A. Wallace. Dr. R. S. became sole proprietor in 
1880. He was married in 1859 to Adda Newlon, of Clarion county. They have had 
two daughters — Cora and Amie. Dr. S. S. Wallace was born in 1801 and died in 1870, 
leaving a widow and six children. 

Walters, Susan, Callensburg p. o., Licking, was born in Berks county on January 9, 
1829, and was married on February 27, 1845, ^^ Samuel Walters (deceased), who was 
a son of Daniel Walters. Mrs. Walters has been a resident of Clarion county for forty- 
five years. 

Warnick, William A., New Maysville p. o., Redbank, an extensive farmer, and cattle 
grower and dealer, was born in Ireland in 1833, and was a son of John and Elizabeth 
Warnick. Elizabeth died in Ireland in 1845. Her maiden name was Alcorn. John, 
with his family of six children, emigrated to America in 1846 and settled in the town of 
Redbank, Pa. The children were Mary, William, Martha, George, John, and Ann. 
The father married for his second wife Elizabeth Moore. They had one child — Nancy 
Peoples. John, sr., who was born in 1801 in the County Donegal, Ireland, died in 
1878. George and John, jr., enlisted, John in Company I, Sixty-second Regiment, and 
George in the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. William 
A. was married in February, 1859, to Mary Ann Yeany. They have a family ot ten 
children, nine sons and one daughter — Elizabeth Ann, John W., Alfred C, Robert W.^ 
Andrew J., Edward M., McCurdy C, James A., Grant R., and Ola Blaine. John, jr., 
was a graduate from the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa., and also from the 
Commercial College at Titusville. Mary was a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Swartz) Yeany. 

Watson, David, Scotch Hill p. o., Farmington, was born in Franklin county. Pa., 
in the year 1780. Margaret Boyd, his wife, was born in Ireland and came to this 
country with her parents. They were married at Highland Furnace on June 15, 1824, 
and came to Scotch Hill that same year. Their children were Eliza, David B., Betsey, 
and one child who died in infancy. David Watson died on December 17, 1863, and 
his wife Margaret died on November 25, 1830. David B. was born on August 16, 1827. 
In June, 1851, he married Helen Rutherford, who bore him nine children, six of whom 
are now hving. Mr. Watson has been a lumberman, merchant, and farmer, and has 
been successful in each. He has been a justice of the peace for several years, having 
been twice elected to that office. Prior to 1856 he was a Democrat, but after that 
changed to the Republican. Latterly, however, he has had a strong tendency toward 
the Greenback party. 

Weaver, Charles, Fryburg p. o., Washington, was born in Washington township on 
December 15, 1832. He is the fourth child of a family of seven children born to Sebas- 
tian and Mary (Greenwalt) Weaver, one of the early settlers of this place. His life was 
spent on the farm until 1865, when he became a farmer. At the age of twenty-five 
years he married Sarah A. Brandon, a daughter of Samuel Brandon. They have had 
ten children. Mr. Weaver was elected judge of the county in 1882, and has faithfully 
served his constituents in that office ever since. He is a self-made man, having no 



Iviii History of Clarion County. 

early advantages, but has built for himself a comfortable home, and owns an excellent 
farm of 125 acres. He was brought up in the Catholic faith. 

Weaver, Conrad, Shippensville p. o.. Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Washington 
township. Pa., on March i, 1834. He was a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Aaron) 
Weaver. His paternal grandfather, Anthony Weaver, was a pioneer of Washington, 
and his maternal grandfather, Joseph Aaron, was a pioneer of Redbank, Pa. Charles 
Weaver had a family of three children — Conrad, Joseph, and Jacob. Conrad settled in 
Elk, Pa., in 1861. His first wife was Ellen Lineman, a daughter of Edward Lineman. 
They had two children — William and Elizabeth. His second wife was Mary Rapp, a 
daughter of Jacob Rapp. They had four children — Mena, Anna, Maggie, and Anthony, 
He was married the third time to Margaret Colhepp, a daughter of Peter Colhepp. 
They have had a family of seven children — Emma, John, James, Flora, Peter, Albert, 
and Josephine. 

Weiser, Jacob, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, the seventh of ten children of Jacob 
and Mary Weiser, was born in Mifflin county. Pa., on December 5, 1817. In the year 
1827 the family moved to Armstrong county. Pa. At the age of twenty-three years 
Jacob was married to Mary Ann Kuntz. They had a family of ten children, eight of 
whom are now living. In 1854 Jacob and his family came to Farmington township. 
Pa., where they have since resided, and where, by honesty and industry, Mr. Weiser 
has acquired an enviable position among his fellow citizens. Although not an active 
political worker he takes considerable interest in township affairs, and is a staunch Dem- 
■ocrat. In church life he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was 
formerly deacon and elder of the society. Mr. Weiser died on the 24th of October, 
1886. 

Welty, R. F., New Maysville p. 0., Millville, a general merchant and postmaster of 
New Maysville, was born in Westmoreland county in 1849, and settled in Clarion county 
August 4, 1882, and was appointed postmaster in April, 1886. He was married on 
on October 10, 1878, to Annie E. Mechling, who was born in Westmoreland county in 
1857. They have had three children — Josiah M., born November 28, 1880; Clarissa 
May, born November 6, 1884; and Catherine E., born May 12, 1882. Annie was a 
daughter of J. J. and Catherine Mechling. The grandfather, George Mechling, and his 
wife, Elizabeth Mechling, of the same name, but of no relation, both highly esteemed, 
lived to a good old age. The grandfather, Adam Tinsman, died at a good old age, 
respected by all who knew him. The grandmother, Annie Overholt, is yet living, at 
the advanced age of eighty years, and few of the young women of to-day can do the 
neat needle-work which she now does. The children of J. J. and Catherine Mechling 
are George W., Annie F., Adam Q., Hattie K., Orange Judd, AUie W., and Fidelia, 
who died at the age of nine months. Robert France Welty was a son of Daniel and 
Barbara (Bierer) Welty, who were born in Westmoreland county, he in 1806 and died 
in 1874, his wife having died in 1853. They had a family of twelve children, ten of 
whom are now living. William B., enlisted in Company C, First Pennsylvania Regi- 
ment, in 1861, and was killed at the battle of Antietam. The ten children now living 
are John H., Daniel, jr., Frank S., Thomas J., Robert F., Lizzie C, Jennie B., Annie 
B., Sue M., and Clarissa. Frederick died at the age of nine months. The grandfather, 
Henry Welty, settled in Westmoreland county with his wife, Elizabeth Welty, and a 
family of twelve children. He died at the age of seventy-six years. His grandfather, 
Frederick Bierer, came from Wiirtemburg, Germany, and also settled in Westmoreland 
county, and died in 1850. His wife, Elizabeth (Lafferty) Bierer, lived to the age of 
ninety years. They had a family of ten children. 

Weter, L. C, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Salem township on August 15, 
1851, and is an oil producer. His parents were Henry and Fannie (Fry) Weter, of 
Salem. He was married on July 4, 1872, to Mary Weter, a daughter of Levi and 
Viana (Switzer) Weter, of St. Petersburg. They had two children — Myrde Belle and 
Charles Edward. 

Wetter, George, Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Buhn) 
Wetter. He was born in Germany in 18 15, and came to America in 1836. He 



Brief Personals. lix 



enlisted in 1837 for the Florida war, and served under Colonel Lawson. He settled in 
Clarion county in 1843, and was married in 1850 to Sarah Pierce, of Clarion county. 
They have had a family of six children — Jane E., Mary E., Sarah E., Alice B., George 
B., Mc. (deceased), and one who died in infancy. Mr. Wetter is a farmer, and now 
owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. 

Whitehill, G. W., Church p. o., Beaver township, was a son of David and Rachel 
(Callihan) Whitehill, and was born in Clarion county in 1844. His wife was Maria B. 
Hugus, a daughter of Henry and Mary Hugus. They had a family of three children — 
Cora Lillian, Blanche Virginia, and David Henry. Mr. Whitehill enlisted in 1863 in 
the First Battalion Pennsylvania Cavalry and served his full time. He is now engaged 
in saw-milling, lumbering, and farming, owning in all about fifty-five acres. 

Whitehill, B. C, Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was a son of Barton and May (Allison) 
Whitehill, and was born in Clarion county in 1850. He was married in 1878 to Sarah 
E. Davis, a daughter of William Davis, of Mill Creek. They have had a family of five 
children — Mary E., William D., Harry C, Effie J., and Bessie (deceased). Mr. White- 
hill is a farmer, and owns a farm of sixty- eight acres. He now holds the office of 
collector, and is on his second term as constable. His maternal grandfather, Robert 
Allison, was a soldier in the War of 181 2. 

Whitling, Edward, Lamartine p. o., Salem, a druggist of Salem, Pa., was born in 
Salem township. Clarion county. Pa., on July 15, 1839. He enlisted in Company E, 
78th Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 19, 1861, served for over three years, and was 
discharged on November 4, 1864. He was in General Sherman's army, and in his 
victorious march to Atlanta. Pie was appointed postmaster in 1874 and held that 
office for twelve years. He was a son of Frederick and Catherine (Ritts) Whitling. 
He was married on February 14, 1865, to Elizabeth Bushey, who was born in Venango 
county, Pa., and was a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Gardner) Bushey. They 
had a family of ten children born to them — Alice, Mary, Frank, Cora B., Charles E., 
Clara, Theresa, Emma, Bertha, and Margie. 

Whitling, George, St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in Germany on Decem- 
ber, 1820, and came to the United States with his parents, Henry and Dorothy Whit- 
ling, in 1828, and came to Clarion county in 1832. George is a farmer, and owns a 
farm of 180 acres. He has been supervisor several terms; also school director. He 
was married in December, 1840, to Hattie Imbody, a daughter of Daniel Imbody, of 
Clarion county. They have had a family of nine children — William D., John H., 
Daniel, Katie (wife of Samuel Ettenger), Samuel, Edward, Mary, Manda, and Francis. 

Whitling, William H., St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born in Salem township. 
Clarion county. Pa., on September, 22, 1847, and is a druggist in St. Petersburg. His 
parents were Frederick and Catherine (Ritts) Whitling. He married Susie Sepler, of 
St. Petersburg. They have had five children born to them — Sadie C, Mirtie A., Min- 
nie R., Esma, and Stanton T. 

Whitmer, Henry, Callensburg p. o., Licking, (deceased), was born in Clarion county 
in 1822, and was married in 1849 ^^ Rebecca Boyer. They had a family of six chil- 
dren, five of whom are now living — Isaiah (deceased), Mary C., Solomon S., Alvin H., 
William O., and Bennet. Mr. Whitmer followed tne business of farming the greater 
part of his life, and died in 1876. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran 
Church. At the time of his death he owned a farm of 102 acres. 

Wiant, Rev. Jacob Fair, Monroe p. o., Beaver, was born in Porter township, Pa., 
on December 17, 1839. His parents were Jacob and Hannah (Mays) Wiant. Mr. 
Wiant came from Northampton county in 181 7, and his wife from Luzerne county in 
1823. Rev. J. F. Wiant was married on July 2, 1872, to Mary C. McGinnes, a 
daughter, of Andrew and Catharine (Axer) McGinnes, of Lancaster county. They 
have three children — Anna C, Henry H., and Sarah E. Rev. J. F. Wiant is a minister 
of the Reformed Church. He was ordained June 22, 1869, and was pastor of the 
South Bend charge, Armstrong county, until February, 1876, when he entered the 
agency of the "Reformed Church Publication Board," in which capacity he served the 



Ix History of Clarion County. 

church for two years, after which he organized the St. Luke's Reformed Mission, at 
Lancaster, Pa., which he served until he was called to the Beaver, Clarion county 
charge in April, 1880, of which he is now pastor. 

Wick, Dr. J. Addison, New Bethlehem, was born in Rockville, Clarion county, Pa., 
on March 22, 1846. He was a son of Dr. Henry M. and Mary (Foster) Wick, who 
were born in Armstrong county, Pa. Dr. Henry Wick died on March 15, 1874, leav- 
ing a widow, and two children — James A. and Mary E. (now Mrs. Dr. G. H. Wood). 
Dr. James A. was married in 1878 to Blanche P. Abrams, of Clarion county, Pa. They 
have had a family of two children — Helena B. and Henry M. Dr. James A. was 
graduated from the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1870, and setded in 
New Bethlehem, Pa., in the practice of his profession as physician and surgeon. 

Wile, C. S., Blair's Corners p. o., Beaver, was born in Berks county, Pa., on July i6> 
1835. He is a farmer, and owns and occupies a farm of ninety acres. His parents 
were Charles and Lydia (Cape) Wile, who came to Clarion county, Pa., in 1840. C. S. 
Wile was married on March 12, 1857, to Catherine Ault, a daughter of Nichols and 
Magdaline (Bickbract) Ault, of Washington township. Pa. They have had a family of 
eight children — Isaac, George W., Annie M. (wife of Michael Barris), B. M., Emanuel 
A., Melissa J., Samuel H., and Francis A. 

Wiles, Dr. D. E., Rimersburg, a physician and surgeon of Rimersburg, was born in 
Petrolia, Butler county, and read medicine with Dr. R. S. Wallace, and graduated from 
the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1884, after which he settled in Rimers- 
burg in the practice of his profession. He was married in 1883 to Ida F. Anderson, a 
daughter of Watson and Eliza Anderson. D. E. Wiles was a son of Simon, and Eliza- 
beth Wiles. Elizabeth died in 1876, leaving a family of six children. 

Wilkinson, Thomas, North Pine Grove p. o., Farmington, was born in Lancaster 
county on April 12, 1834, and was a twin brother to John Wilkinson, and was one of 
seven children of William and Margaret Wilkinson. At the age of twenty-one years, 
Thomas married Isabella Black. They had a family of ten children. At an early day 
the family of William came to Farmington and settled in the east part of the town, where 
he now resides at an advanced age. Thomas is a successful farmer, having one hundred 
acres, owned and earned by himself. The family are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church Society. In political life Thomas has taken an active interest, and is by choice 
a Democrat, although he has no aspiration for town office. 

Wilson, Rev. William J., Callensburg p. o., pastor of the Presbyterian churches of 
Callensburg, Concord, and Bethesda, was a son of James and Martha Wilson, who em- 
igrated from the north of Ireland in 1844, and settled at Truittsburg, where their third 
son, William J., was born on November 13, 1844. In 1863 he enlisted with the three 
months' militia on the invasion of Pennsylvania, and on February 12, 1864, enlisted in 
Company D, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, participated in 
many engagements, and was present at the surrender of General Lee, was mustered out 
on July II, 1865. In September 1865, he entered Westminster College at New Wil- 
mington, Pa. He left college in the fall of 1869, and taught school at Richard ville, 
Jefferson county, until the following spring, when he entered the Iron City Commercial 
College at Pittsburgh. In the spring of 187 1 he opened a select school at New Beth- 
lehem. He was married September 16, 1872, to Alice E. Reid, a daughter of John M. 
and Caroline Reid, who was born on March 11, 1852. Immediately after marriage 
they both entered college, she being the first married lady who had matriculated at 
Westminster. He graduated on June ig, 1873, and the following September entered 
the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, and in April, 1875, was licensed 
to preach. He was graduated from the seminary on April 20, 1S76, and was ordained 
by the Presbytery at Kittanning on June 14, 1876, and became pastor of the churches 
of Union and Midway. On November 21, 1877, their son Charles Reid was born. 
Mr. Wilson and family went to Malvern, Iowa, in 1879, where he preached for one 
year, and in 1880 returned to Clarion county and settled in Callensburg. In April, 1886, 
he began the publication of a local sixteen-page church monthly called the Callenslnirg 
Visitor. 



Brief Personals. Ixi 



Wilson, William N., Shippensville p. o., Elk, is a harnessmaker and hardware dealer, 
and was born in Bald Eagle, Centre county, on April lo, 1837, and was a son of John 
and Sarah (McElravy) Wilson. He settled in Shippensville in 1844, and learned the 
harnessmaking business with R. C. Patton, and embarked in business for himself in 1856. 
He was married on January 21, 1881, to Mary J. Hosterman. They have three children 
living — Chapin E., Hattie M.,and Carrie E.; and two dead — Emma May and Johnnie. 
Mary J. was a daughter of David and Susan (Reeser) Hosterman, of Shippensville, Pa. 

Wilson H. C, Callensburg p. o., Licking, was a son of Samuel and Sarah (Cullen) 
Wilson. Sarah was a daughter of Hugh Cullen, one of the early pioneers. He was 
born in Clarion county in 1830, and gave his attention to farming until 1861, when he 
enlisted in the Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves ; was taken prisoner at the second battle 
of Bull Run. He served three years and at the end of that time was honorably dis- 
charged. He was married in 1853 to Elizabeth F. Young, who was born in 1833. She 
died in 1885, leaving a family of ten children — Sheldon E., Mary F., Sarah J., Chapin 
Y., Margaret T., Kizzie L., Bertha E., Alice B., Carrie A., and Emma G. Mr. Wilson 
has been justice of the peace for eight years. His father, Samuel, was born in 1795 and 
died in 1875. 

Wilson, James Goheen, Leatherwood p. o., New Bethlehem, was born in Porter 
township, Pa., in 1830, and was a son of David and Elizabeth (Goheen) Wilson. David 
was born in Centre county, Pa., in 1795, and died in 1873. His wife, Elizabeth, was 
born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1804, and died in 1883. They were married in 1824, 
and had a family of five children — Caroline, born 1827; James G., and Penninah J. 
(twins), born in 1830; David L., born in 1835; Nancy A., born in 1840; Caroline 
married H. Longwill. He died in 1864, and she died in 1875, leaving three children 
— David W., James H., and Elmer E. Penninah married C. M. Sloan, in 1855 ; David 
L., married Maggie F. Core, in 1861. James G. Wilson was married in 1865 to Annie 
E. Core, both granddaughters of Rev. John Core, pastor of the Licking and Leather- 
wood churches. 

Wingard, John, Mariasville p. o., Salem, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on 
August 18, 1840, and came to Clarion, Pa., in 1863. He was a son of John and Bar- 
bara Wingard, of Ohio. He is a farmer and now owns and occupies a farm of thirty- 
six acres. He was married on May 18; 1865, to Harriet Weter, a daughter of Henry 
and Francis (Frey) Weter. John and Harriet had a family of five children — William H., 
Francis B., Hattie J., John P., and Sarah E. 

Wingard, Peter, Lamertine p. o., Salem, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on 
March 31, 1848, and came with his parents Peter and Susan (Marbach) Wingard to 
Clarion county in 1856. He is now engaged in farming, and owns 175 acres. He was 
married on December 23, 1869, to Susan Long, a daughter of George W., and Mary 
(Schefter) Long, of Clarion county. Peter and Susan have had five children — Dellie R., 
Elizabeth E., Clyde H., George P., and Parmie A. 

Wireback, L J., M. D., St. Petersburg p. o., Richland, was born near line Lexing- 
ton, Bucks county, Pa., on August 5, 1839, and came to Clarion county in 1876. He 
is a physician and surgeon, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania of the 
-class of '66. His parents were Benjamin G., and Catharine (Bitting) Wireback. Ben- 
jamin was born in Lehigh county, and his wife in Bucks county, both of whom are now 
-dead. L J. Wireback was married on July i, 1868, to Maggie E. Fisher, a daughter of 
the late Rev. P. S. and Verona (Heckert) Fisher, of Sellarsville, Bucks county. Pa. They 
have five children now living — Benjamin F., Madge E., M. A. Verona, Joseph H., and 
Nevin E. The doctor is a famous mathematician, and devotes most of his leisure time 
to the study of this beautiful science. 

Wishey, John D., Fisher p. o., Mill Creek, was a son of John and Hannah (Schultz) 
Wishey, and was born in Mill Creek, Clarion county. Pa., in 1845, and married in 1869 
to Jane E. Wetter. They have had two children — Bertha Chloe, and one who died in 
infancy. Mr. Wishey is a blacksmith by trade, and is also engaged in farming, owning 
a farm of ninety-eight acres. His father was born in 1795, and died in 187 1, and his 
mother, who was born in 1806, died in 1882. 



Ixii History of Clarion County. 

Wolf, Philip, Newmansville p. o., Washington, a native of Germany, was born on^ 
June 13, 1805, and when about twenty-eight years old came to this country, and located 
in Lancaster county, where he married Barbara Emert. They came to Washington in 
1840, where they have since lived, and where their children were born. They have had 
the following children — Peter, John, Caroline, Margaret, David A., Andrew, Mary, Dor- 
cas E., Jacob and Sarah. When the family first came here they built a cabin in the 
woods on a hundred acre tract that cost $2 per acre. To pay for this land Mr. Wolf 
worked at the furnace when not employed on his farm. By industry and energy the 
task was accomplished, and he now enjoys the fruits of that early toil, surrounded by all 
the comforts of life. The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Wolley, jr., Thomas, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, was born in the year 1840, and is 
a native of this township. He was the third of a family of twelve children born to 
.Thomas and Christina Wolley. He is one of the energetic, progressive men of the 
township ; in its political affairs he is especially active, and is rarely without some office. 
During the last five years he has been overseer of the poor. At the age af twenty-three 
he married Anna M. Smith. They have had a family of six children. Mr. Wolley 
started hfe poor, but by industry and thrift has accuinulated a comfortable fortune. The 
family are all members of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Wood, George, Valley p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Wyoming county, N. 
Y., on October 8, 1819, and was a son of Barnard and Hannah (Pullman) Wood. He 
settled in Elk township in 1841, and in 1843 located on the farm which he now occu- 
pies, and which he cleared and improved himself He was married in 1843 to Julia A., 
a daughter of Mark Doble, of Venango county They had a family of five children — 
Albert C, Lydia C, Orvilla, George W., and John B. His second wife was Mary, a 
daughter of Henry and Margaret Helm, of Ashland. George has had by his second 
marriage the following children : Charlie, Lucy M., Henry, Parmelia M., Lizzie D., 
Elmer, and Siloma. 

Wood, Dr. George H., New Bethlehem, a physician and surgeon of the borough, 
was born in Schuylkill county in 1853, and attended medical lectures and graduated 
from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1880, and settled on New Beth- 
lehem in the practice of his profession that same year. He married Mary E. Wick, a 
daughter of Dr. Henry M, and Mary (Foster) Wick, and a sister of Dr. J. A. Wick. 
Dr. George was a son of George and Hannah (Hilton) Wood, natives of Yorkshire, 
England, who settled in Schuylkill county, where he died, leaving a widow and a family 
of four children — Joseph, Elizabeth, Alice, and George H. 

Woodruff, Jennings H., New Bethlehem, an extensive granite monument and 
marble dealer, was born in Armstrong, Pa., September 3, 1855. He was a son of Rev. 
Enos and Martha (Starr) Woodruff. Rev. Enos Woodruff was born in Kittanning, 
Armstrong county. Pa., January 10, 1828; was baptized November 5, 1845; married 
to Martha Starr December 19, 1846; ordained to the work of the gospel ministry April 
26, i860; settled as pastor at Brady's Bend Baptist Church, Armstrong county. Pa., 
January, i860; took the pastorate of the Sharpsburg Baptist Church April i, 1862. 
During the war of 1864 he went into the service of U. S. Christian and labored among 
the dying and wounded soldiers, administering to their wants both temporal and spiritual, 
and was among the hospitals in the South caring for the sick and wounded soldiers, 
distributing tracts, bibles, etc., and preaching to them and praying for them, writing 
letters for them, etc. In the summer of 1864 he returned home to his family and 
churches, and labored earnestly in his early chosen work as a Baptist minister in sev- 
eral counties in western and central Pennsylvania, and died in 1876, leaving a widow 
and three children — Jennings H., Annie M., and Prof John B. John B. was born on 
November 18, 1859. He is a graduate of the State Normal School of Indiana, Pa, 
At present he is principal of the schools at Leechburg, Armstrong county. Pa. Annie 
M. was born January 11, 1857, and was married in 1883 to William Elvvood, of Indi- 
ana county Pa. In 1885 they went to Nebraska and taught school for a while, and 
finally located in Sherman county, Kan., buying a farm, and at present are at Newton,. 
Kan. They have had no children. Jennings H. Woodruft" was married in Mechanics- 



Brief Personals. Ixiii 



burg, Indiana county, Pa., October i8, 1876, to Miss Alice L. Davis, daughter of Ben- 
jamin C. and Elenor (Chauncy) Davis. She came of Welsh and English parents. In 
1877 Jennings H. setded in Mechanicsburg and engaged in the marble business, and 
in 1879 he removed to New Bethlehem, Pa., and engaged there in the granite and 
marble business. He has traveled for some of the largest granite quarries in the east, 
and sold some of the largest and handsomest granite monuments in Western Pennsyl- 
vania. They have had two children— Florence C, born June 30, 1878, in Mechanics- 
burg, Indiana county. Pa., and Enos M., born August 20, 1881, in New Bethlehem, 
Pa. 

Wyon, James O., Callensburg p. o.. Licking, was born in Mifflin county in 1839, and 
came to Clarion county in 1846, and is a carpenter by trade. He enlisted in 1861 in 
the loth Pennsylvania Reserves; was taken prisoner at the batde of Fredericksburg; 
was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and served for three years and two months, 
at the end of which time he was discharged. He was married in 1862 to Candos L. 
Dunkle. They have had one child — Rhoda Pearl. In 1885 he embarked in the mer- 
cantile business and opened a general store at Callensburg Bridge. His parents were 
James and Tinnie (Hitzel) Wyon. James was born in Mifflin county in 18 10, and 
died on August 2, 1877. His wife was born in 1803, and is now hving. 

Wray, James, Vowinckle p. o., Farmington, was the seventh child born to William 
and Ellen (Boyd) Wray, a pioneer family in the northeast part of the township. James 
was born on October 13, 1847. His early life was spent on the farm, and in fact his 
whole life has been spent near the old Wray homestead. He was married in 1874 to 
Catherine P., a daughter of Michael Walters. They had one child— Eliza Jane. James 
Wray was a lumberman, a business at which he has been very successful. Although 
still a young man he is strongly identified with the growth and prosperity of his town- 
ship. In its political affairs he takes no prominent part, other than for the general 
good. Mr. Wray is not connected with any church society, but the family attend the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Wyre, George W., Fisher p. o.. Mill Creek, was born in Huntington county in 1833, 
and setded in Clarion county in 1849. He was married in 1855 to Nancy McBride, a 
daughter of John McBride. They have had a family of eight children — Flora (deceased), 
Sadie, Jennie, Inez, May, Rosa, Grace, and Maggie (deceased). Mr. Wyre is engaged 
in carpentering and farming, and owns thirty-five acres. He enlisted in 1863 in the 
Second Heavy Artillery, afterwards consolidated with the One Hundred and Twelfth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was wounded at the batde of Gettysburg. His parents 
were Jacob and Margaret (Herrick) Wyre. 

Yeany, jr., John, Shannondale p. o., Millville, a redred farmer and lumber dealer, and 
at present a capitalist, was born in Lancaster county in 181 o, and was a son of John 
Yeany, who was born in Switzerland and settled in Lancaster county in 1805, and came 
to Redbank in 1813 with a family of seven children, three of whom are now Uving — 
John, jr., Christine, and Jacob. John Yeany, jr., was married in 1834 to Elizabeth 
Swartz, who died in January, 1874. They had a family of fourteen children, eight of 
whom are now living — Christ, John, Jackson, Wilson, Peter, Mary Ann, Elvira, and 
Amanda E. John, jr., married for his second wife Susanna Edder, in 1874. They have 
had four children — Nettie May, Dora B., Charles E., and Alda. John, jr., at an early 
age became a farmer, a lumber merchant and catde dealer, in all of which enterprises 
he has proved successful, and is now a retired capitalist. 

Young, John F., Valley p. o., Elk, is a farmer, and was born in Westmoreland 
county. Pa., on July ti, 1821. He was a son of Joseph and Margaret (Treegard) 
Young. His maternal grandfather was William Treegard, a pioneer of Westmoreland 
county. Pa., and a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who lost both arms while in the 
service of the Union. John F. Young setded in this township. Pa., in 1846, and cleared 
and improved the farm on which he now resides. He has been married twice. His 
first wife was Lovis Ohler, a daughter of Philip Ohler, of Elk, Pa. They have had one 
child — Mary J. His second wife was Sarah, a daughter of John and Catharina (Dal- 
rymple) Lewis, of Licking township, Clarion county, Pa. John F. and Sarah have 



Ixiv History of Clarion County. 

had eleven children, nine of whom are now living — Sarah, Maggie (died March 2, 1878), 
William (died March 18, 1876), John, Elizabeth, James, Andrew C, Lora B., Robert, 
Henry, and Zuella. 

Yung, Michael, East Brady, owner and proprietor of the old established Borough 
Restaurant, where he still caters to the wants of his many friends and customers, was 
born at St. Ingbert, Kingdom of Prussia, on the Rhine, Germany, in 1844. He was a 
son of Philip H. and Elizabeth (Schweitzer) Yung, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1846. 
They had a family of nine children, three of whom are now living — George C., Appol- 
lonia, and Michael. Michael married Mary Peters, of Dunkirk, N. Y. They have had 
eight children — George W., August S., Pauline E., Rose F., Elizabeth E., Francis 
Xavier, Philip Henry, and Adolf Peter. Mr. Yung was a graduate of St. Vincent's 
College, Westmoreland county, in 1865, and taught school for eleven years. He built 
his present fine business place in 1873, which was destroyed by fire in 1882, but which 
he rebuilt at once. 

Zeller, Henry, Tylersburg p. o., Farmington, the twelfth child of John and Elizabeth 
Zeller, was born in Elk township on February 2, 1832. When nineteen years of age 
Henry left home and went to the southern part of the county, where he learned the 
trade of a miller. He remained there about two years, when he returned to his native 
township. He was married in 1853 to Susan Cornish. They have had a family of 
seven children. Henry Zeller is a self-made man. In his business as a miller he has 
been quite successful, and now has retired from active business life. He resides in 
Farmington township. Some years ago he purchased the old homestead farm in Elk 
township, but has recently sold it. In political life he has no personal ambition, but is 
a staunch Republican. He is a member of the Evangelical Association Society, and 
his wife is a member of the United Brethren Church. 

Zesky, Charles J., East Brady p. o., was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in i860. 
He was a son of J. H. and Augusta (Sande) Zesky. J. H. was born at Frankfort-on- 
the-Main, and his wife was born at Glanstahl-Bremer. They came to America in 185 1 
and settled in Allegheny county, where they both died, he in 1883, at the age of fifty- 
two years, and his wife in 1868, at the age of forty-one years. They had a family of 
two sons — J. H. and C. J. Charles J. came to East Brady on September 9, 1878, as a 
journeyman barber. He was married in 1880 to Ida C.Robb, who was born in Arm- 
strong county. Pa. They have had one son — H. C. Zesky. He became engaged in 
business in 1880, and in 1882 he opened his well-fitted parlors to the public. 



INDEX. 



ALLEGHENY River as a highway, 62 
Anderson, J. G., school superintend- 
ent, 419 
Andrews, Charles E., 642 
Antichnal. Anthony's Bend, 44 

Brady's Bend, 43 

Brookville, 44 

Kellersburg, 44 
Antiolinals of Clarion county, 43 
Amusements, early, 85 
Apprentice system, 344 
Arbor day, 420 
Armstrong, Colonel, expedition of, against 

Kittanning, 25. 
Arnold, Frank M., 650 
Arnold, George W., 632 
Arnold Manasseh, 661 
Ashland township, 432 

churches of, 440 

early settlers of, 436 et seq. 

natural characteristics of, 432 

schools of, 440 

the Cogley oil field in, 433 
Assembly and Council, contention between, 21 

final adjournment of the old proprie- 
tary, 29 

members of, from Clarion county, 371 
Association, the Clarion Fair, 372 
Attorney, Boggs, James, 396 

Boyd, Jacob K., 389 

Butler, John B., 390 

Carskadden, Geo. W., 391 

Clark, Jesse G., 390 

Foster, David W., 390 

Gilmore, Alfred, 390 

Hays, David B., 389 

Hindman, John T., 402 

Johnson, Jacques W., 389 

Jolly, Thomas M., 391 

Lamberton, C. L., 397 

Lathy, George W., 390 

Lathy, William E., 402 

LaAvson, David, 398 

Mafifett, James T., 402 

Meredith, M. M., 403 

Myers, Amos, 396 

Patrick, Jos. H., 402 



Attorney, Reed, J. W., 403 
Reid, Bernard J., 397 

Shaw, Wilhara, 396 
Sutton, Robert, 397 
Sutton, Thomas, 390 
Thompson, John L., 390 
Weidner, M. A. K., 403 
Wood, Jasper E., 403 
Auditors, county, 410 

BANK of Pennsylvania chartered, 33 
Barr, Hon. W. W., 657 
Beaver, James A., governor, 38 
Beaver township, 441 

boundaries and natural characteristics 
of, 441 

early settlement of, 443 

furnaces in, 444 

industries of, 445 

mills in, 444 

oil Avells in, 446 

productions of, 442 

schools and churches of, 447 

villages in, 446 
Bench and bar, early incidents of the, 39 

members of, 387 et seq. 
Berlin, George N., 048 
Bigler, William, governor, 35 
" Big Level," the, 39 
Bingham lands, the, 69 et seq. 
Biographical sketch of Andrews, Chas. E., 642 

Arnold, Frank M., 650 

Arnold, George W., 632 

Arnold, Manasseh, 661 

Barr, Hon. W. W., 657 

Berlin, George N., 648 

Black, Jacob, 659 

Bowman, David, 653 

Campbell. Hon. James. 631 

Collner, W. F., 658 

Craig, Col. Calvin A., 655 

Cresswell, Dr. John, 648 

Davis, A. J., 647 

Eaker, Philip K., 644 

Fox family, the, 635 

Hess, Michael E., 639 

Kahle, John W., 643 



!xvi 



Index. 



Eiographical sketch of Kaufman, Charles, 633 

Keating, John, 662 

Khngensmith, John, 660 

Knox, Hon. James B., 638 

Lowry, Samuel, 634 

Payne, T. J., 653 

Reynolds, David, G54 

Ritts, Elias, 637 

Ritts, John V., 651 

Ross, J. Frank, M. D., 649 

Rulofson, Ruloff I. A., 641 

Shanafelt, William, 645 
. Siegwarth, Anthony, 650 
' Sloan, William C, 642 

Strattan, John R., 663 

Sweny, Hon. James, 664 

Wilson, Hon. J. H., 662 

Yeany, John, 663 
Black, Jacob, 659 
Borough, Callensburg, 459 

Clarion, 474 

Curllsville, 496 

East Brady, 452 

Edenburg, 499 
' New Bethlehem, 551 

Rimersburg, 592 

St. Petersburg, 600 

Sligo, 611 

Strattan ville, 613 
Boundaries of Penn's purchase of the Indians, 

63 
Boundary between Maryland and Pennsylva- 
nia, vexatious dispute over, 27 

question with Maryland, settlement of, 
27 
Bowman, David, 653 
Braddock, General, defeat of. 25 
Bradj^'s Bend and Captain Brady, 378 et seq. 
Brady township, 449 

early settlers of, 450 

organization of, 450 

schools and churches of, 451 
Brodhead and Thomas lands, 67 
Brodhead's expedition, 61 
Bryan George, vice-president, made president 

of Council, 31 
"Buckshot War," the, 34 
Buffington, Judge Joseph, 395 

CALLENSBURG borough, 459 
burgesses of, 459 
Callen family in, 460 
churches and schools of, 464 
formation and growth of. 459 
laying out of, 460 
manufactories in, 463 
ministers of, 464 

organization of government of, 459 
physicians of, 465 
post-office of, 466 
public men of, 466 
stores in, 461 
teachers of, 465 
Callen family, the. 460 



Campbell, Judge James, 401, 631 

Campaigns of 1757 and 1758, results of, 26 

Canal commissioner, 372 

Carrier Seminary and Normal School, 488 

Casualty, the first, 87 

Celeron, Captain, expedition of, to Western 

Pennsylvania, 23 
Church, the Associate Presbyterian. 421 

the Baptist, 422 

the Evangelical Association, 427 

the Lutheran, 429 

the Methodist Episcopal, 427 

the Presbyterian, 420 

the Protestant Episcopal, 426 

the Reformed, 423 
crises in, 425 

ecclesiastical meetings of, 424 
prominent ministers of, 425 

the Roman Catholic, 429 
Clarion Academy, 487 
Clarion borough. 474 

banks of,' 492 

churches of, 485 

Citizens' Gas Company of, 496 

description of, in 1840, 477 

early business of, 480 et seq. 

early life in, 478 

extension of borough limits of, 496 

fires in, 494 

first buildings in, 475 

first railroad train in, 495 

growth of, 495 

hotels in, 482 

in the days of the Rebellion, 493 

Light and Heat Co. of, 495 

military companies of, 492 

original bounds of, 474 

population of, 496 

post-office of, 479 

press of, 489 

sale of lots in, 475 

schools of, 487 

selection of, for county seat, 474 

societies in, 483 
Clarion Collegiate Institute, 594 
Clarion county, act establishing, 103 

civil list of, 409 

collieries of, 365 

drainage, 38 

elevation of, 40 

finances of, 130, 347 

first election in, 109 

furnaces of, 1 12 et seq. 

general character of surface of, 40 

geographical position of, 38 

geology of, 42 

in the Mexican War, 121 

in the Rebellion, 142 et seq. 

judicial organization of, 108, 387 

militia of, 109 et seq. 

politics in. 111 

politics in, from 1854 to 1861, 128 

politics in 1865-77, 346 

politics in, from 1880 to 1884, 369 



Index. 



Ixvii 



Clarion County, post-offices in, at present, 372 

scenerj' of, 40 

scenery, Alum Rock, 41 

scenery, ancient water courses, 41 

scenery at Brady's Bend, 41 

scenery from East Foxburg, 41 

statistics of, in 1840-45, 112 
1850, 130 
1870, 347 
1880, 369 

surface of, 38 

the "Underground Railroad" in, 121 

timber of, 40 

Young, Thomas, first white child born 
in, 471 
Clarion Female Seminary, 488 
Clarion river, 38 
Clarion township, 467 

first church in, 470 

first schools in, 469 

first settlers of, 471 

in 1816, 473 

location of, 467 

Matfett family, the, in, 472 

mills in, 469 

natural characteristics of, 407 

productions of, 468 
Coal, 33 

Brookville, the, 51 

Clarion Group, the, 49 

Clarion Lower, 51 

Clarion Upper, 51 

Freeport Group, 46 

Freeport Lower, 47 

Freeport Upper, 47 

Kittanning Group, the, 47 

Kittanning Lower, the, 48 

Kittanning Middle, the, 48 

Kittanning Upper, the, 48 

mines, 365 et seq. 

statistics of, 367 
Collner, W. F. 658 
Commissioners, county, 409 

jury, 410 
Company A, 103d Regiment, roster of, 235 
service of, 232 

B, 103d Regiment, service and roster 
of, 243 

B, 169th Regiment, roster of, 329 

C, 62d Regiment, roster ^f, 173 

service of, 167 
C, 78th Regiment, service and roster 
of, 218 

C, 105th Regiment, roster of, 266 

service of, 264 
Captain Tanner's, roster of, 334 

D, 57th Regiment, militia, 164 

E, 39th Reo-iment, Tenth Reserve, ros- 
ter of, 158 

service of, 152 
E, 62d Regiment, roster of, 181 

service of, 178 
E, 78th Regiment, service and roster 
of, 225 



Company F, 63d Regiment, roster of, 203 
service of, 189 
F, 67th Regiment, service and roster 
of, 209 

F, 103d Regiment, service and roster 
of, 250 

G, 155th Regiment, roster of, 310 

service of, 308 

H, 37th Regiment, Eighth Reserve, 
roster of, 147 

service of, 145 

H, 57th Regiment, militia, 165 

H, 103d Regiment, roster of, 257 

H, 149th Regiment, roster of, 300 
service of, 299 

H, 155th Regiment, service and roster 
of, 318 

I, 57th Regiment, militia, 166 

K, 148th Regiment, roster of, 291 
service of, 289 

K, 57th Regiment, militia, 167 

K, 159th Regiment, enlistment and 
roster of, 327 

L, 108th Regiment, 11th Cavalry, ros- 
ter of, 282 

service of, 277 
Company, the Ohio, 24 
Conglomerate series, 52 
Congress, adjournment of, at Philadelphia, 30 

members of, from Clarion county, 371 
Connecticut, claims of against Penn's terri- 
tory, 28 
Constitutional Convention, delegates to, 372 
Constitution of the United States,framing of,32 

the new, adopted, 32 

revision of, 34, 37 
Continental Congress, assembling of, 28 

the second, 28 
Corbett, Judge Wm. L.. 406 
Coroners, 410 

Council, adjournment of to Lancaster, 30 
Council and Assembly, discord between, 20 
Council, the, abolished, 32 
County seat, contest over location of, 106 
Court-house, the first, 374 

the present, 376 

the second, 375 
Court, the first, 388 
Craig, Col. Calvin A., 655 
Crawford's expedition against Ohio Indians, 32; 
Cresswell, Dr. John, 648 
Curllsville borough, 496 

anti-horsethief association of, 499 

churches of, 497 

industries of, 497 

name and location of, 496 

professional men of, 499 
Curtin, A. G., governor, 36 

DAM across the Clarion river, act granting 
l^ermission for, 360 
Davis, A. J., school superintendent, 418 

biographical sketch of, 647 
Defense, measures for, in 1754, 25 



Ixviii 



Index. 



Denny, William, governor, 25 

Dickinson, John, president of Legislature, 32 

Difficulties with the home government, 28 

District attorneys, 409 

Draft of men for army in 1812, 88 

in 1813, 90 
Drift. 46 



EAKER, Phihp K., 644 
East Brady borough, 452 

banks of, 456 

churches of. 455 

coal mines of, 454 "■ 

coal mines of, strikes m, 454 

early history of site of, 452 

early settlement of, 453 

fire department of, 458 

fires in, 456 

oil and gas wells in, 455 

physicians of, 456 

press of, 458 

schools of, 454 
Edenburg borough, 499 

banks of, 501 

casualties occurring in, 505 

churches of, 501 

early history of, 499 

fires in, 503 

hotels of, 500 

press of, 505 
Educational systems established, 34 
Eighteenth Judicial District, history of, 407 
Electioneering documents, 133 
Electors, presidential, 372 
Elk City, 509 
Elk township, 506 

churches in, 511 

early settlements in, 506 

Elk City in, 509 

furnaces in, 511 

oil developments in, 508 

Pitch Pine in, 511 

schools in, 511 

Shippenville in, 509 

societies in, 510 
*' Erie Triangle," purchase of, 32 
Errata, 630 

Evans, John, deputy governor, 20 
Exposition, centennial, 37 

FAIR ASSOCIATION, the Clarion, 372 
Farmington township, 513 
boundaries and natural characteristics 

of, 513 
early settlers of, 514 
Scotch Hill in, 515 
Tylersburgh in, 515 
T'indley, William, elected governor, 33 
.First white man in Clarion county, 59 
Fletcher Benjamin, governor of New York, 19 
Fort Du Quesne, 24 
capture of, 61 
Fort Necessity, 24 



Fourth of July celebration, an old time, 134, 

et seq. 
Foxbug, 591 

fires in, 591 
Fox estate, the, 66 
Fox family, the, 635 
Fox hunt in 1860, programme of, 137 
Franklin, Benjamin, 23 

president of Council, 32 
Franklin College warrants 67 
"Free school law," 412 
French, attempt of, to gain territory, 23 

establishment of forts by, 24 
Friends, or Quakers, settlement of, 16 

Public School, incorporation of, 19 
Fryburg, 627 
Furnaces, 112 

list of, 116 et seq. 

GEARY, JOHN W., governor, 37 
Gookin, Colonel Charles, governor, 20 
insanity of, 22 
Gordon, Patrick, lieutenant-governor, 22 
Grand Army of the Republic, 431 

HAMILTON, ANDREW, appointed gov- 
ernor, 20 
Hamilton, James, lieutenant-governor, 23 

re-appointed governor, 26 . 

Harrison lands, the, 71 
Hartranft, J. F., governor, 37 
Hess, Michael E., 639 
Highland township, 516 

churches and schools of, 518 

mills and furnaces of. 518 

settlement of, 516 
Holland Land Company, the, 67 et seq. 
Hoyt, H. F., governor, 38 
Hudson, Henry, 15 



in and 



INCIDENTS of the Revolution 
around Philadelphia, 30 
Indians, first troubles with, 22 
occupation, early, 57 
relics, 58 
the, 84 

the Seneca, 58 
Iron, 33 
Iron ore and limestone, 49 

JAIL, the first, 375 
the present, 376 
Jamestown, 628 
Jenks, Judge W. P., 403 
Johnston, Wm. F., governor, 35 



KAHLE, JOHN W., 643 
Kaufman, Charles, 633 
Keating, John, 662 
Keith, Sir William, governor, 22 
Kelly, G. S., school superintendent, 417 
Kerr, Captain, dismissal of, from army, 179 
Klingensmith, John, 660 
Knox, Judge J. C, 395 



Index. 



Ixxi 



Rimersburg borough, Clarion Collegiate Insti- 
tute in, 594 

incorporation of, 593 

mines of, 600 

professional men of, 600 

schools of, 594 

selection of name of, 594 
Ritner, Joseph, o'overnor, 34 
Ritts, Elias, 637" 
Ritts, John Y., 651 
Roads, early, 97 
Ross, J. Frank. M. D., 649 
Rulofson, Ruloff I. A., 641 



s^- 



PETERSBURG- BOROUGH, 600 

bank in, 603 

churches of, 605 

fires in, 603 

first settlers of, GOl 

hotels of, 604 

oil movements in, 602 

schools of, 604 
Salem township, 606 

churches of, 609 

early settlers of, 607 

industries of, 609 

minerals of, 607 

natural characteristics of, 606 

oil and gas in, 607 

schools of, 608 
Sandstone, Clarion, 51 
Schools and churches, early, 85 
School work, exposition of, 418 
Schools, first, 411 

for soldiers' orphans, 37 

graduation system for, 419 

method of supporting, 411 

parochial, 420 

State appropriations for, 412 
School superintendent, county, 413 
Scofield, Judge Glenni W., 40 1 
Scotch Hill, 515 

Senators, State, from Clarion county, 371 
Settlement by the Dutch on Delaware River, 

15 ■ 
Settlement on Leatherwood creek, 80 

Redbank, 80 
Settlers in 1798, 77 

in 1800, 77 

in 1801, 79 

in 1803-05, 80 
Shanafelt, William, 645 
Sherifis, 409 

Shippen, Edward„made governor, 20 
Shippenville, 509 
Shuuk, Frank R., governor, 35 
Siegwarth, Anthony, 650 
Slavery, extinguishment of, 31 
Sligo borough, 611 

business interests of, 611 

settlement of, 611 
Sloan, William C, 642 
Snyder, Simon, elected governor, 33 
Societies, 431 



Soil, 46 

Soldiers of Clarion countj^, the, 142 

of the Rebellion, hst of, resident in 
Clarion county, 335 
Stamp act, the, 27 
State capital removed to Harrisburg, 33 

removed to Lancaster, 33 
" Standard " case, the, 404 
Stave-mills. 365 
Steamboats, early, 98 
Strattanville borough, 613 

business of, 614 

churches and schools of, 615 

location and settlement of, 613 

war record of, 616 
Strattan, John R., 663 
Streams, improvement of, 98 
Strike, the great, 38 
Surface measures, 44 
Surveyors, county, 410 
Surveyors, early, 72 
Swedes, first arrival of, 15 
Sweny, Hon. James, 664 
Synclinal, Centerville, 44 

Fairmount, 44 

Lawsonham, 43 

TEACHERS, early, 411 
Teachers' institute, first, 414 

various, 414 et seq. 
Thomas, G-eorge, governor, 23 
Toby creek, origin of name of, 60 
Toby township, 617 

churches of, 620 

first school-houses of, 619 

settlement of. 617 
Tornado, the, in Redbank valley, 123 et seq. 
Total abstinence, thesis on, 130 
Townships and villages, formation of, 100 
Township, Ashland, 432 

Beaver, 441 

Brady, 449 

Clarion, 467 

Elk, 506 

Farmington, 513 

Highland, 516 

Knox, 519 

Licking, 524 

Limestone, 531 

Madison, 536 

Mill Creek, 543 

Monroe, 546 

Paint, 562 

Perry, 565 

Piney, 569 

Porter, 573 

Redbank, 582 

Richland, 588 

Salem, 606 

Toby, 617 

Washington, 622 
Trails, 62 

Travis, Absalom, pioneer, 76 
Treasurers, county, 409 



\ 



Ixxii 



Index. 



Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 23 
with France, 30 
with Indians, 1784, 32 

Trial, first jury, 393 

Trials, criminal, 398 et seq. 

Tylersburgh, 515 



u 



NDERGROUND Railroad," the, 121 



WAR between French and English in 
1673, 16 
between Great Britain and France in 

1744, 23 _ 

between Great Britain and Spain, 23 
committee, circular of, 126 
of 1812, the, 87 

of the Revolution, beginning of the, 28 
meeting in 1861, 125 
Washington, George, mission of to Fort Du 

Quesne, 24 
Washington township, 622 
churches of, 629 



schools of, 630 

settlement of, 622 et seq. 

villages in, 628 
West Millville, 584 
Wharton, Thomas, death of, 31 
Wharton, Thomas, made president of the 

Council, 29 
Whisky insurrection, the, 33 
Whitefield, the evangelist, 23 
Williamsburg, 549 
Wilson, Hon. J. H., 662 
Wilson, Judge Theo. S., 406 
Wilton, Hugh, military record of, 156 
Wolf, George, governor, 34 
Wood, J. E., school superintendent, 417 
Wyoming massacre, the, 31 

YEANY, JOHN, 663 
Yellow fever in Philadelphia, 33 
Young, Thomas, first white child born in 
Clarion county, 471 

jyEISBERGER, DAVID, 61. 



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